Plan at a glance
Transfer at the Visitor Service Center and take the cableway uphill
Huatai Scenic Area is in the lower section of the Jiuhua Mountain scenic area. Visitors first go to the Jiuhua Mountain Visitor Service Center, then take a scenic-area bus to the Huatai cableway station (花台索道站); the ride takes about 15 minutes. Huatai focuses on ridgelines, an elevated skywalk, and unusual rock formations, offering a very different experience from the temple visits around Jiuhua Street.
There is no walking route up to Huatai, so the ascent must be made by cableway. There is no separate admission ticket for the scenic area. The Huatai cableway costs about CNY 160 round trip or CNY 85 one way; the scenic-area bus from the Visitor Service Center to the cableway station costs about CNY 50 and can usually be used within three days. Prices, validity periods, and same-day operating arrangements may change, so confirm them for your travel date before buying.
How much time to allow
Starting from the upper cableway station, the full route of “Huatai Summit – elevated skywalk – cableway station” takes about 2–3 hours. The short route covering only the elevated skywalk takes about 1.5–2 hours, but skips the views from Huatai Summit.
The cableway usually stops operating around 17:00–17:30. If you go uphill in the afternoon, calculate time for the skywalk, photography, and the return to the cableway station first. Fog can change quickly on Huatai, and rain or snow can make the steps and skywalk slippery; when the weather is unstable, keep the option of shortening the route.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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The elevated skywalk and ridge views
The Huatai elevated skywalk is about 1,399 meters long, with an average elevation of about 1,141 meters; some sections run close to cliffs. Along the skywalk, you can see ridges, distant mountains, and unusual rocks. It suits visitors who want natural scenery without committing to a long mountain hike.
Huatai Summit and the unusual rocks along the route
Huatai Summit is about 1,299 meters above sea level. Sights along the way include “Mother and Child,” “Dizang Drying His Boots,” and “Huixian Peak.” In clear weather, Huatai Summit or the skywalk viewpoints may offer a distant outline of the natural Sleeping Buddha on the opposite mountain; heavy cloud and mist can greatly reduce the view.
Alpine rhododendrons and seasonal scenery
Alpine rhododendrons usually come into bloom in March and April, and the main views at Huatai change with the season. Visitors who enjoy mountain scenery, photography, and elevated paths can make Huatai the natural-scenery section of a Jiuhua Mountain itinerary. If your main interest is the temples, set aside separate time for Huatai’s cableway and mountain walking.
What kind of visitor is it for?
Huatai suits visitors with reasonable stamina who are comfortable with sustained climbing over a short period and interested in ridgeline paths and natural scenery. The route still includes uphill sections, steps, and exposed high-elevation stretches. If someone in your group should avoid climbing, choose the shorter, gentler skywalk route.
Build your day
Full route: from Huatai Summit to the elevated skywalk
Take the scenic-area bus from the Visitor Service Center to the Huatai cableway station. After taking the cableway uphill, follow the left-hand route first to Huatai Summit. After reaching the summit, follow the signs past sights such as “Mother and Child,” then join the elevated skywalk. Finally, return to the cableway station and take the cableway down; the full route takes about 2–3 hours.
This route completes the main climb first, leaving mostly level paths and descents for later. If you walk the skywalk first and return to the summit afterward, you will meet the steeper “Haohan Slope” in the later part of the route, which requires more energy.
Short route: the elevated skywalk only
When time is limited, take the cableway uphill and follow the elevated skywalk on the right. The route takes about 1.5–2 hours and is generally gentler; after the visit, return to the cableway station the same way. This option suits visitors who care more about the skywalk and mountain views or do not plan to reach Huatai Summit, but it does not include the summit views.
Connecting with other Jiuhua Mountain routes
After visiting Huatai, return to the Visitor Service Center before continuing to Dayuan Cultural Park or another attraction at the foot of the mountain. Huatai uses a separate route from the Visitor Service Center to its cableway station and requires another transfer to connect with the Jiuhua Street temple route, so it is better planned as a half-day or full-day outing.
Get there
Scenic-area bus and cableway station
The usual way to enter Huatai is to reach the Jiuhua Mountain Visitor Service Center, take the scenic-area bus for about 15 minutes to the Huatai cableway station, and then take the cableway uphill. The bus and Huatai cableway are charged separately. Ticketing for the route from the Visitor Service Center to Huatai and the core Jiuhua Mountain uphill route follows the day’s ticketing and stop signage.
There is no walking route up to Huatai; walking begins only after you get off at the upper cableway station. Once you arrive, identify the left and right routes and the return direction before choosing the full route or the short skywalk route.
Driving and the return journey
Drivers should first navigate to the Jiuhua Mountain Visitor Service Center (九华山游客服务中心), park at the foot of the mountain, and transfer to scenic-area transport. After Huatai, take the cableway back to the cableway station and then the scenic-area bus back to the Visitor Service Center. If you also plan to visit other attractions at the foot of the mountain that day, leave enough time for the downhill cableway and the return bus.
Know before you go
Costs and supplies on the mountain
Huatai has no separate admission ticket, but the cableway, bus, and food on the mountain are charged separately. There are few supply points on the mountain, and bottled water may cost more than at the foot of the mountain. Prepare drinking water and a few snacks at the Visitor Service Center or elsewhere below before going up.
The Huatai cableway costs about CNY 160 round trip or CNY 85 one way, and the scenic-area bus costs about CNY 50. These are budget references; confirm the price, cableway operation, and bus validity for the day.
Mist, rain, steps, and the return trip
Weather changes quickly at Huatai. On misty days, distant mountains and the natural Sleeping Buddha may be difficult to see; rain or snow makes the skywalk and steps slippery, so wear shoes with good grip and reduce high-exposure sections. If the cableway stops because of weather or operating conditions, the planned route will need to change.
The cableway usually stops operating around 17:00–17:30. Keep the final part of the visit for returning to the cableway station, and confirm the downhill arrangement for the day before setting out.
Seasonal scenery and group members
March and April are good months for alpine rhododendrons, although the flowering period depends on the weather. Views of the natural Sleeping Buddha, sea of clouds, and distant mountains all depend heavily on the day’s visibility and weather conditions. Older visitors and children should avoid a continuous Huatai climb in rain or snow; even in clear weather, choose the short route or full route according to the steps and elevation gain.