Plan at a glance
Start here
Langya Mountain Scenic Area is at 18–30 Langya Ancient Road in Chuzhou. The North Gate is close to the visitor center and a bus stop, making it the usual starting point for a first visit. Basic access to the mountain and gate area is free. Zuiweng Pavilion, Tongle Garden, Nantianmen, and Langya Temple currently have separate reference prices of CNY 40, CNY 5, CNY 15, and CNY 10, for a total of CNY 70; check the day's ticket page for any temporary package.
How much time to allow
Allow about 1–2 hours for the valley streams or other free areas; about 1.5–2 hours for a quick visit to Zuiweng Pavilion and Shenxiu Lake (深秀湖); and 3–4 hours for a route linking Nantianmen, Langya Temple, Shenxiu Lake, Tongle Garden, and Zuiweng Pavilion. The scenic area is open daily from 07:30 to 17:30.
Who it suits
Langya Mountain works well for visitors who want forest walking alongside sites connected with Ouyang Xiu and *The Pavilion of the Drunkard*. The paths include slopes and steps. Visitors with limited stamina can take the outer sightseeing shuttle to Nantianmen and then walk downhill in sections.
Entrances and movement inside
The North Gate is the easier choice for a first visit, with the visitor center, bus stop, and main ticket information nearby. The South Gate suits visitors already on the other side of the mountain. The outer sightseeing shuttle covers the longer connection between the visitor center and Nantianmen, while the inner shuttle connects stops such as Zuiweng Pavilion and Langya Temple in the core area. They are different services, and neither replaces the climb to the summit.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
Pick your highlights
Nantianmen and Langya Pavilion are on higher ground and look over Chuzhou. Langya Temple includes buildings such as the Beamless Hall, while Shenxiu Lake is a good place to pause. Halfway up the mountain, Zuiweng Pavilion is a group of courtyards and pavilions that includes Yingxiang Pavilion, Ancient Plum Pavilion, and the Hall of the Two Worthies. Niangquan Spring and inscriptions connected with Ouyang Xiu's writing and Su Shi's calligraphy are also part of this section.
Choose the kind of visit
For mountain views and several core stops, take the downhill route from Nantianmen. For Zuiweng Pavilion and its literary background, walk directly from the North Gate or use the core-area shuttle for the return. Families can stay in the free area near the North Gate and follow the path to the valley streams, avoiding the paid core stops and the longer climbs.
How to read Zuiweng Pavilion
Zuiweng Pavilion is more than a single pavilion: Yingxiang Pavilion, Ancient Plum Pavilion, the Hall of the Two Worthies, other courtyards and pavilions, and Niangquan Spring form one hillside visit. Look for the connections between the inscriptions, Ouyang Xiu's text, and Su Shi's calligraphy. Visitors who do not join the timed recitation can still take the buildings, spring, ancient plum, and inscriptions in that order without making the free-entry activity the basis of the itinerary.
For another Chuzhou heritage stop after the mountain, see Nanjing Taipusi Scenic Area.
Build your day
The easier full route
Enter through the North Gate, stop at the visitor center to confirm the day's access and ticket arrangements, and take the outer sightseeing shuttle, with a reference fare of CNY 20 one way, to Nantianmen and Langya Pavilion. Walk downhill through Langya Temple, Shenxiu Lake, Tongle Garden, and Zuiweng Pavilion, then follow the signs toward the North Gate exit. The shuttle handles most of the uphill section, although the descent still includes steps and slopes.
Two shorter options
The quick route takes about 1.5–2 hours: enter at the North Gate, walk or take the inner core-area shuttle to Zuiweng Pavilion, continue to Shenxiu Lake, and return by the day's shuttle or walking arrangement. The inner shuttle only connects core-area stops such as Zuiweng Pavilion and Langya Temple. Its reference fare is CNY 20 one way, and it does not replace the outer shuttle to Nantianmen.
The free family route takes about 1–2 hours: enter at the North Gate, follow the path on the left toward the valley streams, stay outside the paid core stops, and return to the North Gate by the same route. Children should be watched carefully near water in summer, especially on wet stone surfaces or where the current is stronger.
A short North Gate route to Zuiweng Pavilion
If Zuiweng Pavilion is your only planned stop, walk along the main path from the North Gate for about 20–30 minutes. See the main pavilion, Niangquan Spring, and the Hall of the Two Worthies, then return the same way; allow 1–1.5 hours for a more comfortable visit. On the way back, use the inner shuttle if it is operating and you want a ride. Otherwise, treat the route as a continuous uphill walk on the way in and downhill walk on the way out.
Get there
Reaching the North Gate
A taxi is the most direct option from Chuzhou High-Speed Railway Station or Chuzhou North Station. By bus, look for the “Langya Mountain North Gate” stop. For driving, navigate to the “Langya Mountain Scenic Area North Gate Parking Lot”; parking is about CNY 10 per visit, and spaces may be tight on holidays.
Entrance and movement inside
The North Gate is close to the visitor center and suits visitors who need to confirm tickets, join a timed activity, or start walking. The South Gate is on the other side of the mountain. You can take the Ningchu Line—also called Chuzhou Rail Transit Line 1 in Chuzhou and corresponding to Line S4 on the Nanjing side—to Langya Mountain Station and leave through Exit 4. The station area includes places such as Jiujiu Plaza.
Reaching the mountain by Ningchu Line
The Ningchu Line runs roughly from 06:30 to 21:30 each day, with trains about 15 minutes apart. Fares are CNY 2–8. Accepted options include a Chuzhou single-ride ticket, the Nanjing Metro QR code, the Alipay transit QR code, and a transit card marked “Transportation Union.” From Langya Mountain Station, you still need a local connection or taxi to the North Gate.
Know before you go
Tickets and the timed activity
Basic access to the gate and mountain is free. Zuiweng Pavilion, Tongle Garden, Nantianmen, and Langya Temple currently have separate reference prices of CNY 40, CNY 5, CNY 15, and CNY 10, for a total of CNY 70; check the day's ticket page for any temporary package. The North Gate visitor center currently runs a Zuiweng Pavilion recitation benefit from 08:00 to 12:00 each day. The recitation takes about five minutes, places are limited, and the activity stops when the quota is full. After completing it, visitors can redeem the applicable free-entry benefit under that day's rules. The hours, quota, and eligible stops may change, so confirm before setting out.
Stamina, queues, supplies, and the return
The downhill route from Nantianmen reduces the main climb, but it still has steps. Walking straight from the North Gate to Zuiweng Pavilion involves a continuous uphill section. Zuiweng Pavilion and the timed activity may draw queues on holidays. Shops on the mountain are limited, so bring water and simple supplies before entering; the foot of the mountain or the city is a better place to eat. If the visitor center or Zuiweng Pavilion is busy, confirm the operating areas and last arrangements of both shuttle services before returning toward the North Gate.
What to expect at Zuiweng Pavilion
The present layout of Zuiweng Pavilion has been rebuilt over time, so the relationship between the courtyards, pavilions, and Niangquan Spring may differ from the image created by *The Pavilion of the Drunkard*. Focus on the building group, spring, ancient plum, and inscriptions. Wear shoes with good grip, and take care on the stepped downhill sections.