Plan at a glance
The lower entrance and the areas to visit
Wahuang Palace is on Zhonghuang Mountain in Suobao Town, She County. The main entrance is at the foot of the mountain. The grounds include Butian Garden and Butian Lake, temples on the mountainside, the Wahuang Palace complex at the summit, and Butian Valley; the main route climbs along the Eighteen Turns.
The scenic area is a national 5A attraction and a nationally protected cultural heritage site. Its theme centers on the legends of Nuwa repairing the heavens and creating people from clay. Admission is CNY 70 for adults; transport inside the scenic area costs extra. A quick visit takes about 1–2 hours, while walking uphill and visiting the gardens below takes about 3–4 hours. There are steps in the scenic area, and rides cover only some uphill sections.
Tickets, reservations, and opening hours
The sightseeing vehicle costs CNY 10 one way or CNY 20 round trip; the mountain slide car costs CNY 40 one way or CNY 70 round trip; and the cableway costs CNY 40 one way or CNY 70 round trip. You can reserve through the “Wahuang Palace Scenic Area Ticketing” mini program or a third-party platform. Transport tickets are charged separately from admission.
From about April to September, the scenic area is open 08:00–18:00, with last entry at 17:30. From about October through March, it is open 08:30–17:00, with last entry at 16:30. Crowds are heavier on holidays, so your entry time affects the mountain path and transfer experience.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Wahuang Pavilion and the cliff-carved sutras
Wahuang Pavilion is built against the cliff, with nine iron chains securing the structure. Inside, you can see its timber construction and Qing-dynasty murals; from the pavilion, you can look out over the Taihang Mountains. The Bell and Drum Towers on the summit are part of the same central complex.
The Northern Qi cliff carvings contain six Buddhist sutras, totaling about 137,000 characters. They are another major highlight; look closely at the writing and the rock face, where the inscriptions are easier to see in good daylight.
Temples on the mountainside and gardens below
Chaoyuan Palace, Tingcan Palace, Guangsheng Palace, and the Northern Qi Stone Carving Gallery are along the uphill route and suit visitors interested in historic architecture and stone carving. Butian Lake and Butian Garden below can be visited before or after the climb; from Butian Plaza, you can frame Wahuang Pavilion, the mountain, and the lake together.
The annual Nuwa festival and temple fair run from the first to the fifteenth day of the third lunar month. Families, architecture enthusiasts, and visitors hoping to reduce the amount of uphill walking can combine walking sections with rides according to their needs.
Build your day
A 1–2-hour route using the rides
From the lower entrance, take the sightseeing vehicle to Butian Plaza and see the statue of Nuwa. Then transfer to the free shuttle to the mountain slide car station. Take the mountain slide car up, visit Wahuang Pavilion and the cliff carvings, and take the mountain slide car back down; finish by taking the sightseeing vehicle out of the scenic area. Allow about 1–2 hours; the two transfer points are separate.
This route concentrates walking around the summit, where you will still need to use steps.
A 3–4-hour walking route
Walk uphill from the lower entrance along the Eighteen Turns, visiting Chaoyuan Palace, Tingcan Palace, Guangsheng Palace, and the Northern Qi Stone Carving Gallery in sequence. Continue to Wahuang Pavilion, the cliff carvings, and the Bell and Drum Towers. Walk back down the same way or take the mountain slide car, then finish at Butian Lake and Butian Garden.
There is still more than 1 km of uphill walking after the lower cableway station, so include that climb in your plan. If you want to reduce continuous uphill walking, ask which sections the mountain slide car and cableway serve and where their stations are that day before choosing a route.
Get there
Reaching the entrance and parking
Navigate to the Wahuang Palace Scenic Area entrance on Zhonghuang Mountain in Suobao Town, She County. The parking lot is large and costs CNY 10 per visit. Driving on holidays can involve traffic; leaving earlier helps avoid the busiest arrival period.
The entrance is at the foot of the mountain. The sightseeing vehicle goes only to Butian Plaza; from there, take the free shuttle to reach the mountain slide car station. You can walk up the Eighteen Turns or begin the ascent in sections using the sightseeing vehicle.
Transfers within the scenic area
The sightseeing vehicle runs between the lower entrance and Butian Plaza. A free shuttle connects Butian Plaza with the mountain slide car station. The mountain slide car route and the cableway stations are different, so check the stations and destinations before buying a transport ticket.
Know before you go
Steps, holiday crowds, and the annual festival
Rides do not make the whole visit level: there are still steps at the summit, so wear shoes with good grip. Roads and paths inside the scenic area get busier on holidays; no regular visitor-capacity limit is listed.
The Nuwa festival is concentrated from the first to the fifteenth day of the third lunar month, and crowd levels and opening arrangements may vary during the temple fair. If CNY 10 insurance is offered at the entrance, it is optional. Incense and souvenirs are also optional purchases.
Photos, food, and nearby stops
Clear afternoons work well for photos of Wahuang Pavilion. Morning or post-rain mist may appear; Butian Plaza and the shore of Butian Lake offer broad views of the pavilion and mountain. For the cliff-carved sutras, choose a time with ample light so the writing is easier to see.
The Eighth Route Army’s 129th Division Memorial Hall, which is free and closed on Mondays, and Chishuiwan Ancient Town are both about 6 km away. Check the ancient town’s evening lights and performances for that day. Taihang Wuzhi Mountain is about 16 km away and has a separate entrance and ticket; allow time for the mountain roads and visit at both places if combining them in one day. In She County, Changzhi Restaurant serves millet rice; the braised pork bones at “Big-Bone Farmhouse” come in large portions, and the restaurant is busy on holidays, so consider eating outside peak hours.