Plan at a glance
Tickets, gates and opening hours
Qingyuan Mountain is a separately ticketed mountain scenic area, not part of South Shaolin Temple. The standard adult ticket is CNY 70. Students and visitors aged 60–69 have a reference concession of CNY 35, while visitors aged 65 and over and children under 1.2 metres are free; concession and free-entry rules depend on the relevant gate.
Summer hours are 07:00–18:00 and winter hours are 07:30–17:30. The access windows before 07:00 and after 17:30 at the Laojun Rock and other core gates differ from the windows before 08:00 and after 17:00 at the Qiyun gate. These times apply to the relevant entrance and do not mean that every attraction or night hike is free.
Visit length and effort
The sightseeing vehicle costs CNY 15 one way as a reference and can reduce some of the climbing. Allow 2–3 hours for the easier route, 2.5–3 hours for the standard cultural route and 3–4 hours for the summit hike. The mountain has uneven stone steps, so choose according to the weather and your fitness.
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
Laojun Rock and cliff inscriptions
Laojun Rock is Qingyuan Mountain's principal historic feature and suits first-time visitors or anyone interested in Taoist stone carvings and Quanzhou history. The Hongyi Master Relic Pagoda, Qianshou Rock, Amitabha Rock and Yuanyuan Cave can form a fuller cultural route; you do not need to force yourself to cover every trail.
Tianhu and Nantainan Rock
Tianhu and Nantainan Rock suit visitors who want mountain walking, city views and a place to rest. Views from Nantainan Rock depend on weather, light and air quality, so a clear panorama is not guaranteed. The tea rooms, cafés and black swans at Tianhu should also be treated as possibilities rather than fixed services.
Build your day
The 2–3-hour easier route
Enter through the main gate, visit Laojun Rock, take the sightseeing vehicle to Tianhu, continue to Nantainan Rock for the view, then take the vehicle or follow the open route downhill. This suits families, older visitors and people with limited time, but you still need shoes suitable for stone steps; “less walking” does not mean step-free access.
The 2.5–3-hour cultural route
Start at the main gate and visit Laojun Rock, the Hongyi Master Relic Pagoda, Qianshou Rock, Amitabha Rock and Yuanyuan Cave before descending through the exit available that day. The route focuses on carvings and temple remains, and water stops are limited, so bring water before entering.
The 3–4-hour hiking route
Start at Qianshou Rock, continue through Amitabha Rock, Tianhu, Baizhangping and Nantainan Rock, then descend. The total ascent is about 400 metres and the route suits visitors used to outdoor walking. If the steps are wet after rain, do not continue into poorly lit sections just to complete the loop.
There is also a free walking approach through Longquan Temple and the Chensan Ancient Trail to Tianhu and Laojun Rock. The relevant free-entry times and gate apply only to that route; they do not mean that the main entrance or every attraction is free.
Get there
Main gates and transport
Qingyuan Mountain has a main gate, a south gate and a southwest gate. Bus routes K1, 3, 28 and 30 stop at “Qingyuan Mountain.” A taxi from the city takes about 15 minutes. Drivers can navigate to the Qingyuan Mountain South Gate Visitor Centre, but confirm the planned route and ticket gate before entering.
If you plan to visit Qingyuan Mountain and South Shaolin Temple on the same day, treat them as two separate destinations and plan the transfer. They do not share a ticket, and you cannot assume that one scenic area leads directly into the other on foot.
Know before you go
Mountain paths, weather and supplies
Many downhill sections use uneven stone steps, which become slippery in rain. Wear shoes with good grip and bring a walking pole if useful. Shops are limited, and water or food may not be easy to buy, so carry your own supplies.
The rules for free entry during evening time do not override safety. Mountain paths have little lighting and signs may be unclear. Without a torch or headlamp, companions or suitable weather, do not climb simply for a night view, and do not rely on strangers or informal guides.
Tickets and expectations
Use an authorised ticket channel and follow the time and rules for the gate you enter. The city view from Nantainan Rock, animals at Tianhu and evening light all depend on conditions, so a clear panorama, sunset or black swan should not be presented as a fixed result.