Plan at a glance
Yellow-glazed buildings and a Taihuai panorama
Pusa Ding stands on Lingjiu Peak in Taihuai. The regular southern entrance is the “Lingfeng Shengjing” archway, reached by 108 steps. If your knees are uncomfortable or you want to save energy on the climb, look for the Pusa Ding rear gate and enter from its parking area, then visit downhill. Rear-gate access, parking, and ticketing follow the day’s access information.
Tickets and opening hours
Admission is CNY 10, purchased separately from the Mount Wutai entrance ticket. Advance reservation is usually not required. Opening hours are about 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., with last entry around 5:40 p.m. Prices, ticketing, and last-entry time may change. On a central-area day, include the separate ticket and entry time in your route calculation.
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 108 steps and the archway
The “Lingfeng Shengjing” archway begins the southern walking route. The steps are steep, and the archway, steps, and sky make a natural upward-looking composition from below. These 108 steps belong to the Pusa Ding entrance section; both the number and the physical effort are different from the 1,080 Dazhi Road steps at Dailuoding.
Red walls, golden roofs, and a royal temple layout
The halls at Pusa Ding use yellow glazed tiles. Red walls, archways, and painted decoration create a visual layer unlike the gray-tiled temples elsewhere in Taihuai. Follow the central axis through the Heavenly Kings Hall, Main Hall, and Manjushri Hall, then return to the boundary wall to see how the buildings sit against the mountain. This makes the scale of the royal temple complex easier to read.
Manjushri with an arrow and the summit view
The “Manjushri with an Arrow” image in Manjushri Hall is presented through its own sculptural story; follow the explanation inside the hall. The summit viewpoint looks over Taihuai, the Great White Pagoda, and the Xiantong area, with farther mountains visible in clear weather. Fog and strong wind change both the view and how comfortable it is to stay.
Build your day
Southern entrance route: about 1 hour
Start at the “Lingfeng Shengjing” archway, climb the 108 steps, and visit the Heavenly Kings Hall, Main Hall, and Manjushri Hall in sequence. Continue to the viewpoint, then leave by the original route or an open rear-hill direction. If your pace is moderate, take photographs and rest on the lower steps or inside the compound rather than forming a group in the middle of the staircase.
Central-area combination: about 3–4 hours
Visit Tayuan Temple, Xiantong Temple, and Pusa Ding from low to high, then decide whether to add Dailuoding. The Copper Hall and Copper Towers at Xiantong and the yellow-glazed buildings at Pusa Ding offer different highlights. Keep both separate tickets and visit times in the plan. After Pusa Ding, walk or take a bus back to Taihuai.
The lower-effort rear-gate route
If you are driving or can reach the rear gate, enter from the rear parking area. See the summit Manjushri Hall and viewpoint first, then walk downhill past the main halls and finish toward the southern 108-step route. Rear parking, ticketing, and the exit can change. If you cannot confirm the rear-gate setup before arrival, use the southern archway entrance instead.
Get there
Free scenic-area buses
Free scenic-area buses stop at Pusa Ding Station, from where you can walk to the southern archway. Stops, intervals, and last-bus times may change with the season and visitor numbers. If you climb from the south, check the return direction first. If Dailuoding follows, plan the bus stop for after you descend.
Driving and the rear gate
Enter “Pusa Ding rear gate” in navigation. The rear gate has parking and a less demanding approach, but traffic controls in the core may still apply, and both spaces and rear-gate access can change. Without a clear rear-gate arrangement, leave the car at an available parking area and walk to the southern archway; the route is more direct.
Cash and tickets
Carry a small amount of cash in case the ticket office temporarily cannot accept mobile payment. Payment methods, temporary crowd limits, and entrance changes depend on the ticket office and temple.
Know before you go
Preparing for the steps
The 108 steps are steep. Wear flat shoes with good traction, and do not hurry over wet stone after rain. The summit can be windy, so add a layer after sweating. If your knees are uncomfortable, choose the rear-gate route or shorten the visit; do not force yourself to continue climbing on the way back.
Photography restrictions
Follow signs and staff instructions for interior photography. The red walls, archway, roofs, and summit viewpoint are good places for photos. Avoid people who are worshipping and keep passageways clear. Do not step on thresholds, touch building elements, or enter a closed courtyard for a better angle.
Supplies nearby
After descending, arrange a vegetarian meal or simple food around Jinjie; Taihuai has more reliable supplies than the summit. If Pusa Ding follows Xiantong, refill water below the steps first, then decide whether to continue to Dailuoding after finishing. This keeps the two climbs from becoming one unexpectedly demanding stretch.