Plan at a glance
A Jurong day trip with a different pace from the city
Maoshan is in Maoshan Town, Jurong, within Zhenjiang's administrative area, and is far from central attractions such as Jinshan and Xijin Ferry. Plan it as a half-day or full-day trip focused on Taoist temples, wooded paths, caves and wartime history. It is not a natural extension of a central-Zhenjiang sightseeing route without a separate transport plan.
The Visitor Centre is the standard entrance and the starting point for the sightseeing buses. Hikers can navigate to the area around the Maoshan Administrative Committee and start from the Very Way path. These two approaches require different amounts of time and energy, so decide before leaving whether the day will mainly use the sightseeing bus or hiking.
Ticket, sightseeing bus and opening hours
The Maoshan admission ticket is about CNY 100 in peak season, roughly February–June and October, and about CNY 80 in low season, roughly July–September and November–January. The sightseeing bus costs CNY 35 per person and allows multiple rides; admission and internal transport are charged separately.
The area opens 07:30–17:00, with last entry at 16:30. Some caves and smaller sites also close around 16:30. Real-name reservations can be made through the official “句容茅山景区” WeChat account; follow the available document and entry requirements on the reservation page. Plan the main attractions for earlier in the afternoon.
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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Taoist temples and the Laozi statue
Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace at the summit, Yuanfu Wanning Palace in the middle section and Chongxi Wanshou Palace in the lower section form Maoshan's main Taoist route. The enormous Laozi statue at the middle palace is best viewed from below. The summit palace and its viewpoints suit mountain scenery, while the lower palace is a place to slow down and look at the buildings and their surroundings.
Visitors interested in Chinese Taoism, traditional temples and religious architecture can make the three palaces the main focus. Keep quiet in religious spaces, follow the on-site photography instructions, and do not touch offerings or speak loudly inside the halls.
Woodland paths, caves and wartime history
The Very Way is a shaded woodland walking path of about 3.5 kilometres. It suits visitors who enjoy a longer walk, forest scenery and shade in summer. Xianren Cave and Huayang Cave are natural caves with a lower interior temperature, making them useful cooling stops in hot weather, but the caves close relatively early.
Xike Spring, the New Fourth Army Memorial Museum and the Monument to Victory in the Southern Jiangsu Anti-Japanese War suit visitors interested in local wartime history. Maoshan's attractions are spread out: culture-focused visitors should centre the day on the palaces and memorial museum, while outdoor-focused visitors should put hiking time and the return journey first.
Build your day
A 3–4 hour sightseeing-bus route
From the Visitor Centre, take the sightseeing bus to Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace at the summit, then continue to Yuanfu Wanning Palace to see the Laozi statue. Follow the bus sequence to Xianren Cave and Huayang Cave, then visit Chongxi Wanshou Palace in the lower section and Xike Spring. Finish at the New Fourth Army Memorial Museum and the Monument to Victory in the Southern Jiangsu Anti-Japanese War, then take the bus back to the Visitor Centre.
This route suits older visitors, children and anyone who does not want a long mountain climb. The sightseeing bus reduces walking between attractions, but you still walk between the palaces, caves and exhibition spaces after getting off. If you arrive late in the afternoon, visit the caves and smaller sites that close around 16:30 first.
A 4–6 hour hiking route
Drivers can park near the Maoshan Administrative Committee and hike uphill from the Very Way area towards the summit palace. After reaching the top, walk down along the road or take a sightseeing bus from a suitable stop to visit the middle and lower palaces and the other attractions.
This route is for visitors with good fitness who enjoy woodland paths. In summer, start as early as possible and put the uphill section in the cooler part of the day. If you are tired after reaching the summit, use the sightseeing bus for the remaining stops and arrange your return to the Visitor Centre or Jurong in advance.
Get there
Public transport from Nanjing
Without a car, take Nanjing Metro Line S6 to Jurong Station. Leave through Exit 1, walk to the Jurong Coach Centre across the road, and change to the express bus from Jurong to Maoshan. The bus takes about 30 minutes and costs CNY 6. After reaching Maoshan, plan the final leg to the Visitor Centre or the hiking entrance separately.
Return buses may not run often enough for a last-minute decision, especially when leaving the scenic area in the afternoon. Allow time to walk from the final attraction back to the Visitor Centre, wait for the bus and make the connection. Public transport works best when Maoshan is the only remote attraction of the day.
By car and the hiking entrance
For the standard route, navigate to the Maoshan Scenic Area Visitor Centre. Parking costs CNY 10 per stay. Visitors planning the Very Way hike can navigate to the area around the Maoshan Administrative Committee, where free roadside parking is available and the flat walk from the Visitor Centre to the mountain gate can be avoided.
The Visitor Centre and the hiking entrance are not the same starting point. After parking, confirm where the car is, which direction you will return from and which sightseeing-bus stops you may use. Do not wait until after starting the hike to work out how to find the car or return to the original parking area.
Know before you go
Closing times and reservations
Last entry is at 16:30, and some caves and smaller sites close around the same time. The sightseeing-bus route is long, so visitors arriving in the afternoon should visit the caves and the most distant attractions first. Keep the final hour for exhibition spaces that can be visited later.
Real-name reservations are made through the “句容茅山景区” WeChat account. When entering reservation details, use the document type available on the page for your situation. The Chinese-ID process does not apply to every overseas visitor, so leave time for document registration before entry.
Hiking, weather and supplies
The Very Way hike is about 3.5 kilometres, and summer mountain walking uses energy quickly. Start early, and bring water, sun protection and mosquito repellent. Xianren Cave and Huayang Cave are cooler inside, so a light layer can be useful; mountain paths are more slippery after rain.
Food and supplies on the mountain are not something to rely on completely. Carry a small snack for a longer hike. The Jurong area also has tofu-themed rural dining, and Dasa Stone-Milled Tofu Village can be an optional stop after returning, but it requires separate transport time from Maoshan Scenic Area.