Fanjingshan, or called Mount Fanjing, is located in Tongren City, the eastern Guizhou Province of China, about 248 kilometers from Guiyang  and 220 kilometers from Zhangjiajie. Mount Fanjing is the highest peak of the Wuling Mountains, at an elevation of 2572 meters. Primitive vegetation is the major feature of Mount Fanjing, with mountains standing majestically, peaks rising one after another, streams crossing and waterfalls overshooting. Besides, Fanjingshan is a sacred Buddhist site and many Buddhist believe that Fanjingshan is where one can reach spiritual enlightenment as Maitreya Buddha did.

National Geographic has released its “Best Trips in 2019” list with 28 places selected around the world. Mount Fanjing is the only tourist destination in China to make the list. Before you kick off your trip to this mysterious land, you can carefully have a browse of this latest Fanjingshan travel guide to plan your adventure and itinerary.

The 53rd UNESCO World Heritage Site in China. The 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee in Bahrain has announced Fanjingshan as UNESCO’s ever-expanding list of World Heritage Sites. It is an island of metamorphic rock in a sea of Karst and is home to many ancient and relict plant and animal species which originated in the Tertiary period, between 65 million and 2 million years ago.Profound Buddhist Culture over 1300 Years. Fanjingshan is a sacred Buddhist mountain, considered to be the bodhimaṇḍa of the Maitreya Buddha. It is ranked as the Fifth Buddhist Mountain of China. The influence of Buddhism reached Fanjingshan by the Tang Dynasty in 639 AD. More temples were built during the ensuing Song and Yuan dynasties. Now the two temples sitting atop of the New Golden Summit are the significant pilgrimage site for Buddhist worshipers around the world.Peculiar Rocks and Superlative Natural Views. There is arguably no better view of the world that one that can be seen form the New Golden Summit (also known for Red Clouds Golden Summit). It takes about four hours to hike over 8000 steps to the temples. Along the way, you can fully appreciate the strange rock formations like Mushroom Stone standing ten meters high which speaks to the area’s prehistoric creation. There are many other strange rock formations and stone pillars on Fanjingshan that you won’t miss during your visit.

The mountain was named “Fanjing”, an abbreviation of “Fantian Jingtu”, is a Buddhist term which means “Brahma’s Pure Land”. It has been reputed as the Fifth Buddhist Mountain in China, after Mount Wutai in Shanxi Province, Mount Putuo in Zhejiang Province, Mount Emei in Sichuan Province, and Mount Jiuhua in Anhui Province. With a history more than 2000 years and filled with many unusual rock formations and rich biodiversity, Mount Fanjing is a beautiful, quiet and unique site and can make a refreshing and spiritual change after the hustle and bustle of big cities.

Like Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Fanjingshan is much taller than it is wide, a vertical pinnacle that resembles a pencil standing on a desk. To reach the top, travelers have to walk up more than 8,000 steps or take a cable car ride up from the road below. Most travelers would like to spend one full day exploring this extraordinary holy mountain. The attractions include Red Cloud Golden Peak, Old Golden Summit, Ten-Thousand Sleeping Buddha, Mushroom Stone, Jiulong Pond, Fenghuang Mountain, Numerous Rolls of Books and so on.

1.Reach Up the Summits in the Air

There are three summits of Mount Fanjing perching into the sky - Red Clouds Golden Summit (2336 meters), Old Golden Summit (2493 meters) and Phoenix Golden Summit (2572 meters). Standing on the top of the summits, you can catch amazing panoramic view of Mount Fanjing.

2.View Peculiar Rocks & Peaks

The landform of Mount Fanjing is called a “fold belt” in geology, which means that the massif resembles huge lasagnas - layers and layers of rocks piled into bizarre shapes rarely seen anywhere else. The Mushroom Stone is a good example that layers of rocks form the shape of a tall mushroom.

3.Hiking

If you are in good physical condition, it is recommended to enjoy the 4-hour hiking experience to climb about 8000 steps reaching up the summit. It will reward hikers with bizarre rock formations and above-the-clouds views of China‘s Wuling mountain range.

4.Photography

This place is definitely worth your time to take many awesome photos. No matter you want to shoot the holy Buddhist temples shrouded into the sky, unbelievable rocks, endangered animals, or other stunning landscape like sea of clouds, the light of Buddha...you have got the chances.

Fanjingshan located in the mountainous Guizhou Province, belongs to the subtropical humid monsoon climate with distinctive four seasons. The annual average temperature of the year ranges from  13.1°C to 14.7°C. The hottest days occur in the late July with an average temperature around 24°C; and the coldest nights fall in the early January with an average temperature around 4.6°C. Generally speaking, the climate in Fanjingshan is mild with abundant solar power and rainfall. No too hot summers or cold winters. The rainfall season is usually during May to October and the the annual frost-free period is 270-278 days.

The best time to visit Mount Fanjing is from March to November. And if you are planning to catch some surprisingly photos, the best time to visit is in the early morning. And, Sea of Clouds, Zen Fog, Buddha Light and amazing sunrise will appear after the rain. 

Fanjingshan Weather: Weather Forecast, Temperature, Seasons & Best Time to Visit

Fanjingshan in Tongren belongs to subtropical humid monsoon climate area. The annual average temperature of Fanjingshan ranges from 13.1 °C to 14.7 °C. The hottest days occur in the late July, and the average temperature is 24 °C (75 ℉); the coldest nights approach in the early January, and the average temperature is 4.6 °C (40 ℉). Rainfall season is intense from May to October. The temperature decreases with the increase of the terrain. The temperature on the summit is about 10 °C lower than the bottom’s. The annual frost-free period is 270-278 days. The annual sunshine hours are 900-1170 hours. The sunshine hours in April-September account for 68% of the annual sunshine hours. The annual precipitation is 1100-2600 mm. The precipitation in April-September is more than 70% of the total precipitation and the average relative humidity is 80%. It is suitable for the growth of various mosses and trees. Generally speaking, the climate at Fanjingshan is mild,with abundant solar power and rainfall. It is neither too hot in summer in nor cold in winter, no gale blowing, and no sand storming.
How To Get To Fanjingshan, Mount Fanjing Temple History, Mount Fanjing Temple Interior, Mount Fanjing China Temple On Top Of Mountain In China Magic Mount China, How To Get To Mount Fanjing, Red Clouds Golden Summit, Fanjingshan Temple Steps

Fanjingshan has its attractive sights all year round. Every season brings different beauty to the tourists. In terms of weather and seasonal condition, the best time to visit is from April to November. However, please note the cableway and summit areas might not be open, when there is thunderstorm, so it is necessary to check out the calendar and weather forecast when planning your Fanjingshan tour. Always try to avoid visiting Fanjingshan during Chinese holidays such as the Chinese National Day (the beginning of October) and the Labor’s Day (the beginning of May). It is also very crowded during July and August (China‘s school summer holiday).

Top-Recommended Fanjingshan Tour：