Mount Qingcheng青城山
Mount Qingcheng, 60 km northwest of Chengdu, is the cradle of Taoism (Tianshi Dao, 142 AD), with a temple-filled front mountain and a wilder back mountain.
Chengdu · Visitor Guide2026-10-27
Quick Answer
Is Mount Qingcheng worth visiting?
One of China's four sacred Taoist mountains, birthplace of the Taoist "Way of the Celestial Masters" (142 AD). Forested paths, pavilions, Taoist temples. ¥90. 1 hour from Chengdu.
Quick facts
| Ticket | Mount Qingcheng: ¥90. Dujiangyan Irrigation System: ¥80. Combo: ¥160. Cable car one-way: ¥35. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 7:30–17:30. |
| Recommended duration | 4–6 hours for Front Mountain. Full day for Front + Back. |
| Best time to visit | April–May (green, waterfalls flowing) and September–November (autumn colors). Summer is crowded but the forest shade keeps it bearable. |
| How to get there | HSR from Chengdu Xipu Station to Qingchengshan Station: 30 min, ¥15. Bus to park entrance: 15 min. |
| English signage | Partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | No |
| Taoism founded here | 142 AD by Zhang Daoling |
| UNESCO | 2000 (Mount Qingcheng + Dujiangyan) |
| Elevation | 1,260 m (Front Mountain summit) |
| From Chengdu | 1 hour by HSR |
What to expect
Qingcheng Mountain is wrapped in dense, humid forest — the name "Green City" comes from the year-round verdancy. The Front Mountain path climbs past Tianshi Cave (Celestial Master Cave, where Zhang Daoling taught), Jianfu Palace, and Shangqing Palace at the summit. The stone steps are well-maintained, and the entire route is shaded — a blessing in Sichuan's humid summers.
The Back Mountain (后山) is a separate, wilder area with fewer temples and more nature — waterfalls, pools, and steeper hiking. It is less developed and less crowded but requires an additional entrance ticket (¥20) and transport from the Front Mountain area. Most day-trippers from Chengdu do the Front Mountain only.
How to get there
From Chengdu: HSR from Xipu Station to Qingchengshan Station (30 min, ¥15). Bus 101 from the station to the Front Mountain entrance (15 min, ¥5). DiDi from Chengdu: 1.5 hours, ¥200–300.
Best photo spots
- Laojun Pavilion at the summit — panorama of the Chengdu plain
- The covered walkway between Tianshi Cave and the summit — mossy trees and stone steps
- Dujiangyan's Anlan Suspension Bridge — the best view of the 2,200-year-old fish-mouth levee
Tips
- Combine with Dujiangyan (same UNESCO site, at the mountain's base) for a full day
- The cable car cuts the hardest climb — take it up, walk down to save knees
- The vegetarian restaurant at Tianshi Cave serves Taoist temple food (¥30–50)
- Dujiangyan is not a dam — it is a 2,200-year-old water-diversion system that still works today, preventing Chengdu from flooding while irrigating 530,000 hectares of farmland
Scams to avoid
- Touts at the HSR station offering "Qingcheng Mountain tours" that go to a fake temple nearby, not the actual mountain
- "Official" incense sellers at temple gates — the temples provide free incense
Frequently asked questions
What is Dujiangyan and is it worth seeing?
Dujiangyan is a 2,200-year-old irrigation system built by Li Bing in 256 BC that diverts the Min River without a dam — using a fish-mouth levee to split the flow, a spillway to drain excess water, and a channel cut through a mountain. It still irrigates 530,000 hectares and protects Chengdu from flooding. It is a UNESCO site and genuinely fascinating. ¥80. 2 hours. Best combined with Mount Qingcheng.
How is Qingcheng different from Emei?
Qingcheng = Taoist, forested, gentler, 1,260 m. Emei = Buddhist, higher (3,099 m), more dramatic scenery, monkeys, summit sunrises. Qingcheng is a half-day from Chengdu; Emei requires 1–2 days. Both are UNESCO. Qingcheng is less crowded.
Can I do Qingcheng as a day trip from Chengdu?
Yes — HSR 30 min each way, 4–6 hours on the mountain, total day trip ~8 hours. Add Dujiangyan for an additional 2 hours (doable in one full day with an early start).
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