Jinfo Mountain Chongqing - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Green Pond & Secluded Valley is the first attraction in the Western Slope and is the optimal passage for hiking. The intact primitive ecology of the earth's few sub-tropical and temperate zones is preserved here. You can see clear water and admire luxuriantly grown plants in Spring and Summer and golden and brown ones in Autumn all over the mountains surrounding you.

Sun-toward Golden Turtle Trail (金龟朝阳步道)

Sun-toward Golden Turtle Rail is on top of the western edge of Jinfo Mountain at an altitude of 1800 – 2100m. There are two slow slopes. The bigger one is similar to a round turtle's back and the smaller one looks like its head stretching forward. The steep edge makes up the outer fringe of the turtle's back. The turtle is 300m high and 500m long. When the sunshine falls over it at sunset, it seems like a golden turtle!

Ancient Wild Azalea Park (世界野生古杜鹃公园)

Ancient Wild Azalea Park is deep into Jinfo Mountain where plenty of valuable and rare wild azalea species blossom into masses of diverse colors and release fragrance in Spring like a paradise of flowers. Walking along the pathway stretching around 4 km long, you can see the holy Nine Lotus Treasure Top (九莲宝顶) standing peacefully amid beautifully colorful flowers.

Cliff Plank Road (绝壁栈道)

The Cliff Plank Road is the most thrilling hiking pathway of Jinfo Mountain with a total length of 3.5 km, of which 1.5 km is almost built on the vertical 90-degree cliff wall, 40-50m high from the ground, hence the name. It connects Western Slope and Northern Slope and passes by many wonderful attractions including The Sea of Arrow Bamboo (箭林竹海), Swallow Cave (燕子洞), The Ecological Stone Forest (生态石林), etc. It is the best place to watch azaleas, colorful forests, a sea of clouds, and Buddha lights.

The Ancient Buddha Cave (古佛洞)

The Ancient Buddha Cave was formed about 6,500,000 years ago and is the highest and largest cavern in China. There are statues of Sakyamuni, Avalokitesvara of the South Sea, Manjusri, Maitreya, etc., which represent Shakyamuni Buddha's largest sutra sermon. It's well-preserved and worth your visit.

Skiing Fields

There are two skiing fields in Jinfo Mountain including one in the Northern Slope and Qianniuping Skiing Field in the Western Slope in Winter. Jinfo Mountain Skiing Field covers an area of around 1,700 square kilometers including both primary and intermediate ski runs for snowboard and double-board skiing lovers and interesting entertainment facilities such as snow motorbikes, banana boat riding, etc.

The Western Gate is the main gate for tourists. Many visitors start their trips from this gate to admire majestic landscapes such as Azure Stream Valley, Sun-toward Golden Turtle Trail, etc., the closest and most conveniently.

✓ Travel Jinfo Mountain with Cableways and Tour Buses

• Route 1: For those Buddhism lovers

Upper Ropeway Station of Western Gate→Sightseeing Bus Station→The Ancient Buddha Cave→Yaochi Ba→Golden Buddha Temple (金佛寺)→the same Upper Ropeway Station (for 1730m)

• Route 2: For visitors who want to explore diverse ecological species

Upper Ropeway Station of Western Gate→Qianniuping Station→Golden Buddha Temple→Ancient Wild Azalea Park→The Sea of Square Bamboo (方林竹海)→The Azalea King's Family (杜鹃王庭)→The Top of Jinfo Mountain (金山之巅)→Gauntree of High Up In The Air (凌空栈桥)→Northern Gate of Cliff Plank Path→The Food Plaza→Upper Ropeway Station of Western Gate (for 5315m)

✓ Travel Jinfo Mountain by Hiking

Since the route starting from Western Gate is the only way for hiking, if you're fond of hiking, then you should definitely enter from it. You can choose an Azure Stream Valley - Ten Thousand Walking Trails hiking ticket. The route can be divided at Under Ropeway Station in Western Slope into two halves.

• Route 3: A whole hiking way to challenge yourself

Western Gate→take a tour bus (included in the ticket)→Azure Stream Valley→hike (via Under Ropeway Station)→Ten Thousand Walking Trails (万步游道)→Sun-toward Golden Turtle Platform

• Route 4: For visitors who want to have a relaxing try on hiking, you can hike the first half.

• Route 5: But if you want to reserve your energy so as simply to hike the steepest and most thrilling section, you can choose to hike the second half.

Notes:

1. The three gates charge different prices. If you buy a ticket to Western Gate, you can only take the upper and under cableways of Western Slope and vice versa. But with any ticket to the three gates, you can tour all attractions in Jinfo Mountain.

2. Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes and bring breathable and warm clothing on your trip.

Jinfo Mountain is situated in Nanchuan District in the south of Chongqing. It is:

• 130 km (2.5 hrs' drive) away from the downtown Chongqing city

• 140 km (2 -3 hrs' drive) away from Wulong Karst Scenic Area.

• 37 km (1 – 1.5 hrs' drive) km away from Nanchuan District

The Western Gate is 55 km (50 minutes' drive) away from the Northern Gate and 40 km (30 minutes' drive). The distance between the Northern Gate and the Southern Gate is 90 km (1.8 hrs' drive). There's no high-speed railway to take among them. Instead, you can take buses or take taxis.

It takes 1 to 2 days in Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area and tourists prefer to rest in the scenic area and start journeying up the mountain early in the morning. Since Jinfo Mountain is far from Chongqing Downtown, there are few high-star hotels to pick and most lie in Qianniuping (牵牛坪), but it does have some comfortable and well-served ones that won't let you down. Living in the scenic area, you're able to view luxuriantly growing plants in the nearby mountains while probably facing a clear running stream.

But if you plan to live in Chongqing Downtown after traveling to its top attractions, there are many recommended hotels for you. There are four best areas for you to stay in Chongqing. ⨠ Check more.

Jinfo Mountain Karst is located in Chongqing province within the boundaries of the Jinfoshan National Nature Reserve and Jinfoshan National Park. Jinfo Mountain, together with Guilin Karst, Shibing Karst, and Huanjiang Karst was inscribed as The South China Karst, the World Natural Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 2014. Besides, early in 2007 Libo Karst, Stone Forest Karst, and Wulong Karst first gained the fame. The South China Karst is renowned for its karst features and landscapes as well as rich biodiversity. With Karst types such as tower-shaped, pinnacle-shaped, and cone-shaped ones as well as other karst phenomena like natural bridges, Tiankeng karst, etc., South China Karst is one of the world's most spectacular examples of humid tropical to subtropical karst landscapes.

It's highly recommended that you come to see those unrivaled wonders shaped by the magical workmanship of nature.

☛ 3 Days Kunming Tour to Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave

☛ 5 Days Kunming Golf Tour with Spring City Highlights

☛ 5 Days Guizhou Minority Tour with Huangguoshu from Guangzhou

☛ 7 Days Idyllic Guilin & Yangtze River Cruise Tour

Generally, visitors will pay a visit to Chongqing downtown city first since there are many popular attractions that are close to one another. You can go to visit Hongya Cave, Liziba Station, Ciqikou Old Town, Jiefangbei Square, Raffles City, etc., and then leave the city center for the Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area.

☛ 1 Day Chongqing City Highlights Discovery

For more Chongqing highlights, please see Chongqing Attractions and Things to Do in Chongqing.

Jinfo Mountain is not far from the Wulong Karst Scenic Area, it's highly recommended that you travel Jinfo Mountain together with Wulong Karst, another typical South China Karst site with majestic Three Natural Bridges and Tiankeng.

☛ 2 Days Chongqing & Wulong Karst Landscape Exploration Tour

Most visitors travel to Chongqing & Wulong & Jinfo Mountain before boarding their downstream Yangtze River Cruise ships. If you are going to have such a Chongqing tour, remember to catch your ship at Chaotianmen Dock .

☛ 4 Days Chongqing Essence Tour with Yangtze Cruise

☛ 5 Days Chongqing, Yangtze Cruise & Wulong Karst Tour