Qingcheng Mountain Travel Guide 2026 — Taoist Temples, Cable Cars & Tickets

What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Qingchengshan Bucket Listthe temples, the mist and the green stairs

Climb to the Tianshi Cave

The cave temple where the Taoist patriarch Zhang Daoling is said to have taught — the spiritual heart of the mountain.

Reach the Shangqing Palace

The highest of the front-mountain temples — the gate inscribed by Chiang Kai-shek, the Zhang Daqian murals and the cloud views.

Ride the two cable cars

The front-mountain line from Moon Lake to the upper temple, and the Baiyun line deeper in — the gentle way up the green stairs.

Cross the Moon Lake ferry

The small ferry (RMB 5) across the green lake at the mountain's foot — the classic first view.

Walk the rear-mountain waterfalls

The rear mountain's streams, caves and the five-dragon valley — the wilder Taoist landscape.

Sleep in Tai'an Ancient Town

The old town at the rear gate — guesthouses, mountain food and the morning mist.

Top Highlightswhat the misty mountain does best

No.1
The Tianshi CaveThe cliff-side Taoist temple of the patriarch — incense, stele and the green mountain behind.
No.2
The Shangqing PalaceThe cloud-top temple with its famous inscriptions and murals — the goal of the front-mountain climb.
No.3
The Moon LakeThe green lake at the foot, crossed by the RMB 5 ferry to the cable car.
No.4
The rear-mountain wildsWaterfalls, stone stairs and the Tai'an town below — the quieter half of the mountain.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Qingchengshan

When is the best time to visit Qingchengshan?

April–June and September–November are perfect — green, misty and mild. Summer offers the cool of the mountain against Chengdu's heat; winter is quiet, cold and often fog-wrapped, which suits the Taoist atmosphere.

How do the tickets and cable cars work?

Front mountain RMB 90; rear mountain RMB 20 plus the RMB 2 Cuiying Lake ferry. The front cable car runs RMB 35 one way / 60 return (Moon Lake to the upper temple); the Baiyun line RMB 35 / 60; the rear Jiali line RMB 30 / 55. Hours run 08:00–18:00.

Front mountain or rear?

The front mountain holds the classical Taoist temples and is the 'must'; the rear mountain is wilder — waterfalls, caves and the Tai'an town — and better for walkers. Two days let you do both; one day means the front.

How do I get there from Chengdu?

Take the 30-minute high-speed train to Dujiangyan, then the shuttle to the mountain gate (about 20 minutes); or the direct coaches from Chengdu's Chadianzi station. The Dujiangyan–Qingcheng combined pass costs RMB 180.

Is the climb hard?

The front-mountain stairs are long but gentle — about 2–3 hours to the top. The cable car shortcuts the first half; walking shoes and water are the only kit.

Can I book my Qingcheng trip through ToursChinaTravel?

Yes — email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team arranges the rail, the passes, the cable cars, a guide and the Tai'an guesthouse, free of charge and without obligation.

Sample Itinerariesthe two mountain circuits

Qingcheng Front Mountain 1-Day Tour

The classical Taoist circuit — Jianfu Palace to the Shangqing Palace and back by cable car. View the plan →

Day 1

Morning at the Jianfu Palace gate and the Moon Lake ferry; the cable car to the upper trail, then the walk to the Tianshi Cave and the Shangqing Palace; afternoon descend past the natural-picture arch to the gate; evening back to Dujiangyan or Chengdu.

Qingcheng Rear Mountain 2-Day Tour

The wilder half — waterfalls, caves and a night in Tai'an Ancient Town. View the plan →

Day 1

Morning to the rear gate; the Five Dragons Valley and the Baiyun Cave, then the Jiali cable car down to Tai'an town for the night.

Day 2

Morning in the mist of the old town, the Yi Xian Bridge and the waterfalls; afternoon the Cuiying Lake ferry and the road back to Dujiangyan.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Qingchengshan itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Jianfu Palace & the mountain gate

The first of the Taoist halls, entered through the green pines at the foot — the traditional start of the front-mountain circuit.

Included · 08:00–18:00 · Temple · Gateway

View details →

The Tianshi Cave

The cliff temple of the Taoist patriarch Zhang Daoling — the incense, the stele and the mountain's spiritual heart, on the main stairs above the cable car.

Included · 08:00–18:00 · Temple · Taoism

View details →

The Shangqing Palace

The highest temple of the front mountain — the gate inscribed by Chiang Kai-shek, the Zhang Daqian murals and the cloud views down the valley.

Included · 08:00–18:00 · Temple · Summit

View details →

The Moon Lake & cable car

The green lake at the foot crossed by the RMB 5 ferry, then the front cable car (RMB 35/60) up through the pines.

RMB 5 ferry + cable car · 08:00–18:00 · Lake · Cable Car

View details →

The Rear Mountain (Hou Shan)

The wilder half — the Five Dragons Valley, the Baiyun Cave (RMB 5) and the crystal caves (RMB 10), entered at the rear gate (RMB 20).

RMB 20 · 08:00–18:00 · Valley · Waterfalls

View details →

Tai'an Ancient Town

The old town at the rear gate — the guesthouses, the mountain food and the misty mornings, the classic overnight of the mountain.

Free · 24 hours · Ancient Town · Overnight

View details →

More in the region on the Sichuan attractions page.

Activities & FestivalsTaoist festivals and mountain climbing

The Taoist Culture Festival

Each September the mountain holds its festival of Taoist music, ritual and philosophy — the cultural heart of the season.

The Qingcheng climbing festival

March–May the spring climbing month draws walkers up the classical stairs — the greenest weeks of the year.

The Tai Chi mornings

Practitioners train in the temple courtyards at dawn — join quietly, or watch from the tea tables.

The rear-mountain water walks

The Five Dragons Valley's pools and waterfalls — the cooling summer circuit of the mountain.

Where to Staythe misty guesthouses of the mountain

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Sichuan hotels directory.

Tai'an Ancient Town

Guesthouses in the old town at the rear gate — from about RMB 100 at the Wu family farmhouse (028-61920823), the atmospheric overnight.

Book: Sichuan hotels · or email [email protected]

Front-mountain hotels

The hotels at the Jianfu Palace gate and the Dujiangyan edge — the practical base for the day-tripper.

Book: Sichuan hotels · or email [email protected]

The Jin'gangshan villas

The hillside guesthouses of the Dujiangyan–Qingcheng road, from mid-range resorts to family rooms.

Book: Sichuan hotels · or email [email protected]

Dujiangyan old town

The river-town rooms an easy shuttle away — the night beer garden as the evening reward.

Book: Sichuan hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantsthe mountain table of the Taoists

White-fruit chicken (baiguo dun ji)

The mountain's signature — chicken braised with the ginkgo nuts of the Qingcheng groves.

Old cured pork (la la rou)

The smoky mountain bacon, steamed or fried with greens — the farmhouse standard.

The Qingcheng four delicacies

The preserved specialities of the Taoist table — the edible heritage of the mountain.

Luo chicken (luo jirou)

The famous chicken dish of the Tai'an guesthouses — the evening feast of the old town.

Shopping & Souvenirsginkgo, tea and the Taoist crafts

Ginkgo nuts & mountain teas

The white fruits of the Qingcheng groves and the local green teas — the mountain pantry.

Taoist talismans & incenses

The amulets, talisman prints and incense of the temple stalls — the spiritual souvenirs.

Mushrooms & herbs

The matsutake and medicinal plants of the western Sichuan slopes.

Bamboo crafts

The woven baskets and mats of the mountain villages.

Full local-product guides live on the Sichuan specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundthirty minutes from Dujiangyan, ninety from Chengdu

By train

By high-speed train

Take the 30-minute Chengdu–Dujiangyan line, then the shuttle or taxi to the mountain gate (about 20 minutes).

By coach

Direct coaches run from Chengdu's Chadianzi station (about 1.5 h); local buses link Dujiangyan's south gate to the mountain.

By car

About 65 km from Chengdu via the S9 expressway — an hour's drive to the front gate; parking at the visitor centre.

Day Trips From Qingchengshanthe irrigation wonder, the gorge and the rear valleys

Dujiangyan irrigation system (1 day)

The Fish Mouth and the Anlan Bridge, 20 minutes away — the two world-heritage sights of one ticket.

Hongkou gorge & rafting (1 day)

The white-water rafts of the Hongkou valley — the adventure day of the region.

The rear-mountain valleys (1 day)

The Five Dragons Valley, the Baiyun Cave and the waterfalls — the wilder Taoist landscape.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

1 · Take the cable car up, walk down

The front cable car skips the dullest stairs; the descent past the Tianshi Cave and the natural-picture arch is the rewarding half.

2 · Mist is the mood

The mountain is named for its mist — a foggy morning is the classic Qingcheng experience, not a ruined one.

3 · The combined pass

Dujiangyan + Qingcheng at RMB 180 beats two singles — buy it at either site if both are on the plan.

4 · Tai'an needs a night

The rear-mountain town is an overnight destination — the morning mist, not the day-trip, is its point.

5 · Keep the temples for midday

The stairs warm by 11:00; do the cable car and Moon Lake in the morning and the temples after lunch.

Background & Historythe mountain where Taoism was born

Geography & climate

Qingcheng Mountain rises to 1,260 m above the Chengdu Plain, 15 km south-west of Dujiangyan — a massif of 36 peaks draped in mist, threaded by stone stairs and waterfalls.

A brief history

The Taoist patriarch Zhang Daoling founded the Celestial Masters school here in the 2nd century, making Qingcheng the birthplace of organised Taoism. The temples were rebuilt across the centuries, and the front and rear mountains were listed with Dujiangyan as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

The culture of the mountain

Taoist ritual music, Tai Chi and the vegetarian table of the temples survive alongside the tourist path — the Taoist Culture Festival each September is the mountain's great public moment.

Plan Your Qingchengshan Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Qingchengshan trip lives on the site.

Qingchengshan Travel Guide — the misty birthplace of Taoism

Qingchengshan Bucket Listthe temples, the mist and the green stairs

Climb to the Tianshi Cave

Reach the Shangqing Palace

Ride the two cable cars

Cross the Moon Lake ferry

Walk the rear-mountain waterfalls

Sleep in Tai'an Ancient Town

Top Highlightswhat the misty mountain does best

The Tianshi Cave

The Shangqing Palace

The Moon Lake

The rear-mountain wilds

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Qingchengshan

When is the best time to visit Qingchengshan?

How do the tickets and cable cars work?

Front mountain or rear?

How do I get there from Chengdu?

Is the climb hard?

Can I book my Qingcheng trip through ToursChinaTravel?

Sample Itinerariesthe two mountain circuits

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Activities & FestivalsTaoist festivals and mountain climbing

The Taoist Culture Festival

The Qingcheng climbing festival

The Tai Chi mornings

The rear-mountain water walks

Where to Staythe misty guesthouses of the mountain

Tai'an Ancient Town

Front-mountain hotels

The Jin'gangshan villas

Dujiangyan old town

Food & Restaurantsthe mountain table of the Taoists

White-fruit chicken (baiguo dun ji)

Old cured pork (la la rou)

The Qingcheng four delicacies

Luo chicken (luo jirou)

Shopping & Souvenirsginkgo, tea and the Taoist crafts

Ginkgo nuts & mountain teas

Taoist talismans & incenses

Mushrooms & herbs

Bamboo crafts

Getting There & Aroundthirty minutes from Dujiangyan, ninety from Chengdu

By high-speed train

By coach

By car

Day Trips From Qingchengshanthe irrigation wonder, the gorge and the rear valleys

Travel Tipsthings to remember

1 · Take the cable car up, walk down

2 · Mist is the mood

3 · The combined pass

4 · Tai'an needs a night

5 · Keep the temples for midday

Background & Historythe mountain where Taoism was born

Geography & climate

A brief history

The culture of the mountain

Plan Your Qingchengshan Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place