[2025 Hangzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Xitianmu Scenic Area (Updated May)

City escape plan activated‼️ 3h drive🚗 from Shanghai to Lin'an Time to relax in the kingdom of giant trees🌳～ - 👀Must-read for low-energy travelers! Don't want to be a commando during May Day holiday, just want to chill? Come to Tianmu Mountain's hidden paradise to unlock a relaxing vacation, where parents will call it a "heavenly place" with slow living～ - 🌙 DAY1: Secluded Moon Bridge Village - An Off-the-Beaten-Path Hideaway 🏡 A tranquil ancient village nestled at the foot of the mountain, with rice fields, streams, stone bridges, and bamboo groves, like stepping into a rural version of "Where the Wind Blows." The ducks🦆 and swans🦢 by the creek are truly natural. In summer, you can also enjoy Moon Bay rafting (opens from May 31) 💫 Stay at "Moon Workshop," a designer aesthetic guesthouse with zen-inspired wooden cabins. Wake up to birdsong, enjoy homemade dishes and rice porridge, and completely unwind～ - 🌳 DAY2: Enter the Kingdom of Giant Trees - Immersive Oxygen Therapy 🚗 Lazy person's route: West Tianmu Mountain parking lot➡Shuttle bus➡Giant Tree King scenic area➡Shuttle bus➡Chanyuan Temple➡Return - 🌲 Giant Tree King: Hangzhou has its own green light forest! Surprisingly pristine, with over 500 ancient trees that are more than 500 years old. No wonder it was chosen as the venue for the World Nature Conservation Conference～ Walking along moss-covered stone steps, the air is filled with the fresh scent of pine needles and soil. This thousand-year-old cedar has a diameter of 2.3 meters, so tall you can't see the top when looking up. Its bark is furrowed like dragon scales, as if you're touching the texture of time itself. The nearby "New Giant Tree King" is equally magnificent, with a canopy that blocks the sky - this is truly a natural oxygen bar. - ⛩️ Chanyuan Temple: When going downhill, ask the driver to stop at Chanyuan Temple. The path outside feels like entering a fairy tale, and stepping inside is like time travel～ Red walls and yellow tiles arranged in perfect harmony, ancient trees shading flying eaves, and a pagoda - no wonder it's called "Hangzhou's Little Forbidden City"! Taking photos in Hanfu traditional clothing looks amazing here. They say there are special magnolia flowers in March～ Burning incense beats working in an office. The temple is quiet with few visitors. A pot of osmanthus latte from the village café creates a zen atmosphere hard to find in the city. - ⚠️Helpful tips: 1️⃣ Navigate to "West Tianmu Mountain Visitor Center," parking is 10 yuan/time; 2️⃣ Shuttle bus costs 20 yuan/person one-way: 30min mountain drive to reach halfway up, then a 20-minute walk to Giant Tree King. Bring motion sickness medicine if needed; 3️⃣ Hikers can park at Chanyuan Temple and take the walking path uphill, about 3-4 hours one-way; 4️⃣ Temperature varies on the mountain, bring a light jacket + non-slip shoes - Escape the concrete jungle and take your family on a "low-energy" healing journey during your vacation. Embrace the mountain greenery and spend a few days "conversing with trees"～🌳 ———————————————————— ✨ Follow me to discover more great places to visit in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai!

🌲 📍 Location: Tianmu Mountain Scenic Area is located in Tianmu Mountain Town, Lin'an District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. It is divided into East and West Tianmu Mountain. West Tianmu Mountain is 26 kilometers northwest of Lin'an city, while East Tianmu Mountain is 31 kilometers east of Lin'an city. 🚗 Transportation - 🚗 Self-driving: From Hangzhou, it takes about 2 hours to drive to West Tianmu Mountain and about 1.5 hours to East Tianmu Mountain. Both scenic areas have parking lots 🅿. - 🚌 Public transportation: From Hangzhou West Bus Station, take a long-distance bus to Yuqian or Changhua and get off at Zaoxi, then transfer to a local minibus to West Tianmu Mountain. To reach East Tianmu Mountain, first go to Lin'an East Bus Station, then take a bus to Meijia Village, and after getting off, walk or take local transportation to the scenic area 🚍. 🌟 Must-visit attractions - 🌳 Big Tree King Scenic Area: This area features many towering ancient trees, especially the "Big Tree King" which, although withered, still exudes a sense of historical grandeur that makes visitors marvel at nature's wonders 🌲. - 🌊 Chanyuan Temple: With its magnificent architecture and meticulous layout, the temple is filled with incense and a peaceful atmosphere, creating a strong Buddhist cultural environment that's perfect for spiritual retreat 🙏. - 🌄 Immortal Peak: This is the highest peak of Tianmu Mountain. From the top, you can see rolling mountains stretching into the distance. When the sea of clouds surges, it looks like a fairyland with breathtaking scenery 🌅. 🎫 Ticket information - Adult tickets: West Tianmu Mountain costs around 110 yuan during peak season (April - October) and around 80 yuan during off-season (November - March); East Tianmu Mountain tickets cost around 130 yuan 🎫. - Child ticket: Children under 1.2 meters tall enter free 🆓; children between 1.2 - 1.5 meters get half-price tickets. Actual ticket prices are subject to the scenic area's current rates. 📌 Other tips - 💰 Budget: For a one-day trip, excluding round-trip transportation, tickets plus meals will cost about 300 - 400 yuan per person 💰. Accommodation costs vary depending on the level of lodging chosen. - 🌞 Sun protection: Although there are many trees in the scenic area, sunlight can still be intense. Bring sunscreen, umbrellas, and sunglasses for sun protection 🌂. - 👚 What to wear: In summer, wear light, breathable clothing and comfortable sports shoes 👟; in spring and autumn, prepare a light jacket 🧥; in winter, you'll need thick down jackets, thermal pants, and snow boots for warmth. - 🏨 Hotels: There are hotels and guesthouses of various levels around the scenic area 🏨. During peak season when there are many tourists, it's recommended to book rooms in advance to better plan your trip. Would you like to experience the charm of Tianmu Mountain? 🧐

In Xitianmu, Lin'an, the green mountains are like a painted screen. The ancient trees stand tall, and the breeze clears your mind. 🚗Self-driving from the west of Hangzhou 🔍Location: Xitianmu Mountain Nature Reserve Parking Lot, Time 1h20min 🎫On-site tickets are 136. It is said that it will be cheaper if you buy it online 2 hours in advance (about 110). Children under 120 cm are free. Along the way, there are towering golden pine trees, and the thousand-year-old stone path is accompanied by a stream flowing down from the top of the mountain. The key is that there are few people, dense vegetation, and the feeling of being wrapped in nature. The steep slope rises sharply after Wuliting. Because the children have friends along the way, they don’t have much rest. With full of enthusiasm, I saw the "Big Tree King" bestowed by Emperor Qianlong as I wished. 🗓️The hiking route is shown in the red part of Figure 3 👞7 km 🎒Climbing height is nearly 900 meters ⏳Time: 3 hours 💥Key points: Hike up the mountain and take a car down the mountain (Longfengjian parking lot) You can take the scenic tourist bus down the mountain, the ticket is 20, the last bus is 16:00 We wanted to relax a little, so we stayed at the nearby Hotel Indigo Tianmu Mountain for one night. The hotel has free indoor and outdoor children's play areas and free bicycle rental Paid entertainment area: Camping ranch next to it 158/person (the price is a bit expensive, so I didn’t go), Nature Exploration Park 39/full day The next day, the child and his father went to the Nature Discovery Park. My friend and I I rode a bicycle around the entire hotel park, it was very comfortable~ Finally, we discovered a new world (Figure 12-16) and rode out of the hotel. Go through the village opposite the gate and arrive at [Dongguanxi] The greenway surrounded by mountains and water is so comfortable. You can come here to play in the water in summer. 👄 Eat: Guohua Hotel, good value for money The hotel restaurant tastes good, but the price is a bit high I ate at one in front of the hotel, but I forgot its name. pit

The weather in early autumn is pleasant and refreshing, perfect for outdoor hiking🍃 If you don't want to join the crowds at West Lake's Ten-mile Langdang, I recommend a thousand-year-old trail on Xitianmu Mountain. It's called the Zhejiang version of Kumano Kodo! Stretching from Chanyuan Temple to Xianrending, the trail is lined with towering trees, like a canopy, and accompanied by springs. It boasts the largest existing Cryptomeria japonica forest in the world, a true kingdom of trees🌳 The day we went, it had just rained and the sky was clear. Stepping from the misty fog into the green forest, it felt incredibly healing! Below is a detailed guide to the hike, be sure to save it in advance! 📍｜Lin'an, Hangzhou, Xitianmu Mountain Scenic Area 🕗｜Open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, tickets are CNY 136 per person 🚗｜About 1.5 hours by car from Hangzhou city center 🚶｜Hiking route: Chanyuan Temple - Entrance Gate - Five-mile Pavilion - Big Tree King - Kaishan Old Hall - Longfengjian Parking Lot - Take the scenic bus downhill 🥾｜Distance: about 6 kilometers, elevation gain: about 800 meters, duration: 4-5 hours 🍃Hiking Tips 1️⃣ For elderly people and children, it is recommended to take the scenic bus up and down the mountain. Each ride costs CNY 20. The last bus downhill from Longfengjian Parking Lot is at 5:00 pm. 2️⃣ For hiking uphill, directly navigate to "Chanyuan Temple". Parking fee is CNY 10. You can visit Chanyuan Temple, then enter the mountain gate from the small path on the left side of the temple. 3️⃣ There are very few toilets on the trail, only at "Five-mile Pavilion" and "Kaishan Old Hall". 4️⃣ There are no supply points along the way, so remember to bring snacks and water to replenish your energy!

Tianmu Mountain is the largest mountain range around Hangzhou, starting from Huzhou in the east and ending at the border between Zhejiang and Anhui in the west. Today I recommend a 3-day, 2-night self-driving route through the core scenic area of ​​Tianmu Mountain. Depart from all places and gather in Lin'an, which is under the jurisdiction of Hangzhou City. Starting from S205 Qinglin Highway, drive 40 kilometers and arrive at Xitianmu Mountain Scenic Area in about 1 hour. The Qinglin Highway and Gaohou Line where we depart are famous scenic highways in Zhejiang Province, with green mountains, farmhouses, villages and rural scenery along the way. There are cycling enthusiasts along the Qinglin Highway. There are steep slopes, many sharp turns and other sections. Please pay attention to avoid them and drive safely when driving. There are viewing platforms along the way where you can enjoy the scenery and take a rest. Xitianmu Scenic Area is one of the core scenic areas open to the public in Tianmu Mountain. It has a community of Metasequoia glyptostroboides that is rare in the world, many of the trees are over 500 years old. There is a "big tree king" in the scenic area, which has the reputation of "the big tree with a canopy famous throughout the nine states". You need to buy a ticket for 110 yuan to enter the scenic area. The hike to the top of the mountain is 5 kilometers, which is expected to take 3-4 hours and is quite intense. It takes about 1 hour to walk to the Big Tree King. For those who don’t like mountain climbing, you can buy a scenic bus to go up the mountain. The last scenic bus leaves at 5pm. If you leave late, you will have to hike down the mountain, so everyone should pay attention to the time. If you are interested in Buddhism, you can visit Chanyuan Temple. The temple has been rebuilt and the building is magnificent. It is recommended to stay in Qian Town that night. The facilities in the town are relatively complete, and there are many hotels, homestays and farmhouses to choose from. The next day, we set out from Yuqian Town and returned towards Lin'an, passing Provincial Highway 218 and Yongzhi Line, with our destination being Zhinan Village in Lin'an. There are more than 470 acres of spectacular terraced fields around the village, with towering ancient trees. More than 340 rare ancient trees are preserved, including Liquidambar formosana, Ironwood and Ginkgo. The autumn colors are especially famous, and the village is lush and green in spring and summer, providing a cool and cool place to escape the heat. Zhinan Village is well-known for its circular agricultural economy. There are many beautiful homestays and restaurants in the village. It is recognized by the outdoor circle as one of the most beautiful ancient villages in East China. We chose to stay in Zhinan Village that night, try the rural bamboo forest chicken, Tianmu Mountain dried bamboo shoots, have a drink and look at the stars. Zhinan Village is about 30 kilometers away from the center of Lin'an District. Early in the morning of the third day, we set out for home. After arriving in Lin'an, if time permits, you can visit other local attractions, such as the Lin'an Museum in the city. Alternatively, choose to stop in downtown Lin'an to experience the local city life and special cuisine. If you have the time and interest to visit more Tianmu Mountain scenic spots, you can continue driving north to Anji. Green waters and green mountains are the birthplace of gold and silver mountains. As the wheels rolled, we bid farewell to Tianmu Mountain, but the mountains, rivers, grass and trees here will become eternal scenery in our hearts. Looking forward to the next trip and setting foot on this land again.

🗺️Route Guide The entire route goes up and then down, with the ascent being on wild trails with a relatively steep slope. After reaching the top, you enter the scenic area, which is mostly paved with walkways. 📍Hongmiao, Lin'an, Hangzhou ➡️Total distance: 10.4 kilometers ↗️Total ascent: 680 meters 🅿️Free parking for a few cars is available at the entrance of Hongmiao 🚻Toilets are needed to be borrowed from farmhouses at the foot of the mountain, but restrooms are available once you enter the scenic area ⚠️Travel Tips 🎟️Ticket: Slightly expensive but worth it, remember to book a day in advance, around 110 yuan, on-site tickets are 136 yuan 🅿️Parking: Navigate to 'Xitianmu Mountain Nature Reserve Parking Lot', 10 yuan per time; about 3 hours drive from Shanghai, about 1 hour from Hangzhou 🚌Scenic shuttle: 20 yuan per person one way, about 30 minutes ride, running between the south gate of the scenic area and Longfengjian; the last shuttle from Longfengjian is at 16:00, be sure to manage your time; after taking the shuttle up the mountain, you can play all the way to the King Tree, then walk through Wushi Tongtang and Simian Peak to return, which also takes about 2 hours ⚠️Hiking Tips ‼️It is recommended to hike up the mountain and take the shuttle down; the path is all stone steps, some are loose, it is not recommended to hike down, ignore if you have 'steel knees' 📈The distance is only 6 kilometers, but the total ascent is 800 meters, which is a challenge for people who do not hike or exercise regularly; if the weather is bad, or if there are elderly people and young children, it is recommended to take the shuttle both ways 🕓Walking and resting along the way, it is estimated to take 4-5 hours, it is recommended to climb the mountain early in the morning, so there is plenty of time to enjoy the trees at the top and to reach Longfengjian before the last shuttle 🥤There is basically no supply along the way, so prepare enough drinking water

🌿 Chan Yuan Temple, a Zen journey with blooming magnolias As the magnolias at Faxi Temple become the center of attention, the century-old magnolias at Chan Yuan Temple bloom quietly with a more ethereal presence. Here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, surrounded by mountains and with a pleasant environment, it is an excellent place to find peace of mind. 🏯 Chan Yuan Temple 🌺 Magnolia Flowers - The temple's architecture is dominated by red and yellow, complementing the celestial aura of the magnolias. - Under the sunlight, the magnolias, set against the tranquility of the temple, create a paradise for photography enthusiasts. 📸 Photography Tips - On sunny days, the magnolias appear even more ethereal against the light and shadows. - When the evening light slants and the gentle incense surrounds, the magnolias seem to belong to another world. 🚗 Transportation and Ticket Information - Address: Inside the Xitianmu Scenic Area in Lin'an. - Ticket: The ticket for the Tiantai Mountain scenic area is 20 yuan, the temple is free, and you can make a reservation by scanning a QR code. - Hangzhou Culture and Tourism Card: Also applicable.

🌄Xitianmu Mountain, where the clouds dance beneath your feet, as if in a fairyland 💫 —— 📅Recommended travel duration: 2-3 days 💰Budget: 500-1000 yuan 📍Check-in location: Xitianmu Mountain main peak, Moon Lake. 🍴Food recommendation: Local grilled lamb skewers, whole roasted lamb, grilled pigeon, hand-pulled rice, etc. 🚗Transportation recommendation: drive or charter a car to get there. 🏠Accommodation recommendation: You can stay at a hotel or campsite at the foot of the mountain. 🎒Travel guide: Summit the main peak around 6am to enjoy the sunrise; after descending, visit Moon Lake to appreciate the scenery; taste local cuisine in the evening and experience exotic customs; on the second day, visit ancient villages to learn about local culture.