Climbing Xitianmu Mountain - to see the thousand-year-old King Tree

🗺️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