Taibai Mountain National Forest Park: Practical Information You Need to Know
Here's a travel guide for Taibai Mountain National Forest Park:
Location and Transportation
• Location: Taibai Mountain National Forest Park is located in Mei County, Shaanxi Province, at the northern foot of the main peak of the Qinling Mountains, Mount Taibai.
• Public Transportation: Direct buses to the Taibai Mountain National Forest Park Visitor Center are available from Xi'an Bus Station, next to Xi'an Railway Station.
• Driving: There is a large parking lot at the Taibai Mountain National Forest Park Visitor Center. Visitors driving can navigate to the visitor center and then transfer to the scenic spot's shuttle bus to go up the mountain.
Opening Hours and Tickets
• Opening Hours: Peak season (March 1 to the end of November) 8am–6pm (last entry at 3pm); off-season (December 1 to the end of February) 8am–5:30pm.
• Ticket Prices: Peak season CNY 90/person, off-season CNY 54/person, student tickets CNY 45/person. Free admission for children (under 1.2m tall), journalists, tour guides, military personnel, Taoist priests, and seniors over 65 with valid ID.
Tour Routes
• One-Day Tour Routes:
• Route 1: Take the scenic shuttle bus from the Taibai Mountain Visitor Service Center. Enjoy the scenery along the way, including Lianhua Peak Waterfall, Pomo Mountain, and Shiwai Taoyuan. Arrive at Honghuaping at an altitude of 2,280 meters in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Take the Tianxia Cableway to Tianyuandifang. Return by the same route after sightseeing. This route is suitable for visitors with limited time, those who prefer not to hike, and those traveling with seniors and children. The round trip takes about 4–5 hours.
• Route 2: Take the scenic shuttle bus from the Taibai Mountain Visitor Service Center to Honghuaping. Take the Tianxia Cableway to Tianyuandifang. After sightseeing and taking photos, descend (on foot) via Xiaotiangou, the glass viewing platform, Baixiantai, and Bansi New Village to reach Shangbansi. Take the Fuyunge Cableway down to Xiabansi, and then take the scenic shuttle bus back to the Taibai Mountain Visitor Service Center. Suitable for visitors who are physically fit and enjoy exercise. The round trip takes 5–6 hours.
• Multi-Day Tour Routes:
• Summit Route: Take the scenic shuttle bus from the Taibai Mountain Visitor Service Center to Honghuaping. Take the Tianxia Cableway to Tianyuandifang, and then walk to Baixiantai to reach the summit. This route is suitable for visitors who are physically fit and have long-term mountaineering experience. Take the 8am shuttle bus from the visitor center to Honghuaping, take the Tianxia Cableway to Tianyuandifang, and then walk to Baixiantai. The one-way trip takes about 5 hours, and a round trip can be completed in one day. For visitors with average physical fitness, the one-way trip takes 6–7 hours, and overnight accommodation on the summit is required.
• Crossing Routes:
• Mei County → Yingtou → Haoping → Baixiantai → Houzhenzi Adventure Route (Northwest Route): From Mei County, take a bus to Yingtou Town → Lijiahe → Dawan Village → Heihuguan → Haoping Temple → Liujiaya → Zhongshan Temple → Xiabaiyun → Shangbaiyun → Luotuo Temple → Dadian → Doumugong → Ping'an Temple → Mingxing Temple → Fangyang Temple → Wengong Temple → Dayehai → Baixiantai → Eryehai → Sanyehai → Yuhuang Pool → Yaowang Temple → Nantianmen → Laojun Temple → Nanqingguan → Yunwugou → Sanhegong → Tiejiashu → Houzhenzi.
• Zhouzhi → Houzhenzi → Tiejiashu → Nantianmen → Baixiantai Adventure Route (Southeast Route):
• (1) From Zhouzhi County, take a bus via Houzhenzi to Tiejiashu → Sanhegong → Yunwugou → Nanqingguan → Laojun Temple → Nantianmen → Yaowang Temple → Yuhuang Pool → Sanyehai → Eryehai → Baixiantai → Dayehai → Wengong Temple → Xiaowengong → Tangyu.
• (2) From Zhouzhi County, take a bus via Houzhenzi to Tiejiashu → Sanhegong → Yunwugou → Nanqingguan → Laojun Temple → Nantianmen → Yaowang Temple → Yuhuang Pool → Sanyehai → Eryehai → Baixiantai → Dayehai → Wengong Temple → Fangyang Temple → Mingxing Temple → Ping'an Temple → Doumugong → Dadian → Luotuo Temple → Shangbaiyun → Xiabaiyun → Zhongshan → Haoping Temple → Yingtou.
• Mei County → Tangyu → Xiabansi → Xiaowengong → Wengong Temple → Baixiantai Route (Northeast Route).
Transportation
• Scenic Sightseeing Shuttle Bus:
• Peak Season:
• Route 1: Taibai Mountain Visitor Service Center → Xiabansi Scenic Spot Visitor Service Center, one-way CNY 30/person, round trip CNY 60/person.
• Route 2: Xiabansi Scenic Spot Visitor Service Center → Taibai Mountain Visitor Service Center, one-way CNY 30/person.
• Off-Season: Taibai Mountain Visitor Service Center → Xiabansi Scenic Spot Visitor Service Center, operating hours 8am–2pm, every 30 minutes, one-way CNY 30/person, round trip CNY 60/person.
• Cableway:
• Tianxia Cableway: Round trip ticket CNY 230/person, route is Tianyuandifang–Honghuaping, operating hours 8am–6pm.
• Fuyunge Cableway: Round trip CNY 90/person, route is Shangbansi–Xiabansi, operating hours 8am–6pm.
Accommodation
If you need to stay overnight on the summit, you can find suitable accommodation within the scenic area or nearby. However, accommodation facilities within the scenic area are relatively limited, so advance booking is recommended.
Sunrise Viewing
• Best Location: Baixiantai, at 3,767 meters, is the best place to watch the sunrise at Taibai Mountain.
• Sunrise Time: The sunrise time in March is around 7am. You can stay overnight on the summit or start climbing early in the morning (start climbing about 2 hours in advance).
Important Notes
• Taibai Mountain National Forest Park is at a high altitude, and the temperature can vary greatly. Please bring appropriate clothing according to the season and weather conditions.
• Some sections of the scenic area are quite steep. Please pay attention to safety when climbing. It is recommended to wear comfortable athletic shoes and bring enough water and food.
• Protect the environment. Do not litter. Take care of the natural landscape and ecological environment within the scenic area.
• Please pay attention to the signs and safety tips within the scenic area. Follow the designated routes and areas for sightseeing, and avoid entering unopened or dangerous areas.