[2025 Jiande Attraction] Travel Guide for Jiangnanxuankong Temple (Updated Mar)

| No need to travel all the way to Shanxi. Discover Taizhou's "Hanging Temple"! No need for a long trip to Shanxi. Hey everyone 👋! When you think of Hanging Temple, does your mind immediately picture the renowned Shanxi temple, a marvel of engineering perched precariously on a cliff face? But did you know that Zhejiang's Taizhou also hides a "Hanging Temple" that evokes the same awe? Today, join me as we unveil its mysteries 🧐. 🌄 First Impressions: A Beacon of Faith on the Cliff As you approach along the winding mountain road, look up and behold an ancient, solemn temple seemingly born from the sheer cliff face. Seamlessly integrated with the surrounding rock, its eaves and brackets jut out as if naturally growing from the cliff itself. Bathed in sunlight, the temple's silhouette glows with a golden aura, creating a visual impact no less stunning than your first glimpse of the Shanxi Hanging Temple. Standing at the foot of the mountain, gazing upwards, one can't help but admire the architectural ingenuity of the ancients. What craftsmanship allowed them to construct such a magnificent religious sanctuary on this near-vertical cliff? 🛤️ A Thrilling Walk: Exploring the Perilous Plank Road Continuing along the mountain path, you'll reach the hanging plank road leading to the temple. Beneath your feet lies a narrow path of wooden planks, protected only by simple iron chains on the outer edge, while beside you is a bottomless valley. Each step elicits a faint creak from the wood, as if whispering tales of time gone by. The mountain wind howls past, whipping your clothes, and amidst the thrill of the precarious walk, you're captivated by the breathtaking natural scenery. In the distance, mountains rise and fall, forests ablaze with color, and the valley below is shrouded in mist, resembling a fairyland. This thrilling adventure is the essence of exploration, mirroring the plank road experience at the Shanxi Hanging Temple, giving you a palpable sense of "hanging by a thread." 🙏 Serene Meditation: Tranquility Within the Temple Finally, stepping through the temple gates, an aura of solemnity washes over you. Incense smoke curls upwards, accompanied by the faint chanting of monks performing their rituals within the halls. Visitors instinctively soften their steps, careful not to disturb the tranquility. The temple's architecture is exquisite, with carved beams and painted rafters. Every wood carving and mural carries a profound historical and cultural significance. Wandering through the halls feels like stepping back in time to an era of flourishing religion and exquisite craftsmanship. In contrast to the thrilling plank road outside, the temple offers a sanctuary for the soul, a place to escape worldly distractions and quietly contemplate the profound wisdom of Buddhism, much like the Shanxi Hanging Temple, immersing you in a dual baptism of religion and culture. 🌳 Surrounding Treasures: A Harmonious Blend of Nature and Culture The area surrounding Taizhou's "Hanging Temple" offers more than just rugged cliffs and ancient temples. Strolling through the mountains, you'll discover various rare plants. During their blooming season, wildflowers blanket the mountainside in a vibrant tapestry of colors, softening the starkness of the cliffs. The villages at the foot of the mountain, with their white walls and black tiles, exude a tranquil rural charm, punctuated by the occasional crowing of roosters and barking of dogs. Here, you can appreciate both the architectural marvels of the ancients and the harmonious beauty of nature. Just like the Hengshan area where the Shanxi Hanging Temple is located, the landscape and culture complement each other, creating a picturesque scene. So, there's no need for a long journey to Shanxi. Taizhou's lesser-known "Hanging Temple" can satisfy your craving for breathtaking scenery and offer an unforgettable feast for the eyes and soul. Take advantage of a weekend or holiday to visit this place. Trust me, you'll fall in love with this magical land!

🚘A 4-hour drive from Nanjing (2.5 hours by high-speed rail) led me to Jiande, a hidden gem of a city, where I discovered Jiangnan's very own Hanging Temple, on par with its counterpart in Shanxi! 🔥Two-day Jiande itinerary: Day1️⃣: Nanjing - Yanzhou Ancient City - Xin'an River Night Cruise Day2️⃣: Daciyan Scenic Area (Hanging Temple) - Return to Nanjing Day 2 in Jiande: Daciyan Scenic Area (Hanging Temple) 🎫Tickets: 80 RMB/person, cable car up 80 RMB/person, slide down 60 RMB/person; combo ticket + cable car up 150 RMB/person. The Hanging Temple at Daciyan Scenic Area gained fame thanks to Joy of Life and is now as renowned as the Hanging Temple in Shanxi. Jiangnan finally has its own Hanging Temple! Jiande sits at the confluence of the Fuchun, Xin'an, and Lan rivers. Here, I witnessed the real-life version of Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains. 🔥Tour route: Xin Ci Coffee - Cable Car Ascent - Hanging Temple - Qingyin Pavilion - Kṣitigarbha Hall - Double-Sided Buddha - Buddha Viewing Platform - Tianmen - Gu Xiang Zhai - Glass Skywalk - Slide Descent ⭐️Enjoy a cup of Xin Ci Coffee at the foot of the mountain. The coffee shop offers a Daciyan color-stamp souvenir – absolutely stunning! Don't forget your stamp book. ⭐️Ascend by cable car. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by a towering crimson cliff face inscribed with the couplet "神仙都会周泰汉，道德根源天地人" (Gods and immortals gather in Zhou, Tai, and Han; the roots of morality lie in heaven, earth, and humanity) and the horizontal inscription "风楼" (Wind Tower). Enter the mountain gate to reach Qingyin Pavilion, perched precariously on the cliff face, offering breathtaking panoramic views. It truly is a "Hanging Temple of Jiangnan, suspended amidst wondrous landscapes." Kṣitigarbha Hall leans against a cliff with a stone pillar-like peak and a massive split boulder, the most dramatic spot in Daciyan. Take a photo with the Double-Sided Buddha and don't forget to "touch Buddha's feet" for good luck. I wrote down my wishes for 2025 and hung a blessing tag, hoping all my wishes come true. ⭐️At the Buddha Viewing Platform, you can admire the "First Natural Buddha of China" from afar and enjoy the stunning scenery. Here, you can also experience ziplining, feeling like a martial arts hero from a TV series. ⭐️Climb to Tianmen and visit Gu Xiang Zhai, where I saw the 800-year-old ginkgo tree, a witness to countless seasons and historical events. From a distance, the tree resembles a golden pagoda or a blazing flame, standing out against the otherwise simple surroundings. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground like a golden carpet. At the Gu Xiang Zhai Buddhist souvenir shop, you'll find new collaborative cultural and creative products from "Xiling Seal Society"! ⭐️The Glass Skywalk is a thrilling and breathtaking experience with stunning views.

| Cliff Hanging Temple. As autumn deepens, the ginkgo leaves turn yellow. 🍁 It's the season of colorful ginkgo leaves again. 🍂 Enjoy the autumn scenery and the ginkgo leaves, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty. I finally had the chance to visit this picturesque town of Jiande, which was featured in National Geographic. I came at the right time, in late autumn in November. The mountains are covered in golden yellow, and the beauty of autumn is all here. I have compiled this Jiande autumn hiking route, hoping to share this autumn beauty with you. ✅ Autumn route: Take the cable car up the mountain ▶️ Qingyin Pavilion ▶️ Double-sided Buddha ▶️ Yuhua Lake ▶️ Ksitigarbha Hall ▶️ Millennium Ginkgo Tree (Xiangxiang Zhai) ▶️ Glass Walkway ▶️ Dry Slide down the mountain (It is also recommended not to take the cable car and hike up the mountain, with a total of 2,000 steps, taking about 40 minutes to reach the top. This is a reverse route, so you won't have to retrace your steps. The difficulty level is not high, suitable for all ages.) Very impressive attractions: 1⃣ The ancient ginkgo tree at Xiangxiang Zhai is the perfect spot for autumn viewing. The ginkgo festival runs throughout November until early December. The best time to enjoy the autumn scenery is from mid to late November to early December. 2⃣ Qingyin Pavilion is built on a cliff, with half embedded in the rock and half suspended in the air. It blends harmoniously with the surrounding mountains, water, and trees, creating a stunning picture from afar. 3⃣ The Double-sided Buddha can be seen from afar at the foot of the mountain, with its golden glow at the top. It offers a panoramic view of the entire scenic area, with an excellent view. 🛣 Location: Daci Rock Scenic Area, Jiande, Hangzhou 🚙 Transportation: Take a taxi from Jiande High-speed Railway Station, about 50 minutes (I took a carpool there and back.) 🎑 Autumn viewing: Mid-November to early December The autumn frost turns the ginkgo leaves yellow, and the golden ginkgo leaves intoxicate the late autumn. Don't wait any longer, pack up and go out to welcome it!

Red walls and tiles, waiting for you 🏮 Here, you can enjoy the real scenery of Fuchun Mountain and the unique scenery of Xin'an River, which is like the Hanging Temple in southern China. In the scenic area, there is also a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree. Every November, it turns into a golden fairy tale world, which is very beautiful. Practical information - Location and transportation: - Self-driving: It takes about 2 hours to drive from Hangzhou, and 3.5 hours from Shanghai. - High-speed rail: You can take the high-speed rail to Jiande Station, and then take a taxi to Hangzhou Jiande Daci Rock Scenic Area. - Ginkgo viewing period: From November to early December, don't miss this great viewing period. - Travel route: Take the cable car up the mountain ➡️ Visit the Hanging Temple ➡️ Enjoy the Double-sided Buddha ➡️ Stroll along Yuhua Lake ➡️ View the ginkgo tree ➡️ Experience the glass plank road ➡️ Slide down the mountain. The whole journey is easy and convenient without returning. Recommended check-in points - Hanging Temple: It was built in the Yuan Dynasty, half embedded in the rock belly of the mountain, and the other half suspended in the air, supported by pillars on the cliff, which is really thrilling and shocking. Taking photos from different angles can show its thrilling and unique architectural charm. - Double-sided Buddha: The golden Buddha sits peacefully on the top of the mountain, which is very shocking. No matter from the east or the west, you can see its full and real smile. - Ancient ginkgo tree: It is said that this ginkgo tree is over a thousand years old. Every autumn, the tree is full of golden leaves, which is very beautiful. It has gone through a long time, but it is still lush. Travel tips - It is recommended to take the cable car up the mountain, which is very friendly to those who want to travel easily. - The best time to view ginkgo is in November. If you want to enjoy the beautiful scenery of ginkgo, you should plan ahead. - If you have enough time, you can arrange a two-day tour to visit Yanzhou Ancient City, Lingxi Cave, and Xin'an River to experience different customs. - Food recommendation: There are many delicious foods in Jiande, such as Jiande tofu buns, Yanzhou crispy cakes, and local farm dishes, such as stewed chicken, stream fish, etc., which are very delicious. You must try them.

🚔 Self-drive ✅️ 2 hours from Hangzhou, Daci Rock Scenic Area, Jiande ✅️ Parking lot (paid) ✅️ High-speed rail to Jiande Station, then taxi or bus ✅️ Route 👉 Cable car 🔜 Hanging Temple 🔜 Ancient Ginkgo Tree 🔜 Double-sided Buddha 🔜 Glass Walkway 🔜 Yuhua Lake 🔜 Dry Slide down the mountain. ✅️ The Hanging Temple in Jiangnan has a long history. ✅️ Half embedded in the cliff, half suspended, the wisdom of the ancients 👍 ✅️ The ancient ginkgo tree, like a guardian who has experienced the vicissitudes of life, is still tall and lush ✅️ Best viewing period: mid-November to early December, the golden crown and the blue sky and white clouds reflect each other, nature's most beautiful autumn picture 👍 ✅️ Golden double-sided Maitreya Buddha, sitting on top of the mountains ✅️ The water of Yuhua Lake is like a beautiful jade falling into the world, falling into the valley, quiet and peaceful. ✅️ Glass Walkway: Transparent underfoot, with a panoramic view. ✅️ In autumn, the beauty of Daci Rock is unforgettable

In the early winter, the ancient ginkgo tree in front of the Daciyan Hanging Temple in Jiande City, Zhejiang Province, puts on a 'golden armor', forming a beautiful picture. The Daciyan Hanging Temple is famous all over the world for its rare landscape of 'the mountain is a Buddha, and the Buddha is a mountain', and it is included in 'The Best of China'. Half of its main temple, the Dizang King Hall, is embedded in the rock, and the other half is hanging in the air, which is quite spectacular, so it is called 'the Hanging Temple of Jiangnan'. The ancient ginkgo tree next to the temple is 39.5 meters high, with a diameter at breast height of 1.3 meters, and it is over 700 years old. It has been selected as one of the 'Top Ten Most Beautiful Ancient Trees in Hangzhou'.