Zhanglao Peak Area
长老峰
The main scenic area of Danxiashan. The summit overlooks the Jinjiang River and surrounding peaks, the best spot for sunrise, sea of clouds and the Monk's Cap Peak.
The Zhanglao Peak Area is the core of Danxiashan, divided into lower, middle and upper levels. The lower level has Jinshi Rock Temple, built into a hollow in the red cliff, where you can see 'dragon-scale' stone texture and cliff inscriptions dating back to the Song dynasty. The middle level has Biechuan Temple, an early Qing-dynasty Chan monastery. The upper level has three viewpoints: Zhanglao Peak, Conch Peak and Baozhu Peak. At the summit of Zhanglao Peak, Shaoyin Pavilion looks out over the winding Jinjiang River and peaks such as Monk's Cap Peak and Teapot Peak. Watch the sunrise from Conch Peak or Zhanglao Peak in the early morning; a sea of clouds is common in autumn and winter. The hike to the top takes about 1 hour, or you can take the cable car to the middle level to save energy. Admission is included in the Danxiashan main ticket (about ¥100, valid 48 hours); the cable car costs extra. Scenic-area buses run from the visitor center to the foot of the mountain. The stone steps are steep and slippery in the rain. For sunrise, bring your own headlamp and set out about an hour early.
Opening hours
Approx. 07:00–18:00 (early entry possible for sunrise; per the site's published hours)
Nearby sights
- Yinyuan Stone
- Danxiashan Museum
- Yangyuan Stone
- Xiafu Village & Chahu Peak
- Jinjiang River
- Bazhai
- Shitang Ancient Village
- Fengcai Tower & Dongjie Old Street