Riyue Mountain (Sun and Moon Mountain)
日月山
A pass marking the dividing line between farming and grazing areas, where Princess Wencheng looked back toward Chang’an on her journey to Tibet. The Sun and Moon pavilions stand here, and prayer flags flutter in the wind.
Riyue Mountain lies on the border between Huangyuan and Gonghe counties. The pass stands at about 3,520 m and forms the natural dividing line between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and between farming and herding areas. Legend says that during her journey to Tibet in the Tang dynasty, Princess Wencheng smashed a bronze Sun and Moon mirror here to cut off her longing for home. On either side of the pass stand the Sun Pavilion, the Moon Pavilion and a statue of Princess Wencheng, while prayer flags and mani stone piles flutter on the hillsides. Nearby, the Daotang River is famous for the saying “all rivers in the world flow east, only this one flows west.” Entry costs about 40 yuan. Most visitors stop here on the way from Xining to Erlangjian, about 90 km from Xining. The pass is windy and cold, so bring a jacket.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00