Explore Zushan Scenic Area in Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province!
Zushan: A Severely Underestimated 'Ancestor of the Yanshan Mountains'
My four-day trip to Qinhuangdao involved three days of sea views – the waves at Le Island, the sea at Seeking Immortals at Sea, and the sea cable car at Xianluo Island. On the last day, I decided to head inland to the mountains, driving towards Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County in northwestern Qinhuangdao, straight to Zushan, known as the 'Ancestor of Mountains'.
I arrived at the scenic area's East Gate at 8:30 AM. The entrance ticket was 80 yuan, plus 120 yuan for a round-trip cable car, making it a 'petite bourgeoisie' pass for one person. As a national 4A-level scenic area and national geological park, Zushan has a planned total area of 118 square kilometers. Its highest peak, Tiannv Peak, stands at an altitude of 1428 meters, with a forest coverage rate of up to 96%. Just looking at the towering peaks and flowing clouds outside the car window, my 'city life' thoughts instantly vanished.
I'm typically the type who 'walks wherever the car stops,' so my first stop was Gallery Valley – the canyon gallery, stretching over 10 li, truly lives up to its name. The mountains on both sides are steep, with strangely shaped rocks, making it feel like walking through a landscape painting. I took a short break at the Five-Colored Stone and snapped a close-up of the Zushan rock face and wildflowers in the sun, which had a naturally ancient charm. Further up is Zushan's core attraction – Lover's Valley, where unique rocks like Bajie Rock, Longevity Mountain, and Welcoming Pine are scattered, making one constantly marvel at nature's divine craftsmanship.
The highlight of that afternoon was ascending Tiannv Peak. After taking the cable car halfway up and then hiking a short distance, I finally stood at an altitude of 1428 meters. From here, you can watch the sunrise in the east, follow the sails in the south, gaze at the Great Wall in the west, and overlook the mountains in the north, with a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire Bohai Bay spread before your eyes. It was early summer, and I was incredibly lucky to encounter large patches of Tiannv Magnolia blooming – this is a rare flower that survived the Ice Age, a nationally rare and endangered plant, and it only blooms on mountains above 1,000 meters. In full bloom, the magnolias are as white as snow, blooming in clusters, and exuding a fragrant aroma. To describe it as magnificent is no exaggeration! It was absolutely worth climbing the mountain just for this.
Heading down, I arrived at Jixin Temple. The temple is solemn and majestic, especially the 7.5-meter-tall Thousand-Hand Guanyin statue carved from a single camphor wood log. Its dignified appearance makes it a true treasure of the temple, and any photo taken here looks like an ancient masterpiece. Inside the temple, red walls are shaded by ancient cypresses, and pilgrims can ring the bell for blessings, bringing an instant sense of peace and Zen to the soul.
The beauty of Zushan is multifaceted. In spring, it's a sea of flowers; in summer, it's cool and pleasant with swirling clouds; in autumn, 118 square kilometers of red leaves resemble a giant oil painting; and in winter, it's covered in silver, like a wonderland. There's no shortage of scenery in any season. Every June, there are also Tiannv Magnolia Festivals and various Flower Festival and Guochao (National Trend) activities. No reservation is needed; just buy a ticket and enter. It's suitable for all ages.
If you bring your own camping gear, the Sky Grassland on the mountaintop is lush green in summer, offering views of cloud seas, sunsets, and stars – truly a paradise for photography enthusiasts. For transportation, it's about an hour's drive from Qinhuangdao city center. Parking is capped at 20 yuan per day. You can also take a bus from Haiyang Road Long-Distance Bus Station to the East Gate. Zushan has significant temperature differences between spring and autumn, so be sure to bring a light jacket and non-slip hiking shoes. There are not many commercial facilities on the mountain, so it's safer to bring your own dry food and water.
Practical Tips:
· Opening Hours: 08:00—17:00, last entry 15:00—15:30, open all year round
· Tickets: Peak season (May—October) 80 yuan, off-peak season (November—April) 40 yuan, half price for students/seniors, free for children under 1.2m
· Round-trip cable car ticket: 120 yuan; Full package ticket (entrance + sightseeing bus + round-trip cable car): approximately 165—220 yuan
· Transportation: Navigate to "Zushan Scenic Area East Gate" by car, about 50 minutes drive from Qinhuangdao city center; take bus 812 to Tiannv Town Station
· Recommended visiting time: For a one-day highlight tour, choose the loop of Gallery Valley + Lover's Valley + Tiannv Peak + Jixin Temple, about 3—5 hours; for an in-depth tour, plan 2—3 days to fully appreciate the surrounding Great Wall and ancient villages
· Best season: June for flower viewing, July—August for cloud seas and summer escape, October for red leaves
· Items to bring: Comfortable non-slip hiking shoes, jacket, mosquito repellent, sufficient water, and simple food
On the way back, what lingered in my mind was the silhouette of the distant mountains against the sunset. If the previous days in Qinhuangdao were a seaside carnival, then Zushan was a silent mountain retreat – it stands quietly in the depths of the Yanshan Mountains, waiting for those destined to discover its cloud seas and rugged charm. And I, in an ordinary summer, merely had a brief reunion with its natural wonders.