China's Fairyland Places: Laojun Mountain & Fanjing Mountain

Published on February 1, 2021, at 23:20, this article showcases 13 heavenly places in China that are akin to the world of immortals. Within the vast expanse of China’s 9.6 million square kilometers, many locales can be described as earthly fairylands. Some are shrouded in mist and clouds, beautiful as if from a celestial realm; others are secluded and tranquil, with an ethereal charm. Visiting at the right time, a casual snapshot can capture a stunning scene.

1. Henan · Laojun Mountain
Laojun Mountain, said to be the place where the Daoist patriarch Laozi once secluded himself for cultivation during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, is the only celestial palace in the world that can be ascended. Besides its high altitude, it features palaces and ancient temple clusters, as well as the famous symbols such as the statue of Laozi riding a bull and the golden statue of the Supreme Old Lord. ‘Journeying far into the world to witness a grand feast, to see the prosperous visage of the mortal realm.’ Especially after a heavy snowfall in winter, Laojun Mountain is covered in white snow, with golden halls standing atop the mountain peaks, resembling the gates of heaven. Walking on the snowy ‘heavenly ladder’ feels like entering the ‘heavenly palace’ from the classic ‘Journey to the West.’ Coordinates: Laojun Mountain, Luoyang, Henan Province.

2. Guizhou · Fanjing Mountain
Fanjing Mountain, a ‘floating’ fairy mountain above the sea of clouds at an altitude of 2336 meters, is a breathtaking world heritage site. It stands tall in the sea of clouds, with clouds and fog swirling around, and Buddhist light fills the sky. Bodhi trees, temples, and palaces are barely visible in the clouds, as beautiful as a fairyland. The original ecology is well-preserved here, and it is also a renowned site for Maitreya Bodhisattva. The main peak, ‘Mushroom Stone,’ is about ten meters high and has stood on the mountain for a billion years, making it a sacred place for photography and remembrance. Coordinates: Fanjing Mountain, Tongren City, Guizhou Province.

3. Zhejiang · Xianju
Xianju, just by its name, feels incredibly beautiful. Nestled in the deep mountains, it is the last Shangri-La in Jiangnan. The scenery here, as its name suggests, features steep and spectacular mountains, and entwined sea of clouds. Every year around the Qingming Festival, golden rapeseed flowers cover the villages, accompanied by the surrounding mountains and terraces, making it seem like a true haven from the world. Coordinates: Xianju County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province.

4. Anhui · Tianzhu Mountain
Tianzhu Mountain is a convergence of ancient Wan culture, with nearly 400 cliff inscriptions left by literati such as Li Bai, Bai Juyi, and Su Shi. The landscape here is extraordinarily beautiful and is known as the ‘First Mountain of the Jianghuai.’ It features the mysterious valley known as the ‘First Secret Chamber of Granite,’ the General Pass where Liu Yuan stationed troops to resist the Yuan Dynasty, and the high-altitude artificial lake, Lian Dan Lake, among other sights. Especially after a heavy snowfall, the towering Tianzhu Mountain in the field of vision gives a surreal feeling as if one is in a fairyland. Coordinates: Tianzhu Mountain, Qianshan City, Anqing City, Anhui Province.

5. Gansu · Zhagana
Zhagana is a complete natural ‘stone city,’ a fairyland forgotten in a stone box. The terrain here resembles a grand palace complex and also appears as a complete ancient city built from natural rock walls.1. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is China’s first national forest park, described as ‘a miniature fairyland, an expanded bonsai’. The scenic area is in the youth stage of peak forest evolution, a unique type of sandstone landform, with towering stone peaks in various shapes, and includes Huangshi Village, Golden Whip Stream, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, and other must-see central attractions in Zhangjiajie. Entering here, the mountains are shrouded in misty clouds, like the ‘original of Chinese landscape painting’, beautiful as if it’s a fairyland on earth! Coordinates: Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province.
2. Detian Transnational Waterfall spans China and Vietnam and is the largest transnational waterfall in Asia and the fourth largest in the world. The waterfall is majestic and spectacular, with a 70-meter high drop that cascades down in three levels, rated as the most beautiful waterfall in China by China Geographical Magazine. It is also the filming location for ‘The Journey of Flower’, where the majestic waterfall in the mountains is more fairy-like than in the drama. Coordinates: Detian Village, Shuolong Town, Daxin County, Chongzuo City, Guangxi Province.
3. Zhejiang · Xianju The night of Xianju is enchanting… Xianju, just by hearing the name, one can already feel its beauty. It lies hidden deep in the mountains, known as the last Shangri-La in the Jiangnan region. The scenery here, as its name suggests, features steep and peculiar mountains, and entwined sea of clouds. Every year around the Qingming Festival, golden rapeseed flowers cover the villages, complemented by the surrounding mountains and terraced fields, creating an illusion of being truly cut off from the world. Location: Xianju County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province.
4. Anhui · Tianzhu Mountain Tianzhu Mountain is a gathering place of ancient Wan culture, with nearly 400 cliff inscriptions left by literati such as Li Bai, Bai Juyi, and Su Shi. Here, the scenery is exceptionally beautiful, earning it the title of ‘The Top Mountain of the Jianghuai Region’. It boasts the mysterious valley known as ‘The First Granite Secret Chamber’, the General Pass where Liu Yuan fortified against the Yuan Dynasty, and the artificial lake, Lian Dan Lake, situated at high altitude. Especially after heavy snowfall, Tianzhu Mountain rises majestically in the view, giving an ethereal sense of being in a fairyland. Coordinates: Tianzhu Mountain, Qianshan City, Anqing City, Anhui Province.
5. Enshi in Hubei is hidden among the mountains, characterized by picturesque landscapes and colorful caves and grottoes. It was selected by CNN as one of the most beautiful fairylands in China. The unique Tujia stilted buildings, the lost Tusi culture, and the picturesque scenery together create an ethereal secret realm. The Enshi Grand Canyon, a geological wonder within the country’s borders, boasts sheer cliffs stretching for miles, thousand-foot waterfalls, and pristine forests. Paddling a raft deep into the canyon, one might experience the illusion of having stumbled upon a celestial palace. Location: Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province. Longtou Mountain, with an elevation of 2291 meters, is a rare forest treasure and a unique geological museum in China.
6. Guizhou · Ma Ling River Canyon The Ma Ling River Canyon in Guizhou is unique for its grandeur, strangeness, danger, and beauty, and is called ‘The Most Beautiful Scar on Earth’. The grand canyon is about 15 kilometers long, with numerous waterfalls inside, and hundreds of waterfalls of various shapes form the famous Ma Ling River Waterfall Group. During the flood season, it’s as if the world has been turned upside down and the Milky Way is pouring downwards. Walking among the canyons, it feels like a string of pearls descending,疑似银河落九天. Coordinates: Xingyi City, Southwest Guizhou Prefecture, Guizhou Province.
7. Gansu · Zagana Zagana in Gansu is a perfectly preserved natural ‘stone city’, a fairyland forgotten within a stone box. The terrain resembles a grand palace on a massive scale and a well-preserved ancient city built with natural rock walls. With its blue sky, clouds swirling around the mountain peaks, the beautiful temples at dawn, and the curling smoke from Tibetan villages… it is so beautiful that it has been featured in China National Geography. Here, you can also witness the daily life of the locals, experiencing the simplicity and kindness of the original Tibetan villages. Coordinates: Diebu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province.The peaks here are like knives, majestic and rugged. The mountain is riddled with caves, full of strange rocks and perilous landscapes, and hundreds of large and small sinkholes, making it quite spectacular. When clouds and fog envelop the mountain, taking the sightseeing cable car feels like ascending to heaven on a path through the clouds. Location: Longtou Mountain, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province.

Sanqing Mountain in Shangrao, Jiangxi, is hailed as ‘the most beautiful granite on the edge of the Western Pacific.’ The rich granite formations and awe-inspiring weather create a unique landscape. This famous Taoist mountain offers beautiful sea of clouds sunrises, vividly shaped rocks, and high-altitude plank roads for scenic viewing. Especially after rain or snow, the scenery is particularly majestic and grand. Location: Sanqing Mountain, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province.

Zhongnan Mountain in Shaanxi is known for its layered peaks and secluded beauty, earning it the titles of ‘Fairy Capital’ and ‘The First Blessed Land Under Heaven.’ The scenic area includes ice caves, collapsed stone landforms, and heavenly pools, with treacherous peaks appearing and disappearing like immortals riding the clouds. To this day, 5000 mountain dwellers still live here as they did a thousand years ago. Location: Zhongnan Mountain Scenic Area, Shaanxi Province.

Wencheng Bai Zhangjue, with an elevation of over 800 meters, is a high-grade tourist and convalescent resort that combines the essence of beautiful mountains and clear waters with the integration of humanistic scenery. Known as the highest waterfall in China, when the water of Bai Zhangjue plummets from a height of 207 meters, it resembles a galaxy falling to earth, with splashing droplets and a misty appearance. Location: Bai Zhangjue, Wencheng County, Zhejiang Province.

Why not wait for the pandemic to pass and choose one of these places to ‘cultivate’ yourself?