Wushan is similar to Baoshi Mountain. It is a small mountain suitable for leisure and exercise by the West Lake. Although Wushan is not high in altitude, it has been a good place for enjoying scenic views since ancient times. Standing on Chenghuang Pavilion and looking into the distance, the sceneries of the West Lake, Qiantang River and Hangzhou City can be seen in full view, giving a feeling of soaring above. Thus, it is named ‘Wushan Tianfeng’. Overview of Wushan: The Wushan scenic area is divided into four parts: the paid Chenghuang Pavilion scenic area, and the free Wugong Mountain, Ruan Gong Temple and Sanmao Temple scenic areas. Starting from Qinghefang Street, it connects Ziyang Mountain, Yunju Mountain and all the way to Wansongling Road from north to south. If you visit the pedestrian street of Qinghefang Street, you will surely not miss the stone carving of ‘Wushan Tianfeng’ surrounded by green plants on the Wushan Square next to it. This is also the symbol of the scenic area. There are many ways to climb the mountain. The entrances around Qinghefang Street are more often taken by tourists. If you go up from Liangdao Mountain Road, you can drive or walk. You will pass the Hangzhou Museum (free) and can see many old photos of Hangzhou. If you walk, it is more recommended to go up the mountain from Dajing Alley in Qinghefang Street. The scenery along the way is better. Walking from Wushan Square to Qinghefang Street, turning right at the first intersection is Dajing Alley. Climb up the mountain stone steps here and pass Huancuilou to reach Dongyue Temple. The two ‘coiled dragon pillars’ in front of the main hall are relics of the Ming Dynasty and are very precious. What’s more worth mentioning is that this is also a lively place on Wushan. There are many stages and tea seats. Drinking tea and watching operas here is very pleasant. Enjoying the scenery by climbing Chenghuang Pavilion: Walking up along the mountain road from Dongyue Temple, it takes about 10 minutes to reach Chenghuang Pavilion, the building on Wushan. When the weather is fine during the day, climbing the tower and looking into the distance, the scenery is the biggest selling point of the entire Wushan. If you climb the tower at night, you can see the night view of Hangzhou. The tea room on the third floor of Chenghuang Pavilion can offer a view and tea. The price is reasonable. The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Stones at the exit are also very interesting. Although at first glance they are just a pile of stones on the ground and quite abstract, tourists always try to find their own zodiac signs when they come here. Hidden places in the mountain: The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Stones can be said to be a transfer station for visiting Wushan. If time is tight, you can return to the winding mountain road at the entrance of Chenghuang Pavilion and then return to Wushan Square. If you follow the sign opposite the Twelve Chinese Zodiac Stones and walk in the direction of Qingyi Cave, the fewer tourists there are and the more strange rocks there are as you go deeper. Going down from Qingyi Cave and passing Ruan Gong Temple, you can reach the Ganhua Rock engraved with ‘Pine and Bamboo in Winter’. If you look carefully, you can see the karst landform and inscriptions by celebrities in the ancient stone forest of Ruishi Cave. In the old days, there were many temples here. Now there are still many believers placing various offerings among the strange rocks, which can be regarded as a scene in the mountain. Baocheng Temple is also nearby. The Mahakala statue inside is not only exquisite but also very precious. In addition, the ruins of Sanmao Temple, where the Taoist priests of Maoshan practiced, and the Guanyin with Splashing Water not far away are also worth seeing.
If you wish to explore more mountain paths, you can start from the Twelve Zodiac Stones and head south towards the Yunju Mountain Revolutionary Martyrs’ Memorial on Wansong Ridge Road. Opposite lies the Wansong Academy. The entire walk takes approximately 40 minutes. Although there are many signs along the way, the numerous mountain trails can be confusing. For an in-depth visit, it is recommended to allocate half a day, after which you can proceed to the West Lake for scenic views or return to Qinghefang Street to dine and purchase small trinkets for friends and family. The site is open all year round from 08:00 to 20:00; for specific opening times, please consult the scenic area’s essential tips.
1. September to October is the optimal season for visiting Wushan Tianfeng, as the weather is neither too hot, and the scenery is pleasant. 2. During the Chinese New Year, Wushan hosts a Spring Festival Temple Fair, where you can enjoy a variety of local snacks and exciting performances, creating a lively atmosphere.
