Dan Mountain and Red Waters is located 45 kilometers southwest of Yuyao city, and it is a part of the Siming Mountain range. Known for the ‘red rock reflecting in the stream’, the landscape is exceptionally beautiful, with numerous Taoist relics found within the mountains. The best time to visit Dan Mountain and Red Waters is during the autumn and winter when the mountains are adorned with red leaves and it is the perfect season for enjoying persimmons. Many tourists from surrounding areas drive to experience the rural charm.
The scenic area has two entrances; the main entrance is close to the persimmon forest village at the foot of the mountain (Yuyao direction), and the secondary entrance to the east is about 2 kilometers from the village (Ningbo direction). The persimmon forest village serves as the lodging and dining base for Dan Mountain and Red Waters, where visitors typically stay and dine, then climb across the stream. In summer, visitors can also enjoy rafting on the stream. Persimmons are very affordable when in season, costing only a few yuan per kilogram, naturally ripe and delicious. Upon entering the village, one is greeted by an ancient grove of trees, said to be over a hundred years old. In autumn, when the trees are laden with persimmons, they are particularly enticing. Almost every household in the village grows persimmons, and most people share the surname Shen, descendants of Shen Kuo. Other places of interest include the Shen Family Ancestral Hall to the east, the Tongxin Ancient Well on the old well road, and the Mengxi Thatched Cottage and Imperial Stele Pavilion near the north. Walking through the narrow alleys, one can occasionally encounter locals chatting by the roadside, giving a sense of tranquility. The small village is composed entirely of stone houses, which is a refreshing sight after seeing Huizhou architecture and Jiangnan ancient towns. There are many farmhouses here, all with stone walls and blue tiles, which, although not as comfortable as city hotels, have a unique charm. If you wish to climb the mountain, after entering the scenic area gate, turn left and soon you will arrive at the Red Waters Bridge. Crossing the bridge leads to the mountain entrance, marked by a stone tablet inscribed with ‘Dan Mountain and Red Waters’, which visitors can photograph as a memento. You can also start from Niutou Mountain Road in the village, pass by Qiao Su Garden, and take the Jiuqu Hongyun Path to the stream, which is the starting point for rafting in summer. Visitors can take a raft and float downstream to the secondary entrance. To the left is the mountain trail, which winds along both sides of the stream, connected by small bridges. The path up the mountain is quite steep, but overall, it forms a loop, so there is no need to retrace your steps. About one-third of the way up, there is a cave named ‘Golden Elixir Nine Refinements’, said to be the place where the patriarch of Siming Taoism practiced alchemy and cultivated immortality. As you ascend, the mountain becomes steeper, and when you feel physically challenged, there is a leaning sky corridor for rest. Climbing to the top of the mountain ridge, there is a huge statue of Laozi, which is also one of the iconic landscapes of the mountain. Walking through a relatively flat mountain path, you will arrive at the Siming Taoist Temple, which is a larger Taoist temple in the Siming Mountains and is open for visitors to explore. At the summit, there is a medicine-spreading platform that extends over the cliffs, which is worth seeing.Ascending from the base to the summit of Dan Mountain takes at least half an hour. Continuing along the trail leads you back to the stream at the foot of the mountain, with the end point being the service area of the ‘Ninth Heavenly Cave’ grand traversal, which is not far from Chi Shui Bridge. The Ninth Heavenly Cave features newly introduced outdoor expansion projects, such as zip-lining and mountain log bridges. Opening hours are from April 1st to November 30th, 08:00-17:00; and from December 1st to March 31st, 08:30-16:30.
Favorable policies for children: those who are 6 years old (inclusive) or under 1.2 meters (inclusive) in height enter for free; minors aged 6 years old (exclusive) to 18 years old (inclusive). Seniors: those who are 70 years old (inclusive) and above with ID and senior citizen cards enter for free. People with disabilities: with valid identification, enter for free. Tour guides: with a tour guide certificate, enter for free. Journalists: with a press card, enter for free. Students: full-time undergraduate students and below with student cards receive preferential tickets. Active military personnel and soldiers: with valid identification, receive preferential tickets. Teachers: with a 30-year teaching service honor certificate, receive preferential tickets. Firefighters: with valid identification, receive preferential tickets. Additional notes: The above information is for reference only; please check the specific details disclosed by the Yuyao Dan Mountain and Red Water scenic area on the day of your visit. Service facilities: Parking lot – Dan Mountain Red Water Parking Lot, reference price: ¥10 per entry; Address: Shilin Village, Dalan Town, Yuyao City, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province; Spaces available: 50.
