Jiongtai Xian Valley, located 8 kilometers northwest of Tiantai County, is a valley renowned for its granite landforms among the many scenic areas of Tiantai. It boasts clear lakes and streams as well as steep and verdant mountains, making it particularly worth visiting among the hundred scenes of Tiantai.
The scenic area has two entrances, upper and lower, with the upper entrance being around 1 kilometer away from the Lingyun plank road, which is quite steep. It is generally recommended to enter through the upper entrance and exit through the lower entrance (Yingxian Square), walking downhill, which saves time and effort. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to walk from the top down, while the reverse route requires nearly 4 hours. There is a shuttle bus service between the two entrances, allowing visitors to take a bus to the lower entrance and then transfer to a shuttle bus to ascend the mountain (a 1-hour walk), with buses running every 1-2 hours at a cost of 10 yuan per person. Upon entering the scenic area from the upper entrance, one encounters the Yellow Emperor’s altar, said to be the site of ancient sky-worship ceremonies. Following this, one enters the canyon, from where the view of the surrounding mountains and waters from the mountaintop is exceptionally magnificent. Crossing the Du Xian Bridge, which spans the cliffs, leads to the steep Lingyun plank road. Descending along the path carved into the cliff walls, one often encounters visitors panting from the lower entrance. As you walk, the granite peaks around you change into wondrous shapes with each step, often resulting in spectacular photographs. The archway at the exit of the Lingyun plank road is inscribed with the characters “Tong Tian” (Passing to Heaven), and looking back at the winding plank road on the cliff, one can’t help but feel a sense of awe. When you reach the Yu Xian Bridge, you arrive at the Lingxi Creek, where there are attractions such as the Bai Zhang Yan Waterfall, Jinting Dongtian, and Wu Zhen Tai. Lingxi Creek runs through the entire subsequent tour, and the plank road along the creek, though suspended, is very flat. Walking through the deep valley, watching the strange rocks piled in the stream and the gurgling water, one feels a sense of integration with nature. When the water surface widens, you enter the area of Xian Lake. This is actually a reservoir, with the plank road built along one side of the lakeshore. In the shallow water, there are several natural rocks standing in the water, known as “Xianhu Ji Yun,” some resembling Ji Gong and others like a medicine-collecting Taoist priest, vividly depicted. Further along the path, there are pictographic stones named Xia Ke Tan Lu and Tai Bai Yin Shi, which can also be given meanings based on one’s imagination, making the experience quite interesting. At the end of the plank road, one can see a corridor bridge spanning the lake, with the dam under the bridge creating a waterfall with a drop of several tens of meters, which is very spectacular. After crossing the corridor bridge and looking back, the bridge, waterfall, and the valley behind complement each other, making it a standard view of Jiongtai Xian Valley. Two kilometers southeast of Jiongtai Xian Valley is the Tongbai Palace, where Zhang Bodu established the “Southern Ancestor’s Court.” Although it was rebuilt later, it is still worth visiting for those seeking traces of Taoist immortals. Visitors can take a bus to Tongbai Palace and then walk a short distance to arrive, with free admission.Jiongtai Fairy Valley offers a picturesque landscape, but it’s important to note that transportation back from the site can be inconvenient, requiring you to hitchhike by the roadside, and it’s about a half-hour walk. The attraction is open all year round from 08:00 to 16:00.
Favorable policies include free admission for children under 1.2 meters in height, and a 50% discount for children, students, and the elderly between 1.2 meters (not included) and 1.5 meters (included). Full-time undergraduate students (included) and below can enjoy the discount with their student IDs, and people aged 60 and above can get the discount with their ID cards.
Military personnel with active-duty military IDs enjoy free admission, as do disabled individuals with their disability certificates. Blood donors, teachers, and talents with specific certificates from Zhejiang Province can also enjoy free admission.
Additional information: The above details are for reference only, and actual policies should be confirmed with the attraction’s official disclosure.
Service facilities include a parking lot named ‘Jiongtai Fairy Valley Parking Lot,’ which is free of charge. It is located near Tian Tong Road, Tiantai County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, with a capacity of 100 spaces.
