Niutou Mountain National Forest Park is located 60 kilometers outside Wuyi City. Known as the ‘Little Jiuzhaigou of the South’, it is renowned for its cliffs, streams, and clear pools, offering a certain charm. However, it still falls slightly short when compared to the grandeur of Jiuzhaigou. Due to inconvenient public transportation, most visitors to Niutou Mountain arrive by private car, keeping the number of tourists relatively low. From the entrance to the core scenic area, it is approximately a 5-kilometer drive. Visitors can drive to the parking lot at the foot of the mountain, and the scenic area also offers three free shuttles daily between the entrance and the area. Adjacent to the parking lot, there is a restaurant and a mountain lodge hotel, while the hot spring hotel near the entrance has better facilities and offers hot spring bathing. If time permits, an overnight stay can be considered. To the left of the parking lot is the trail leading to Houshan Wangniu Peak. If arriving in the afternoon and planning to stay overnight, one might consider a walk in the back mountain, followed by a hot spring bath, and then proceed to the Shimen Gorge entrance the next day for a right turn, climbing Tianshi Peak, visiting Tianshi Hall, and walking on the Golden Lock Bridge, which are the main attractions of the scenic area. From the Shimen Gorge entrance past Yuxian Lake to the Qixi Bridge, the path is essentially straight, accompanied by clear pools and streams, making for an easy walk. After the Qixi Bridge, there is a fork in the road, both leading to the top of Tianshi Peak and Tianshi Hall, with one path leading up the mountain and the other down. To the left is the classic thrilling trail, which ends at the Golden Lock Bridge. Continuing upwards past the One-Line Sky leads to the summit and Tianshi Hall. The trail itself is suspended on the cliffs halfway up the mountain, offering a distant view of the long Golden Lock Bridge spanning between two cliffs and the Tianshi Peak opposite, exuding an imposing and grand atmosphere, also providing a wonderful angle for photography. Although the Golden Lock Bridge appears thrilling, one will find that the bridge is actually very stable and sturdy, so there is no need for excessive anxiety. The One-Line Sky that follows is quite steep, but when you reach the summit, the sudden view of the vast landscape makes all the previous efforts worthwhile. Tianshi Hall on the mountain offers the opportunity to burn incense and pray, although there may be an additional fee. It takes about 2 hours to climb up the mountain, which can be a bit tiring, but the downhill path is flatter and can be completed in a little over an hour back to the Qixi Bridge at the foot of the mountain. There are several restrooms on the mountain, but almost no shops selling items, so it is necessary to bring water and snacks for the climb. The Shenniugou Rafting near the scenic area entrance (128 yuan/person, for reference) is a deep and rapid gorge, about 3 kilometers long, making it a fun, cool, and thrilling activity in the summer. However, rafting usually starts around 1 pm, so it is recommended to climb the mountain in the morning and raft in the afternoon. Opening hours are from May 1st to September 30th from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm; from October 1st to April 30th from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Preferential policies for children: height 1.3 meters (4 feet 3 inches) and under are free.
Admission is free for children under 2 meters in height (excluding 2 meters). Children between 1.2 meters (inclusive) and 1.5 meters (excluding 1.5 meters), as well as senior citizens aged 70 and above (inclusive) with a senior citizen card, enjoy discounted admission. Full-time primary, middle, and high school students with a student card, as well as people with disabilities with valid identification, also receive discounts. Military personnel with valid identification are admitted free of charge. Please note that the above information is for reference only; specific details should be based on the disclosures of Niutou Mountain Scenic Area on the day of visit.
Service Facilities: Parking lots are available at Shangtian Parking Lot and Xiatian Parking Lot with a reference price of ¥10 per hour. The address is Shangtian Village, Xialian Township, Liucheng Town, Wuyi County, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, with a capacity of 1800 parking spaces.
