Qingyuan Mountain, located in the northern suburbs of Quanzhou City and commonly known as ‘North Mountain’, is only 3 kilometers away from the city center, making it easily accessible. As the first 5A-level scenic spot in Quanzhou, it can be considered a symbolic attraction of the city. The mountain is not particularly high, so it is more appropriate to describe a trip to Qingyuan Mountain as leisurely exercise rather than a mountain climbing adventure.
According to the records in the Quanzhou Prefecture Chronicles, Qingyuan Mountain was developed during the Qin Dynasty, and during the Tang Dynasty, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism competed for land and management, leaving various traces of these three schools within the scenic area, which visitors can experience one by one. The highlight of the mountain is the Laojun Rock located at the foot of the mountain, which is a sculpture of Laozi, exquisitely carved and with a history of a thousand years. Within the Qingyuan Mountain scenic area, there is also the Master Hong Yi’s Stupa, which has a deep connection with Southern Fujian and is located here. Inside the stupa, there are tearful ink paintings by Mr. Bi Feng, a close friend of the master, and in front of the stupa, there is the master’s own calligraphy ‘mixed feelings of sorrow and joy’ written before his death. The cultural landscapes of Qingyuan Mountain surpass its natural landscapes, with numerous cliff inscriptions from past dynasties that can be followed on a map to seek out the ‘visits’ of ancient people. Besides viewing cultural landscapes and exercising by climbing, the charm of Qingyuan Mountain extends beyond these activities. Drinking tea in the mountains and dining at the mountaintop also offer unique pleasures. There are many places to rest and brew tea along the way up the mountain, allowing you to stop, drink tea, and savor the culture of Southern Fujian. Brewing tea on the mountain and enjoying the view with a cup of tea is a delightful experience. At the top of the mountain, there is a lake called Tianhu, where you can enjoy local farmhouse cuisine by the lakeside. The prices are affordable and the taste is good. As it gets dark, some people barbecue on the mountain, which is said to be a common lifestyle for locals. Additionally, from the top of the mountain, one can overlook the ancient city of Quanzhou from above. The opening hours are from 07:00 to 18:00 all year round. The Laojun ticket gate and Qianshou ticket gate service times are from 07:00 to 18:00 daily, and from 18:00 to 24:00, citizens and tourists are allowed to pass. The Qiyun ticket gate service time is from 08:00 to 17:00 daily, and from 17:00 to 24:00, citizens and tourists are allowed to pass. After 24:00, the scenic area is closed and entry is prohibited. Preferential policies include: Children: under 1. 2 meters (inclusive) or under 6 years old (inclusive), free; Minors: from 6 years old (exclusive) to 18 years old (inclusive), half price; Students: full-time undergraduate and below with valid student ID, half price; Elderly: over 60 years old in Quanzhou area (inclusive), over 65 years old outside Quanzhou area (inclusive), free with ID; between 60 and 65 years old outside Quanzhou area, half price with ID; Active military personnel: free with valid ID; Retired military officers: free with valid ID; Disabled people: free with disability certificate or disabled military personnel certificate; Senior talents: free with Quanzhou senior talent certificate and those who meet the ‘Yongquan’ action talent criteria; Tour guides without groups: half price with guide ID; Teachers: half price with teacher qualification certificate; Journalists: free with press card; Labor models: free with model worker certificate and ID; Firefighters: free with firefighter certificate.
