Shiliang Waterfall is an indispensable attraction for visitors to Tiantai Mountain. The valley is lush with vegetation, and a massive stone beam elegantly spans the mountains, with a waterfall cascading beneath the slightly arched stone beam, creating a unique and beautiful composition. Due to Xu Xiake’s multiple visits, it has become a ‘check-in’ spot for tourists following his footsteps. The scenic area’s trails roughly form the shape of the Chinese character ‘入’, with three exits. The south entrance, where restaurants and farmhouses are more concentrated, is closer to the main waterfall scenery and is the choice for most visitors. The west entrance is near the Xiao Tonghu Dripping Spring, approximately 2 kilometers away. The scenic area is not large and can be toured on foot. During the rainy season or after rain, the waterfall’s water flow is greater, making the scenery more spectacular. Walking along the stream-side path, one can soon reach the Zhongfang Guang Temple, with the Shiliang Waterfall located beside it. The Zhongfang Guang Temple is the place of practice for the 500 Arhats, and the tranquil yellow temple is built along the mountain, hidden among the green ancient trees, perfectly blending with the valley’s landscape. Through the temple’s windows, one can capture a panoramic view of the Zhongfang Guang Temple (newer section). Near the temple’s side entrance, one can appreciate the inscriptions on the stone beam up close. It is said that Xu Xiake once walked above the stone beam, but due to safety concerns, the stone beam has been closed, and no one can walk on it now. The water crashes and swirls among the rocks, passing through the stone beam after several falls, and pouring into a deep valley tens of meters below, with the sound of the waterfall thunderous. Looking back from below the waterfall, the ancient temple, stone beam, and waterfall blend into one, which can be considered a classic scene of the scenic area. Don’t forget to take a standard photo as a souvenir here. The nearby Shenlong Tail Waterfall is also worth seeing for its elegant and winding shape. In addition to natural landscapes, there are many cliff inscriptions around the waterfall. The most famous ones are ‘Shiliang Waterfall’ written by Kang Youwei and the inscriptions by Mi Fu that add much charm to the stone beam. The later part of the tour focuses on appreciating the scenery of the canyon’s landscape, walking along the water-side path, becoming more secluded and less crowded as one goes further. After passing Yingzhen Pond, there is a fork at Dingbu Bridge, inscribed with ‘Fahua Morning Light’. It takes about 10 minutes to walk to the exit, where the Xiao Tonghu Waterfall is located. Walking to the right for about 20-30 minutes leads to the Longtan in the north. Exiting the scenic area’s north gate, the Da Tonghu Waterfall, located about 3-4 kilometers to the north, offers a more natural scenery, but this area has not yet been developed into a scenic spot, and only some outdoor enthusiasts camp nearby. Opening hours are from 08:00 to 16:00 all year round. Preferential policies: Children: Free for those under 1.2 meters in height. Children, students, and the elderly: Those between 1.2 meters (not included) and 1.5 meters (included) in height, full-time undergraduate students (included) and below with their own student ID, and those over 60 years old (included) with ID.
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Shiliang Waterfall
Shiliang Waterfall is an indispensable attraction for visitors to Tiantai Mountain. The valley is lu[...]
