Tianping Mountain - Scenic Views and Cultural Attractions

Tianping Mountain, located 15 kilometers west of Suzhou city, is the burial site of Fan ZhongyanR[...]

Tianping Mountain, located 15 kilometers west of Suzhou city, is the burial site of Fan Zhongyan’s ancestors, and the cultural sites related to the Fan family are mainly concentrated at the foot of the mountain. With an elevation of 201 meters, the mountain is not tall but somewhat steep, making it an exciting climb. Every year from October to December during the Red Maple Festival, the vibrant autumn colors attract countless photographers.
At the foot of Tianping Mountain, there are several ponds, resembling a large park, where children enjoy pedal boats and rowing boats. Families can have picnics on stone benches or lawns. After passing the ‘Xianyou Houle’ arch at the foot of the mountain, one will find the Fan Wenzheng Memorial Hall and the Fan Zhongyan Memorial Hall, which house the life and works of Fan Zhongyan from the Northern Song Dynasty. It takes only a few minutes to walk from the entrance of the scenic area to here. After visiting, one can start climbing the mountain along the nearby mountain path.

Ascending to Yunquan Jingzhe, one finds a White Cloud Spring, which is channeled through bamboo tubes into a basin under the stone wall of the Jingzhe. Further up is the ‘One Line Sky,’ a narrow passage that only allows one person to pass at a time. Tianping Mountain has many peculiar rocks, forming unique structures like One Line Sky and Flying Rocks. There is no need to worry; these scattered rocks are not at the level of outdoor hiking. The moderate intensity allows visitors to experience the joy of climbing. Almost anyone, except the elderly or very weak, can reach the summit, which takes about an hour if climbed slowly.

From the summit’s Wanghu Terrace, one can overlook the cityscape of Suzhou and see Tianyun Temple, not far from the top. The temple was originally built in the 1980s by locals to worship the Qing Dynasty’s famous Jiangnan doctor, Ye Tianshi. It has been renovated and there is no need to visit it deliberately; one can simply enjoy the view from the summit and then take another flight of steps down the mountain. Some people choose to go up the steps and down the rocky path, but this is too dangerous for descending and is not recommended.

Although there are many forks in the road on Tianping Mountain, one will eventually return to the park-like area at the foot of the mountain before exiting the scenic area. At the foot of the mountain, one can visit Tianping Mountain Villa, built by Fan Yunlin, the 17th descendant of Fan Zhongyan, during the Ming Dynasty. It includes areas such as Zhubo Temple, Laiyan Pavilion, Fan Canyuan Temple, Gaoyi Garden, and Baiyun Ancient Temple, with several quaint buildings and a small ancestral temple, Baiyun Ancient Temple, set in a serene environment.

Walking east along the yellow walls of Baiyun Ancient Temple, one encounters a stone archway inscribed with ‘Fan’s Ancestral Temple of Wu Migration, the Tomb of Tang Zhuguo Lishui Prefecture Lord,’ leading to a path with stone sheep, stone tigers, and stone horses, and the tomb of Fan Zhongyan’s great-grandfather, Fan Sui.

For those who wish to see red maples, the maples are mostly at the foot of the mountain, with few on the mountain itself. The maples truly become vibrantly red in mid-to-late November. The rows of maples at the entrance of the scenic area turn red earlier, but they are not the essence of Tianping Mountain’s maples. The ancient maple forest near the ‘Xianyou Houle’ arch features ancient maples transplanted from Fujian by Fan Yunlin, with ages over 400 years. Their branches reach the sky, and when their leaves turn red, they are exceptionally beautiful.

During the Red Maple Festival, acrobatic performances can be seen at the foot of the mountain. Additionally, from April to June each year, Tianping Mountain hosts a Cartoon Festival, with cartoon models placed at the mountain’s base where visitors can take photos with characters in cartoon costumes and enjoy acrobatic shows. Outside the Tianping Mountain scenic area, there are farmhouses, and within the area, there are shops at the foot, midsection, and summit of the mountain.

The area around the ancient maple forest at the foot of the mountain has the most vendors, selling snacks such as sausages. During the Red Maple Festival, there are more food stalls, but it is recommended to bring your own dry food just in case. Water is a must to bring, as it is more expensive on the mountain. Four kilometers south of Tianping Mountain is the Mudu Ancient Town, which can be visited together.

The opening hours are from 08:00 to 17:00 all year round.

Preferential Policies: Children: Free for those under 6 years old (inclusive) or under 1.4 meters (inclusive) with valid identification; half price for those aged between 6 and 18 years old (inclusive). Elderly: Free for those aged 70 and above (inclusive) with valid identification; half price for those aged between 60 and 70 years old (exclusive). Students: Half price for full-time undergraduate and below students with valid identification.

Military personnel: Free for active servicemen of the People’s Republic of China with military IDs and retired military officers with retirement certificates; free for veterans with the ‘People’s Republic of China Veterans’ preferential treatment certificate’, excluding garden within the garden, garden charges, and night tour projects. Disabled persons: Free for disabled persons with a disability certificate, and one accompanying caregiver is allowed free entry for severely disabled persons.

‘Three Relatives’ personnel: Free for those with the ‘People’s Republic of China Martyrs, Military Personnel who Died in Service, and Deceased Military Personnel’s Dependents Preferential Treatment Certificate’, excluding garden within the garden, garden charges, and night tour projects. Medical staff in Suzhou: Free to visit the scenic area from the International Nurses’ Day (May 12th) and Chinese Doctors’ Day (August 19th) for seven days (May 12th to 18th, August 19th to 25th).

Medical staff in Suzhou should present their ‘Personal ID’ + ‘Suzhou Medical Staff Free Garden Card (electronic card)’ to enter the garden without an appointment, and the first gate ticket fee is waived.

Service Facilities: Parking Lot: [Red Maple Parking Lot] Reference price: 6 yuan for the first hour, 4 yuan for the second hour; Address: Red Maple Parking Lot, Lingtian Road, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province; Spaces: Subject to the actual situation of the scenic area. WIFI: Account: Tianping Mountain; Password: No password required; Range: Scenic area visitor service center. Mobile phone charging: Charging power sockets are equipped at the scenic area visitor center. Luggage storage: Reference price: Free; Live animals, valuables, flammable and explosive items, and food cannot be stored. Guided tours: The scenic area offers free electronic guide services.

Tourists can enjoy free interpretation services by scanning the WeChat code. Bathroom: There are multiple bathrooms in the scenic area, distributed near Tianping Mountain Villa, near the scenic area gate, and near Hongfeng Square, and are marked with conspicuous signs.

Convenience store: There is a convenience store in the scenic area, located near Tianying Pavilion.