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Popular Best Things to Do in Binchuan [2025]

Two or three days might be more suitable for visiting Jizu Mountain. One day would be too rushed. We at least went up and then walked down. Walking down is very tiring for the knees. It is recommended not to walk, but to take the cable car down.

Arriving for the fourth year, I came here at my own will, following my heart. A pure land, three pillars of incense.

May all my wishes come true, and all may be well! The scenery and spiritual energy of Jizu Mountain are truly worth a visit. But remember to bring sunscreen. The UV rays on the mountain are extremely strong, and without sunscreen, you&#39;ll get a tan in no time!

I recommend wearing comfortable shoes for the hike. The many mountain paths will leave your legs shaking in no time!

I have always wanted to go to Jizu Mountain. I didn&#39;t go when I was pregnant, but I went there when my child was in kindergarten. I took my parents with me. Taking my child all the way to Jinding Temple is a kind of fulfillment of faith. There were many temples when I went there, but I just went straight to Jinding Temple. Last time I went to the top of the mountain, I didn&#39;t plan to take the cable car, but to hike up.

Strong Buddhist cultural atmosphere: As the dojo of the first ancestor of Zen Buddhism, Kasyapa, Jizu Mountain is one of the ten famous Buddhist mountains in China. It has many ancient temples and a long history of Buddhism, such as Zhusheng Temple, Jinding Temple, Kasyapa Hall, etc. The Buddha statues in the temple are solemn, the Buddhist music is lingering, full of Zen, and people&#39;s souls are purified.  

- Beautiful natural scenery: The four views of Jinding - watching the sunrise in the east, the floating clouds in the south, the Cangshan and Erhai Lake in the west, and the Yulong Snow Mountain in the north, the scenery is spectacular. Xu Xiake once praised it as &quot;This is not only the first Jizu Mountain, but also the first in the country&quot;. In addition, there are natural landscapes such as primitive forests, streams, and canyons in the mountains. Walking in them, it feels like being in a fairyland.

- Convenient transportation: There are many transportation options to choose from Dali Ancient City or Binchuan County to Jizu Mountain, including self-driving, taking a bus, and direct bus to the scenic area. There are also sightseeing buses and cableways inside the scenic area to facilitate tourists to shuttle between various attractions.

- Complete supporting facilities: The supporting facilities of Jizu Mountain Scenic Area are relatively complete, with multiple parking lots for convenient parking. There are vegetarian food such as cold noodles and vegetarian meals on the mountain at affordable prices, and there are also many restaurants and snack stalls at the foot of the mountain. In addition, there are various grades of accommodation available around the scenic area to meet the needs of different tourists.

- Overcrowded during the peak tourist season: During the peak tourist season such as the first month of the lunar calendar, there are a large number of tourists in Jizu Mountain, the temple is crowded, and the cableway and sightseeing bus also need to wait in line for a long time, affecting the experience of playing.

- Troubles caused by monkeys: There are many monkeys on the mountain. Although most monkeys are friendly, some monkeys will snatch tourists&#39; food and items, causing inconvenience and trouble to tourists, and they need to be vigilant at all times.

- Large physical exertion: If you choose to hike up the mountain, the journey is long and the physical exertion is large, which requires high physical fitness of tourists. For tourists with poor physical strength or tight time, they may not be able to fully visit all the attractions.

【Visit Jizu Mountain in Dali in March｜Spring practice in the Zen of mountains and water】🌿⛰️

🌺 Spring limited: Double gift of mountain flowers and sea of ​​clouds

Jizu Mountain in March is the color palette of early spring in western Yunnan. Mountain cherry and azalea bloom in succession, and pink clouds fill the valley (recommended section from Zhusheng Temple to Jinding); in the early morning, you often see the sea of ​​clouds rolling. Standing on Tianzhu Peak and overlooking, Cangshan and Erhai Lake are looming, like a fairyland. The temperature is 10-20℃, and the body feels comfortable. It is recommended to wear non-slip hiking shoes + thin jackets. Light down is required in morning fog.

📿 Thousand-year Zen Rhyme: Time and space dialogue between ancient temples and beliefs

As a famous Buddhist mountain, the temples in Jizu Mountain are worth savoring:

- Zhusheng Temple: The ancestral temple of Master Xuyun, the Burmese jade Buddha in the main hall is solemn and magnificent, and the camellia in the temple is in full bloom.

- Jiaye Hall: The &quot;Buddhist Hall in the Clouds&quot; at an altitude of 3,100 meters. Going up the stone steps, incense and prayer flags interweave, the moment you reach the top, you will feel suddenly enlightened.

- Jinding Temple: A great place to watch the sunrise, the copper temple is gilded in the morning light, and you can overlook the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (when the weather is fine).
✨ Tips: During the first and fifteenth day of the lunar calendar (March 24 coincides with the fifteenth day of the third month), the temple has a blessing ceremony, and the atmosphere is extraordinary.

🍵 Mountain flavor and fireworks: practice on the tip of the tongue

- Vegetarian food: The &quot;Kasaya Tofu&quot; and cold mushroom soup in the Zhusheng Temple vegetarian hall are light and sweet, 30 yuan per person (reservation is required in advance).

- Mountain products: Jizu Mountain cold mushrooms, ancient tree tea, and handmade walnut candy in the Shanmen market are the first choice for souvenirs.

- Hidden Coffee: &quot;Yunyin Coffee&quot; on the hillside (near &quot;Jiulian Temple&quot; in navigation), sit on the terrace and drink hand-brewed coffee, watch the mountain fog flow, and waste half a day.

🚶 Hiking Guide: A route where wildness and humanities are intertwined

✅ Classic small loop (6-8 hours):
Mountain Gate (take a sightseeing bus) &rarr; Zhusheng Temple &rarr; Muni Temple &rarr; Yulong Waterfall (abundant water in spring) &rarr; Huashou Gate (where Kasyapa enters meditation) &rarr; Prince Pavilion &rarr; Jinding (cable car down the mountain).
✅ Secret branch line: From Huideng Temple to the &quot;Sheshen Cliff&quot;, there are few people disturbing the small trail, and squirrels are occasionally seen in the primeval forest.
🚠 Cableway: 120 yuan for the whole journey (round trip), optional if you are not physically fit, and it still takes 20 minutes to walk from the end of the Jinding cableway to the temple area.

🏡 Night talk in the mountains: a wild luxury experience of sleeping with stars

- Sidhan Temple Zen Meditation Center: a Zen homestay transformed from an ancient temple, with a tatami room with a mountain view through the window, and monks can chant sutras in the morning and evening classes (reservations must be made one week in advance).

- Nianhua Zen Homestay: a Bai courtyard halfway up the mountain, where the housekeeper will make three cups of tea and stargazing is excellent at night (the Milky Way gradually appears in March).
⚠️ Accommodation suggestions: Jinding Temple has a shortage of beds (200 yuan/person), and it is recommended to stay halfway up the mountain or at the foot of the mountain (30 minutes drive down the mountain).

💡 In-depth experience: practice beyond sightseeing

- Meditation courses: Some temples offer short-term meditation (such as Fangguang Temple, which needs to be contacted in advance), including sitting incense, walking meditation, and vegetarian experience.

- Pilgrimage culture: observe the piety of local believers in &quot;three steps and one knock&quot; to worship Jinding, and feel the power of faith.

- Ecological protection: There are &quot;Leave No Trace&quot; signs along the way, please bring your own trash.

Popular Best Things to Do in Binchuan [2025]

Jizu Mountain

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