Fanjingshan In-Depth Guide: The Right Way to Unlock the "Sky City"
I. Pre-Trip Reading: Avoiding Crowds and Weather Pitfalls
1. Best Time to Visit
- Cloud Sea Season (April-May, September-October): Sunny and dry weather, high probability of sunrise and sunset, the surging sea of clouds is like a fairyland.
- Summer Season (June-August): Temperatures 18-22℃, but frequent showers, bring raincoats; cable car may be temporarily closed due to strong winds, it is recommended to avoid weekends.
- Snow and Ice Season (November-December): Frosty ice and ice formations are stunning, tickets are 50% off (for residents of the four provinces and cities of Wuling), but the Red Cloud Golden Summit may be closed due to snow accumulation, wear non-slip shoes.
2. Tickets and Reservations
- Real-name Time-Slot Reservation: Purchase tickets 3-7 days in advance through the "Fanjingshan Tourist Area" WeChat official account, including the entrance ticket (100 yuan) + sightseeing bus (20 yuan). It is recommended to purchase cable car tickets (round trip 140 yuan) at the same time, as queuing on-site may exceed 2 hours.
- Discount Policy:
- From November 1st to December 31st, 2025, tourists from the four provinces and cities of Wuling (Guizhou, Chongqing, Hubei, and Hunan) will enjoy a 50% discount on entrance tickets (50 yuan/45 yuan).
- Tourists nationwide can enjoy combined ticket discounts when purchasing "Fanjingshan + Related Scenic Spots" (such as Jiulong Cave and Shiqian Hot Spring).
- Seniors aged 65 and above are admitted free of charge, but their ID cards must be verified on-site.
3. Transportation:
- High-speed rail + bus: Guiyang North Station → Tongren South Station (1.5 hours), then transfer to a tourist bus to the East Gate of Fanjingshan (1.5 hours, fare 50 yuan). A new direct bus from Guiyang to Fanjingshan (departing from Huaguoyuan T1 area/Yan'an West Road old bus station) takes approximately 3 hours one way and costs 120 yuan. - By car: Navigate to "Fanjingshan Visitor Center". Parking is plentiful (20 RMB/day). After descending the mountain, you can book an official chauffeur service (150 RMB) to drive your car from the West Gate to the East Gate.
II. Core Route: Classic Activities and Hidden Experiences
1. Time-saving and Effortless Version (Cable Car Round Trip)
- Enter before 7:30 AM: Enter by scanning your ID card, take the sightseeing bus (20 minutes) → lower cable car station.
- Take the cable car at 8:00 AM: A 15-minute cable car ride overlooking the primeval forest. After exiting the cable car, walk 40 minutes along a gentle boardwalk to Mushroom Rock.
- Conquer the Red Cloud Golden Summit at 9:30 AM: Climb the iron chains using both hands and feet, reaching the summit in about 1 hour. Visit the Sakyamuni Hall and Maitreya Hall connected by the sky bridge, and take panoramic photos of the "Sky City".
- Visit the Old Golden Summit and Chengen Temple at 12:00 PM: Walk 15 minutes from Mushroom Rock to the Old Golden Summit. After reaching the summit, return to the Chengen Temple ruins to experience the atmosphere of a thousand-year-old Buddhist kingdom. - 14:00 Return Trip: Return to the upper cable car station via the same route. After descending the mountain, you can visit Yunshe Village to experience Tujia culture.
2. Advanced Hiking Version (West Up, East Down)
Enter from the West Gate: Take the shuttle bus to Mianxu Ridge, hike for 6-7 hours, passing the 10,000-meter Sleeping Buddha, Scissors Gorge, and the Ten-Month Pregnancy Tree, finally exiting the scenic area from the East Gate.
PS: I entered and exited from the East Gate, staying at this guesthouse at the foot of Fanjingshan Mountain: Fanjingshan Yilu Gangwan Boutique Guesthouse. The environment was good, clean, and reasonably priced. Highly recommended!