Overview
Qianling Mountain Park, located in the center of Guiyang City, is a national 4A-level scenic area integrating mountains, forests, lakes, ancient temples, karst caves, and wild macaques. Known as the "First Mountain in Southern Guizhou," it is currently open to the public free of charge. The best time to visit the park is year-round, with spring and autumn offering the most comfortable weather. It is recommended to enter the park in the early morning, when the air is fresh, there are fewer tourists, and the macaques are most active. A tour of the entire park takes approximately 3 to 4 hours.
How to Get There
Qianling Mountain Park is easily accessible, with the subway being the recommended option. Take Guiyang Metro Line 3 to "Qianling Mountain Park Station," exit from Exit C, and walk approximately 5 minutes to reach the park's south gate. Alternatively, you can take bus routes 1, 2, 16, 22, etc., and get off at "Qianling Mountain Park Station." If taking a taxi, tell the driver to drop you off at "Qianling Hotel Entrance," from which it's about a 3-minute walk to the south gate entrance. The park has multiple entrances, but most visitors choose to enter from the south gate located on Zaoshan Road.
From here, you can take the cable car to the "Kanzhu Pavilion" on Xiangwang Ridge for panoramic views of Guiyang, then visit Hongfu Temple, a sacred Buddhist site in Guizhou, to pray for blessings. Afterwards, visit the zoo and panda enclosure, home to giant pandas, and finally stroll or boat along the expansive Qianling Lake, experiencing the unique charm of this urban oasis.
What to Expect
The mountain paths in Qianling Mountain Park are mainly gentle slopes with stone steps, but some sections, such as the "Nine-Bend Path," have many steps, so comfortable sneakers are recommended. The park recently upgraded all 16 public restrooms, significantly improving hygiene and adding accessible restrooms. A visitor service center is located within the park, equipped with a sightseeing cable car and a boat dock. Souvenir shops and snack stalls are available outside the South Gate and near Hongfu Temple within the park, where you can purchase drinks and snacks. Please note that the park is home to a large number of wild macaques; please do not bring food out in the open, do not feed or provoke the monkeys, and keep your backpack zipped up to prevent them from "stealing" your belongings.
Practical Tips
- To see the lively pandas and avoid tour groups, it's recommended to arrive at the South Gate before 8:30 AM.
- When watching the monkeys, do not tease or feed them; maintain a safe distance.
- Vegetarian meals are available inside Hongfu Temple (10 yuan/person), but you need to arrive early.
- On holidays, it's recommended to enter and exit through the East or West Gate to avoid the crowds at the South Gate.
