Qianling Mountain Park (黔灵山公园, Qianlingshan Park), located in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, was established in 1957 and spans an area of 4.26 million square meters, with an elevation ranging from 1100 to 1396 meters. Renowned as the “First Mountain in Southern Guizhou,” the park derives its name from the majestic Qianling Mountain. A comprehensive destination, Qianling Mountain Park seamlessly integrates natural scenery, cultural relics, folk customs, and recreational activities.
Comprising six major scenic areas, including Hongfu Temple, Qianling Lake, and Sanling Bay, the park boasts over 1500 species of trees and flowers, along with more than 1000 types of medicinal plants. Noteworthy for its dense forests, clear lake waters, and a harmonious blend of mountains, forests, springs, lakes, caves, temples, and wildlife, Qianling Mountain captures the essence of diverse natural elements.
The park features four main entrances – east, west, south, and north – with the southern gate serving as the primary entrance. This gate is easily accessible by various public transportation options, and the cable car to ascend the mountain is also conveniently located here. For an optimal experience, visitors are recommended to enter the park through the southern gate, where they can embark on a journey to explore the rich tapestry of landscapes, cultural heritage, and leisure opportunities that Qianling Mountain Park offers.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Qianling Mountain Park
- Vlog about Qianling Mountain Park
- Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
- Attractions in Northwest Guiyang
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | Half a day |
| Ticket Price | Admission: 5 RMB Hongfu Temple: 2 RMB |
| Cable Car | 20 RMB for single way 30 RMB for round |
| Opening Hours | 7.00 – 22.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0851-86823039 |
Location and Transportation
Qianling Mountain Park is situated at 187 Zaoshan Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China. Located approximately 1.5 kilometers from the city center of Guiyang, this scenic park offers a convenient and accessible retreat for locals and visitors alike. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 2, 12, 13, 16, 22, 23, 27, 33, 41, 53, 72, 77, 101, 226, 238, 248, 261, 311, 314, 316, or 320 and get off at Qianlin Mountain Park Stop (黔灵山公园站) to reach the south gate.
Metro: The closest metro station to the park is Qianling Mountain Park (黔灵山公园). After getting out of the station, you will be standing right at the entrance.
Highlights of Qianling Mountain Park
Hongfu Temple
Founded by Monk Chisong in 1672, Hongfu Temple holds profound significance. Its name, translating to “spreading Buddha’s great aspirations, saving people’s worldly desires, bringing blessings to sentient beings, and ensuring a good start and a good end,” encapsulates its spiritual essence. The temple complex boasts numerous structures including the Law Enlightenment Pagoda, Nine-Dragon Wall, Grand Mountain Gate, Bell and Drum Tower, Hall of Heavenly Kings, Avalokitesvara Hall, Mahavira Hall, Jade Buddha Hall, Scripture Repository, Dharma Hall, Guest Hall, Twin Gui Tower, and Abbot’s Courtyard. With pavilions, halls, as well as rock carvings along the paths, the temple covers nearly 11,433 square meters. Notable among the carvings is a “tiger (虎)” character standing over 6 meters tall.
Monkey Park
Dating back to the 1930s and initially comprising conference rooms and guesthouses, the Monkey Park was incorporated into the Qianling Park in 1957. Over several decades, the park has seen the monkey population grow from 20 to over 500 individuals in five major groups. These monkeys, accustomed to human presence, exhibit a fearless demeanor, though visitors are advised to exercise caution – cameras should be securely held and food items carefully concealed as the monkeys tend to be mischievous and might attempt to snatch them.
Qilin Cave
Originally named Tangshan Cave, Qilin Cave earned its current name due to the striking resemblance of its stalactites to qilin, a mythical creature. The cave, spacious enough to accommodate a hundred people, previously housed a temple called Baiyi An in the ninth year of the Ming Jiajing era (1530). Notably, in 1941-1942 and later in 1949, patriotic generals Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng were detained here by Chiang Kai-shek. In 1985, a museum showcasing the artifacts and historical context of the generals’ detention, including reconstructions of their bedrooms, was established within the cave.
Qianling Mountain Park Zoo
Nestled on the Zhanbofeng plateau, the Qianling Mountain Park Zoo, established in 1958, spans 75,500 square meters. Designed for the breeding and research of wildlife, it features a varied terrain ascending like a terrace from the entrance. The zoo encompasses enclosures and feeding areas nestled along the mountainside and valley, housing diverse habitats such as the Black Leaf Monkey Pavilion, Panda Specimen Exhibition Hall, Lion and Tiger Pavilion, Bear Pool, Deer Garden, and more, covering an enclosure area of 3,300 square meters. Exhibiting rare and endangered species including Northeast Tigers, African Lions, Leopards, Peacocks, Ostriches, Rheas, Swans, and Antelopes, the zoo also hosts precious Guizhou-native animals.
Vlog about Qianling Mountain Park
Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
Monkey Interaction: When visiting Qianling Mountain, you’ll encounter numerous monkeys, especially on the left side after leaving Hongfu Temple. These monkeys are quite bold and may snatch food or belongings from visitors. It’s advisable not to carry food or water openly in front of them to avoid attracting their attention.
Caution with Food: Once you’ve given food to the monkeys or if they’ve touched any of your belongings, it’s best not to touch them again to prevent potential aggression or attacks.
Visit to the Zoo: Qianling Mountain Park includes a zoo with a surprising variety of animals, including pandas, lions, tigers, black bears, raccoons, and various reptiles. There are also swans and mandarin ducks in the water. Plan to spend at least an hour exploring the zoo, especially if you’re visiting with children.
Explore the Local Market: Near the southern entrance of the park is the Qianling Vegetable Market, where you can find many delicious local eateries, such as beef noodle shops and pastry stalls. If you have extra time, consider exploring the market along with your park visit.
Timing for Panda Pavilion: If you’re interested in seeing the pandas, it’s best to visit the Panda Pavilion early in the day, ideally between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. This time frame offers the best chance to observe the pandas when they are most active.
Luggage Storage: At the park entrance, there is a luggage storage service available for a fee of 10 yuan per item.
After taking the cable car up to the South Gate, we hiked down the mountain. The paths were lined with monkeys, and some were right in the middle of the road or on the side, making it impossible to avoid them. On our way down, I spotted a little monkey squatting by the gravel path. We exchanged glances for a brief moment before I realized it had quickly jumped from the ground to the top of my head. The next… Read more »
Every monkey has such smooth and glossy fur. As long as you don’t let them see you holding food, they won’t bother you. There are a lot of monkeys along the road from Hongfu Temple towards the zoo, and there are many vendors selling peanuts for five yuan a pack to feed the monkeys. However, it’s easy to get surrounded and have them snatch the food from you.
The monkeys here are definitely a highlight; they are lively, clever, and quite bold. Some are sitting by the roadside being cute, while others are jumping and darting between the branches. It’s incredibly fun!
I chose to take the cable car up and hike down the mountain. From the top, you can get a panoramic view of the city, and it’s really expansive when the weather is good. Since the weather can be quite changeable in the mountains, it’s a good idea to bring a small umbrella.
At Qianling Mountain Park, there are more people than monkeys. We had to wait two hours for the cable car, and anyone who comes here will likely regret it.
Taking the cable car up to see the monkeys, there was one squatting by the roadside waiting to be fed as soon as you come down from the pavilion on the mountaintop. It looked quite well-behaved. At the entrance of the zoo and the panda exhibit, there were large groups of monkeys. Security personnel used slingshots to disperse the monkeys while warning tourists not to get too close. They even showed us photos of the wounds of a girl who… Read more »
Not entering through the east when visitng Qianling Mountain Park. Upon entering, there is a steep slope that is quite strenuous. The park is very large and great for strolling, it’s best to go when it’s not raining, as climbing in heavy rain leaves you soaked. However, if you’re afraid of monkeys, you can go on a rainy day, as the monkeys don’t come out.
Actually, most of the monkeys are quite polite. I feel they don’t have any malicious intent. However, I was still stunned when a monkey jumped onto my head.
Qianling Mountain is made up of six major viewing areas including Hongfu Temple, Qianling Lake, and Sanling Bay, forming a famous and beautiful urban park. ⏰ Opening hours: 6:00-22:00 Cable car: One-way 20 RMB/person, round-trip 30 RMB/person ♂️ Highlight: Qianling Mountain is now open for free and no longer requires tickets. You just need a reservation code to enter. Route one: (East entrance in, south exit) East Entrance ➡️ Zoo ➡️ Qianling Lake ➡️ Hongfu Temple ➡️ Cable car downhill… Read more »