Park of China
Overview
| Designation | National Park of China (second batch) |
| Province | Fujian |
| Location | Northern outskirts of Quanzhou, Fujian |
| Mountains | Central Fujian Ranges |
| Latitude, longitude | 25.0, 118.6 Google Maps |
| Top sights | The statue of Laozi |
| Area | 62 km² |
| Highest point | 498 m |
| Nearby cities | Quanzhou, Xiamen, Fuzhou |
| Nearby sites | Quanzhou 38km, Meizhou Island 52km, Gulangyu 77km, Mount Wanshi 81km, Haitan Island 132km Search nearby |
| Themes | Mountain, Hill, Taoism, Spring, Statue, Inscription, Temple, Culture, Islam, Hiking & climbing |
About
Mount Qingyuan rises on the northern outskirts of the coastal city of Quanzhou, Fujian, an outlier of the Daiyun range, 498 m; for its many springs it is also called Spring Mountain. The 62 km² area has four parts: Qingyuan, Jiuri Mountain, the Lingshan holy tombs and Xibeiyang.
It has seven groups of Song and Yuan stone statues, nine figures in all, and nearly 600 cliff inscriptions, the most famous being the Song statue of Laozi and the wind-praying inscriptions of Jiuri Mountain. The area also has Islamic holy tombs and relics of the navigator Zheng He.
It is in the second batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 1988.
Travel tips
Getting there: Quanzhou has a high-speed station and Jinjiang Airport. Mount Qingyuan lies north of the city, twenty to thirty minutes by bus or taxi.
Laojun Rock: one of the main sights, a Song-dynasty stone figure of Laozi at the lower part of the mountain, easy to see first.
The climb: a footpath leads up, passing many cliff inscriptions and temples. Most people climb as far as Ruixiang Rock and Bixiao Rock and then return the same way or come down another side. The main peak is 498 metres, so it is not hard for an average walker.
Other areas: Jiuri Mountain, in Nan'an, has Song-dynasty wind-praying inscriptions. The Lingshan Holy Tombs are an old Islamic burial site in the east of Quanzhou. Both are separate areas that need another trip.
Time: half a day is enough for Mount Qingyuan; with Quanzhou's old city, including Kaiyuan Temple, a day is comfortable.
Season: it can be visited all year. Spring and autumn are most comfortable; summer is hot, so go early; winter is mild but wet.
Where to stay: the old city and Xijie area of Quanzhou have the most choice; there is little lodging near the mountain.
Photo credits: Laojun Rock, Qingyuan Mountain: Zhangzhugang (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| World Heritage | Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China 38km, Gulangyu 77km, Eryilou 92km, Fujian Tulou 161km |
| National parks of China | Wuyishan National Park 300km |
| National parks | Meizhou Island 52km, Gulangyu–Mount Wanshi Scenic Area 80km, Mount Qingyun 86km, Shibachong Creek 123km |
| Detailed guides | Mount Wanshi 81km |
| AAAAA attractions | Xiamen Botanical Garden Scenic Area 81km, Sanfang Qixiang Scenic Area 137km, Gutian Tourist Area 181km |
| AAAA attractions | China Museum of Fujian-Taiwan Kinship 9km, Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple 12km, Yuanhe 1916 Creative Industry Park Scenic Area 12km, Wulin Traditional Village 29km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Longyan UNESCO Global Geopark 160km |
| Historic cities | Quanzhou 12km, Putian 61km |
| National key parks | Donghu Park 12km |
| Cities | Fuzhou 139km |
| Historical sites | Laojun Rock Statue 8km, Nan'an Taoyuan Palace Dharani Pillar 9km, Luoyang Bridge 11km, Jiuri Mountain Cliff Inscriptions 11km |
| Nature reserves | Daiyunshan National Nature Reserve 85km, Tianbaoyan National Nature Reserve 145km |
| Historic towns | Anhai Town 36km, Hushan Town 45km |
| Historic villages | Fulin Village 36km, Tukeng Village 38km |