National park · China
Tiantaishan天台山
Give Tiantaishan one full day: Guoqing Temple early (free), then Shiliang gorge for the waterfall under the stone beam (¥60); skip it on a tight Zhejiang loop unless you want the Buddhist head temple.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
105 km²41 sq mi
approximate
Established
1988
Best months
Apr–May, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
At a glance
- Country
- China
- Area
- 105 km²41 sq mi
- The scenic areas and national forest park are separate units inside Tiantai County; published totals differ by source (check).
- Established
- 1988
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Tiantaishan spreads across separate ticketed areas in Tiantai County, Zhejiang: Guoqing Temple, the 598 head temple of Tiantai Buddhism and free to enter; Shiliang gorge, where a waterfall drops under a granite beam about 7 m long and 30–50 cm thick; Qiongtai Fairy Valley's cliff walkways; and Huading's rhododendron woods and tea terraces below a closed radar-station summit. There is no single mountain pass, each area takes 1–2 hours on foot, and gates, shuttles and the tourist centre close well before sunset, so one full day buys Guoqing plus one gorge and two days covers the rest.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1988.
Size and age
105 km²41 sq mi · national park since 1988
The scenic areas and national forest park are separate units inside Tiantai County; published totals differ by source (check).
Why go
- Guoqing Temple is the head temple of Tiantai Buddhism, founded in 598 and free to enter.
- Shiliang's waterfall drops under a granite natural beam about 7 m long and only 30–50 cm thick.
- Qiongtai Fairy Valley puts walkways on cliff faces above a granite gorge.
- Huading's summit area has old rhododendron woods and tea terraces, and far fewer people than the gorges.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanCold, wet; ski season at Shiliang town
- FebCold; ski season ends late month
- MarMild; waterfalls running
- AprRhododendrons on Huading; green gorges
- MayWarm, wet; best water flow
- JunPlum rains; slick stone steps
- JulHot and humid; typhoon tails
- AugTyphoon season; gorge trails may close
- SepStill warm; storms ease late month
- OctClear, dry, comfortable walking
- NovDry; autumn colour
- DecCold; short opening hours bite
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhododendrons and azaleas on HuadingApr–May · The reason to come up here in spring. | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Seven-Son Flower (Heptacodium miconioides)Aug–Sep · One of nine remaining wild populations grows on the mountain; do not pick or dig. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Waterfall flow at its strongestMay–Jun · Plum rains fill Shiliang and Qiongtai. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Ski season at Shiliang townDec–Feb · Machine-made snow; runs close in late February (check). | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Tiantai Bus Terminal (天台客运总站)
Bus 7 to the tourist centre, about every 30 min in daytime.
20 min
From Hangzhou
Direct coach to Tiantai, then bus 7 to the tourist centre.
2.5 h
Open the page →
From Ningbo
Direct coach to Tiantai, then bus 7 to the tourist centre.
2 h
Open the page →
From Taizhou
Coach from the south bus station to Tiantai, then bus 7.
1.5 h
From Shanghai
Coach from Shanghai South to Tiantai, then bus 7.
3.5 h
Open the page →
From Sanmenxian rail station
High-speed rail, then taxi to Tiantai; only a few connecting buses a day.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Guoqing Temple area | The 598 temple complex and the derelict Sui brick pagoda, 59.4 m tall. | Free; open roughly 07:00–16:00 (check).Free; open roughly 7:00 AM–4:00 PM (check). |
| Shiliang Scenic Area | Gorge trail past waterfalls, including the stone-beam fall and Small Copper Teapot fall. | Ticket at the lower or upper entrance. |
| Qiongtai Fairy Valley | Granite gorge with a reservoir, cliff walkways and A-Thousand-Feet Waterfall. | Ticket; walk lower to upper entrance. |
| Huading Scenic Area | Temples, tea plantations and old rhododendron woods below the closed summit. | Ticket; quietest of the main areas. |
| Chicheng hill | Conglomerate hill with caves, temples and a pagoda above Tiantai town. | Small ticket; sections have been closed for works (check). |
Sketch map
- 1Tiantai Bus Terminal · Ranger station≈29.153, 120.998Map ↗
- 2Tourist Centre · Headquarters≈29.160, 121.031Shuttle hub and main ticket desk.Map ↗
- 3Guoqing Temple · Village≈29.173, 121.043Map ↗
- 4Sui Pagoda · Viewpoint≈29.171, 121.043Map ↗
- 5Shiliang upper entrance · Gate≈29.271, 121.054Map ↗
- 6Shiliang Waterfall · Viewpoint≈29.275, 121.058Map ↗
- 7Qiongtai Fairy Valley lower entrance · Gate≈29.209, 120.996Map ↗
- 8Huading Temple · Village≈29.253, 121.090Map ↗
- 9Chicheng hill · Summit≈29.163, 121.025Map ↗
- 10Ji Gong's Former Residence · Town≈29.147, 121.031Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guoqing Temple (including Sui Pagoda) | Free | person | Free; 2026 estimate. |
| Shiliang Scenic Area | CNY 60 | person | 2026 estimate; covers the gorge trail and the stone-beam waterfall. |
| Qiongtai Fairy Valley Scenic Area | CNY 65 | person | 2026 estimate. |
| Huading Scenic Area (Huading National Forest Park) | CNY 50 | person | 2026 estimate. |
| Chicheng Scenic Area | CNY 15 | person | 2026 estimate; parts of the hill have been closed for works (check). |
| Ji Gong's Former Residence | CNY 30 | person | 2026 estimate; in Tiantai town, not on the mountain. |
| Park shuttle bus | CNY 1–20 | ride | Local buses around ¥1; shuttle legs between scenic areas cost more (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Scenic area ticket permit or guide
Shuttle bus seat no permit
Huading summit no permit
Park rules
- Opening hours
- Scenic areas, shuttles and the tourist centre open soon after sunrise and close well before sunset — in winter often 07:00–16:00, with the last buses back around 17:00. Start early.Scenic areas, shuttles and the tourist centre open soon after sunrise and close well before sunset — in winter often 7:00 AM–4:00 PM, with the last buses back around 5:00 PM. Start early.
- Separate tickets
- Each scenic area charges its own admission; there is no single mountain pass.
- Summit access
- The Huading summit is a military radar station and cannot be visited.
- Old stone trails
- Many pilgrimage paths are overgrown, algae-covered and unmarked; do not rely on them without a local guide.
- Litter and plants
- Carry out rubbish and leave plants, especially the rare Seven-Son Flower, alone.
Where to stay
Near the park
Tiantai town
The widest choice of hotels and food, about 20 min by bus 7 from the tourist centre.
Near the park
Chicheng Hotel
Closest hotel to the tourist centre and shuttle hub; rooms from about ¥200, but shops and restaurants are a ride away.
In the park
Mountain villages
Guesthouses in Shiliang and other villages on the mountain; handy if you want an early start.
Safety
Slippery stone steps and cliff walkways medium
Getting caught out by early closing medium
Typhoon tails and storms medium
Unmarked old pilgrimage trails high
Cold and short daylight in winter low
Accessibility
- Guoqing Temple and the tourist centre are the easiest areas, with paved paths and short walks.
- Shiliang and Qiongtai involve long flights of stone steps and cliff walkways; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Use the shuttle bus or share a car and driver instead of bringing a private car up the mountain roads.
- Do not pick plants in the Huading woods; the Seven-Son Flower population is one of the last wild ones.
- Buy meals in the mountain villages so the money stays above the tourist centre.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Tiantaishan?
There is no single park ticket. Guoqing Temple is free; Shiliang is about ¥60, Qiongtai Fairy Valley about ¥65, Huading about ¥50, Chicheng about ¥15 and Ji Gong's Former Residence about ¥30 (2026 estimates). Add shuttle fares if you move between areas by bus.
What are the best hikes in Tiantaishan?
The Shiliang gorge trail from the lower to the upper entrance, 2–3 hours past the waterfall under the granite beam, and the Qiongtai Fairy Valley walk on cliff walkways, also 2–3 hours. Both are stone-step routes, moderate rather than flat. The old pilgrimage trails elsewhere are overgrown and unmarked; use a local guide.
When is the best time to visit Tiantaishan?
April, May and October. April brings rhododendrons to Huading, May has the strongest waterfall flow, and October is dry and clear. Avoid January and February unless you are coming for the Shiliang ski slope, and expect slick steps during the June plum rains and typhoon tails in July to September.
Do I need a car for Tiantaishan?
It helps. Shuttle buses link the tourist centre with the scenic areas, but some run about once an hour and most only return to the tourist centre rather than between areas. A car and driver, or a taxi between gates, saves a lot of waiting.
How long do I need at Tiantaishan?
One full day covers Guoqing Temple plus one gorge, usually Shiliang. Two days lets you add Qiongtai Fairy Valley and Huading. Each scenic area takes 1–2 hours of walking, and everything closes well before sunset, so plan on two or three areas a day at most.
Is Tiantaishan the same as the Tiantaishan near Chengdu?
No. Tiantai is a common mountain name in China. This one is in Tiantai County, Taizhou, Zhejiang. There is a separate Tiantaishan National Park outside Chengdu in Sichuan.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go