Jiangxi · Shangrao
Mount Sanqing is one of China’s most otherworldly mountain landscapes, a UNESCO World Heritage site of granite pillars and sheer cliffs rising out of subtropical forest in northeastern Jiangxi. Its name honours the Three Pure Ones of Taoism, and the mountain has been a sacred site for over 1,600 years, with ancient temples tucked among the rocks. The 48 granite peaks and 89 stone pillars include the famous Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain and the graceful Goddess Peak, and on misty mornings a sea of clouds fills the valleys below. Spring brings rhododendron blooms and autumn brings clear skies, both ideal for hiking. The deeper experience is the West Coast plank walk, a cliffside path high above the clouds with panoramic views in every direction.
Tips: Take the cable car up and save your legs for the summit trails, allowing a full day on the mountain. Walk the West Coast skywalk in the morning for the best chance of a cloud sea, and pack layers and rain gear — mountain weather changes fast. Pair it with the white-walled villages of nearby Wuyuan for a classic Jiangxi combination.
Photo: xiquinhosilva / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)