Shenxianju Scenic Area is the core zone of Xianju National Park, a National Scenic Spot, and a National 5A Tourist Attraction. Next to the Shenxianju Visitor Center, there are many restaurants and a very large underground parking lot. The Visitor Center is quite far from the scenic area entrance—about 5 km away—but you can take a shuttle bus to get there. Some local taxi drivers also solicit business in the parking lot and other areas, but I don’t think it’s necessary since the buses run frequently and there is almost no wait at all.
Shenxianju is one of the world’s largest and most typical examples of volcanic rhyolite landforms. It features rich and concentrated landscapes surrounded by unique peaks, with over a hundred attractions including Guanyin Rock, Tathagata Statue, Welcoming Mountain God, General Rock, Sleeping Beauty, and Shiyi Waterfall. Centered around Xiyan Valley, the scenery encompasses peaks, cliffs, streams, and waterfalls. Anciently known as Tianmu Mountain, its fantastical beauty was celebrated in Li Bai’s poem “Dream Journey to Tianmu: A Song of Farewell.”
A distinctive feature of Shenxianju Scenic Area is its abundance of bridges. The route is very straightforward, divided into South and North Gates. Shuttle buses conveniently connect the Visitor Center, South Gate, and North Gate. This time, we entered through the South Gate and exited through the North Gate without any backtracking. The entire scenic area is well-developed and visitor-friendly, with almost no strenuous climbing required. There are relatively few stairs, and even some of the steeper sections have escalators. There are also many Instagram-famous spots, glass walkways, and unfortunately, some not-so-great viral ice cream. During the National Day holiday in early autumn, the air was fresh and the temperature just right—not too cold, not too hot—making for a very comfortable stroll through the mountains. The only caveat is that if you’re afraid of heights, you might want to skip this visit.
In terms of scenery, this place comes highly recommended and can be considered a must-visit attraction in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region. The only downside is that transportation isn’t very convenient; however, if you’re driving and can combine it with several nearby attractions, it makes for an excellent trip.
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