Two Entrances, Two Ways to Go
Fanjingshan operates real-name, time-slot reservation entry. The East Gate is on the Jiangkou side and the West Gate on the Yinjiang side; the two gates are about 75 km apart, and the ways of visiting differ greatly. The East Gate has a sightseeing cable car: check in and enter, take the sightseeing bus for about 20 minutes to the lower cable car station, ride the cable car up for about 20 minutes, then walk about 30 minutes along the boardwalk into the core scenic area. The West Gate has no sightseeing cable car; the entire route is on foot over roughly 8,000 steps, and the one-way climb usually takes 4 to 6 hours.
Before setting out, first decide which gate to enter from, as transport, accommodation and time arrangements all follow from that. If you are traveling with elderly people or children under 10 and hope to finish the core sights in one day, the East Gate is the safer choice; visitors with plenty of stamina who want to take on the full hike and are willing to experience the primeval forest in depth can consider the West Gate.
Enter by Your Reserved Time Slot, and Bring Your Original ID Card
Entry must be made at the corresponding entrance during your reserved time slot, and you must carry your original ID card for the security check and ticket inspection. Around the East Gate, visitor centers, parking lots and dining are complete, with plenty of hotels and guesthouses; around the West Gate, facilities are limited, lodging choices are fewer, and commercialization is low. In peak season, quality accommodation is tight, so book in advance and confirm whether your lodging offers pickup service to the East Gate visitor center and the schedule times.
- Arrive at the entrance in the early morning and pass the ticket check during your reserved time slot;
- In the morning, take the sightseeing bus and transfer to the cable car up, then walk into the core scenic area;
- Around midday, visit sights such as Hongyun Golden Summit and Mushroom Rock, and keep in mind the time spent queuing for the cable car and the summit;
- In the afternoon, choose your moment to head down and avoid the concentrated crowds before the last bus.
One-Day Pace and Time-Saving Tips
Entering from the East Gate and going up and down by cable car lets you save the main time for the core scenic area; after reaching the top there are still high-altitude stone steps, and whether to continue up to Hongyun Golden Summit can be decided based on your stamina and the queues. Reserve and buy tickets online with real-name registration in advance, and enter during the earliest or an earlier time slot; travel light and bring water and a small amount of dry food; agree on a meeting point with your companions so that no one is left waiting if you get separated.
Accommodation on the summit area is extremely basic and mainly serves those photographing sunrise, sunset and the starry sky; out of ecological protection considerations, ordinary visitors are not encouraged to stay on the mountain, and camping is prohibited within the scenic area. Staying at the East Gate and taking the early sightseeing bus and cable car up the next day also gives a good visiting experience. A one-day trip is quite demanding, so go at a pace that suits you and walk steadily; rain, snow and strong winds can affect cable car operation and visiting safety, so check the day's weather and scenic area notices before setting out and adjust your plans promptly; the last-run times of the cable car and sightseeing bus are subject to the day's arrangements.