Why peak season is challenging: advance reservation is the first step
Public holidays and the summer break are the peak periods for visiting Fanjingshan. Queues may form at the mountain gate, on the shuttle buses and at the cable car, and the trails on the mountain are also fairly crowded. Planning ahead and travelling outside peak times can noticeably improve your visit.
Before you travel, be sure to reserve and buy tickets online with your real name in advance, and enter the park during the time slot you selected; book accommodation and round-trip transport as early as possible, since the earlier you book, the more choices you have. Before setting out, you should also check the scenic area's opening status, the cable car's operating status and the day's weather, and plan your itinerary accordingly. Fanjingshan requires all visitors to reserve and buy tickets online under their real names; on-site ticket sales are not available. Tickets are in high demand during peak season and often sell out quickly once released, so it is advisable to keep an eye on release times and book promptly. Entry requires scanning your original ID card, so please be sure to carry it with you.
How to avoid the crowds: choose the right time and allow enough margin
Try to travel at the start or end of holidays or on weekdays, avoiding the times when crowds are most concentrated; enter the park early and start climbing early, as visitor flow is relatively smoother in the morning. Allow enough margin in your schedule so that if you encounter queues you can adjust the order of your visit in good time, and make sure to descend before dark to avoid being stranded.
- Queue in an orderly way for the shuttle buses and cable car as directed on site; do not cut in line or push, and keep an eye on those travelling with you while queuing.
- The entry procedure at the East Gate is: have your ticket checked and enter the park, take the scenic area shuttle bus (about 20 minutes) to the lower cable car station, take the cable car up (about 20 minutes) to the upper cable car station, then hike along the boardwalk for about 30 minutes to reach the core scenic area / Mushroom Rock.
- From Mushroom Rock it is about 20 minutes to the Old Golden Summit and about 30 minutes to the Hongyun Golden Summit; the final stretch of the climb to the Hongyun Golden Summit is almost vertical and requires using both hands and feet, so hold firmly onto the iron chains, and those with a fear of heights or poor stamina should go only as far as they feel able.
Essentials, environmental protection and safety
The summit is about 8–10℃ cooler than the foot of the mountain, so it is advisable to bring a windproof jacket and comfortable hiking shoes; mountain weather is changeable, so sunscreen, sunglasses and rain gear are all worth packing. For supplies, you can bring drinking water and a moderate amount of high-energy snacks; there are no charging facilities on the mountain, so bring your own power bank, and you may also want to carry a small amount of cash and wear non-slip shoes.
Fanjingshan is a World Natural Heritage site, so please carry all your rubbish down the mountain yourself, do not feed wild animals or pick plants, follow the scenic area's rules, and do not go into undeveloped areas. When taking photos on steep sections, make sure you are standing securely before framing your shot, and do not cross guardrails or enter closed areas for the sake of a photo.
How to view and photograph Mushroom Rock
Mushroom Rock is Fanjingshan's most iconic rock formation, named for its mushroom-like shape. It is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, with a nearly square top and a narrower rectangular base; it looks as though it might topple at any moment, yet it has stood on the summit for centuries. Mushroom Rock is more than ten metres tall and is made of sandstone and slate, and around it are other strangely shaped stone forest formations such as Eagle Rock, Ten Thousand Scrolls and General's Head.
The formation of such remarkable rocks is linked to the ancient metamorphic rock strata on the summit: the rock layers lie almost horizontal and have well-developed vertical joints, and through long-term weathering and erosion the softer parts gradually peel away while the harder parts remain, eventually carving out the "big head, small feet" shape. Mushroom Rock is located in the Old Golden Summit area of the core scenic area, and can be visited after reaching the core scenic area by cable car or on foot; light is soft in the early morning and late afternoon, and the atmosphere is at its best when the sea of clouds rolls over. Crowds concentrate during peak season, so it is advisable to go outside peak times and give way to others. The weather on the summit is changeable and the temperature varies greatly between day and night, so before you go please check the day's weather and the cable car's operating status, and bring warm clothing and rain gear; in case of thunderstorms, strong winds or similar weather, some areas may be temporarily closed, so please follow on-site notices.