🌿 Discover Chongqing’s natural sanctuary: Jinyunshan National Reserve 🌿
Chongqing isn’t just skyscrapers and colorful lights. Just 30 minutes from the city center, you’ll find a fantastic place for a peaceful walk through the forest, free from tourists, noise, and crowds. These green mountains are full of hiking trails, with well-marked routes to various points of interest, including viewpoints, temples, and residences.
It’s a comfortable destination for any fitness level. The walking routes vary from sections with gentle slopes and pleasant walks to other optional sections where the elevation gain is challenging and requires good physical fitness. They feature large stone steps and small open areas where you can sit and rest.
What is Jinyunshan in Chongqing?
Located just 35 km from downtown Chongqing, Jinyunshan Nature Reserve is a haven of biodiversity and tranquility.
With a history dating back over 1,500 years, this sacred mountain has been an important Buddhist and Taoist center, housing ancient temples such as the Jinyun Temple, dating back to the Tang Dynasty.
What will you find in Jinyunshan?
Jinyunshan is famous for its lush forests, hot springs, and panoramic views of the Jialing River. Its well-maintained trails lead you through dense vegetation, past waterfalls, and spectacular viewpoints. Nearby, you can explore traditional villages and sample Chongqing’s local cuisine.
What is the Jinyunshan Nature Reserve in Chongqing like?
It’s an ideal destination for ecotourism and culture lovers. The hike to the summit (altitude: 950 m) is moderate, but the views are worth it. The environment is fresh and less polluted than in the city, perfect for escaping the urban hustle and bustle. There are also hot spring resorts in the surrounding area and a little further south.
How to get there? From Chongqing, you can take:
- Bus: Line 520 from Shapingba (approximately 1 hour).
- Taxi or Didi: 40 minutes via the G75 Lanhai Expressway from downtown Chongqing.
- Cable car: Drops you off right at the car park and the start of several trails and departs from Yunkai Road east of Jinyunshan. The cable car offers panoramic views of the western part of the city and delves into the reserve among the trees. Allow about 45 minutes each way. There are usually no lines, but be prepared if it’s a weekend or holiday.
Immerse yourself in the magic of the Jinyun Mountains, an ecological treasure where the mist embraces ancient forests and healing hot springs flow from their depths.
This is a perfect excursion for trekking and visiting Jinyun Temple and the White Cloud Temple. If you’d like, there are hot spring resorts in the area where you can stay.
📍 Chongqing, China
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