Fanjingshan

Fanjingshan is a mountain and national nature reserve in Jiangkou County, Tongren, northeastern Guizhou, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018. It rises above the surrounding plateau and holds one of the best-preserved subtropical forests in central China, with many endemic plants and animals, among them the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey, which is found only here. The mountain's most recognisable feature is the Red Clouds Golden Summit, a pair of rock pinnacles that rise from the ridge, connected by a narrow stone stairway to a small temple. Close by stands the Mushroom Rock, a slender stone column topped by a wider cap that has become the area's emblem. Reaching the summit involves a long climb up thousands of stone steps from the cable car station, and the final approach to the Red Clouds Golden Summit is steep and exposed. Visitors usually take the shuttle bus from the gate to the cable car or base, climb or ride upward, and spend the rest of the day on the ridge paths. A visit takes one to two days, since many travellers stay overnight in lodging near the base to ascend early. The summit is often wrapped in cloud and mist, and weather changes quickly, with cold and rain even in summer. Winter ice can close the upper steps and the cable car. Early morning starts avoid the afternoon cloud and the queues for the summit stairs, which can be long during public holidays and in July and August. The best-known photographs show the pinnacles rising above a sea of clouds. Access is through Jiangkou county, reached by bus or train, followed by a shuttle to the scenic gate.