Luofu Mountain

Luofu Mountain, located in Huizhou in Guangdong Province, is known as the greatest mountain in Lingnan area in south China. Consisting of Mt. Luo and Mt. Fu, it abounds with tourist attractions including 432 peaks, 980 waterfalls and springs, and 18 Taoist grotto-heavens. The highest point of the mountain is the Feiyun Peak in the Luo Mountain area at 4,252 feet (1,296 meters). It's said that on every mountain in the Mt. Luofu, there is a waterfall. Among hundreds of waterfalls, three are the best known. One is Baishuimen Waterfall, the biggest waterfall in Guangdong Province. Another two are Baishuili Waterfall and Huanglong Grotto Waterfall. Grotesque peaks and rocks, together with surging waterfalls and verdant trees, make the mountain an appealing destination.

Taoists consider Mount Luofu to be the seventh grotto-heaven, where immortals live and improve their theurgy. Ge Hong, who was a famous Taoist, alchemist, and medical expert in the East Jin Dynasty (317-420), once lived here in seclusion. Wandering in the tourism zone, one can find much architecture related to Taoism.

Luofu Mountain has four main scenic areas including Zhuming Cave, Suliao Grotto, Huanglong Temple and Huashou Temple. The Zhuming Cave receives the largest number of visitors every day because most of attractions on Mt. Luofu are located here. If time is limited, we suggest that you restrict your visit to Zhuming Cave. Following are some representative spots, and you will come across them one by one while climbing. 

Walking along the road with azaleas on either side from the entrance, you will see the White Lotus Lake situated at the center of Zhuming Cave. The lake gets its name from old days when the lake was planted with beautiful white lotuses. Despite its small size, the lake is the home to over forty thousand carps. It is a great place where people can relax and enjoy some leisure time, throwing off their worries in the secular world.

Beside the White Lotus Lake lies a small but exquisite bridge that is inscribed “Huixian Bridge” which means the bridge where one can meet with the immortals. The legend goes that the bridge is where Su Dongpo, a reputed poet during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), came across the female immortal He Xiangu. After Su Dongpo was banished to Huiziou, he visited the mountain a lot and wrote several poems for it. To honor the great poet, the four-corner pavilion called Dongpo Pavilion was built near the Chongxu Ancient Temple. .

Walking across a square you will see Chongxu Ancient Temple which was first built by Ge Hong who gave up a high position and handsome salary to start his ascetic life. Four small temples were built during his stay, and Chongxu Ancient Temple was one of them. In the temple, there are statues of Ge Hong and his wife, as well as other Taoists. Adjacent to the mountains and facing the lake, the temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims praying for good fortune.

Not far from Chongxu Ancient Temple lies the Herb Cleansing Pond, an octagonal pond of 18 square yards that Ge Hong used to cleanse herbs. Located just at the Tropic of Cancer, the mountain has a humid subtropical climate with high temperatures, high humidity and plenty of rainfall, making it a natural arboretum. Among over 3,000 types of plants and trees growing here 1,240 are traditional Chinese herbs, which makes it a repository of Chinese herbs and is why Ge Hong chose this place to refine alchemy.

After a 20-minute walk from the entrance, you will arrive at Zhuming Cave where you begin to climb. Rather than be exhausted by the climb, you can choose to take a cableway near Zhuming Cave. A 21-minute cableway trip is exciting and it will save your energy. Looking from the peak, one can see four hundred other peaks dimly through the mist. As the highest peak, the Feiyun Peak is not only the best place to see the sunrise but also commands a splendid view of cities in Guangdong Province. Looking eastward, one will see Boluo, Huizhou, and the Dongjiang River while looking southward; there is a crossword pattern of paths in the Donguan City fields. On the top of the Feiyun Peak is a small flat area where flowers blossom and the grass forms a green carpet.       

While descending the mountain, you will see the Lion Peak which resembles a large lion. Should you wish to buy friends a souvenir, nothing is better than Luofushan Herbs Oil which is a kind of medicinal oil refined from an ancient recipe, using over a hundred kinds of herbs grown on Luofu Mountain. With the ability to diminish inflammation, kill pain and prevent one being stung by bugs and mosquitoes, the Herbs Oil is very popular among visitors.

From Huizhou:
Buses run between Huizhou Coach Station and Luofu Mountain every 13 minutes from 6:00 to 18:20. It costs CNY25 and takes 110 minutes for a one-way ride.
    
From Guangzhou:
There are buses run directly between Guangzhou and Luofu Mountain. You can take the bus at Guangzhou Provincial Coach Station which is next to Guangzhou Railway Station. It costs CNY40 for a single ride.

From Shenzhen:
The bus departs at 8:00 and comes back at 16:00, and the fare is CNY68 for a round trip. It picks up visitors at four stations, and they are the Capital Plaza Hotel, the Window of the World, the Shanghai Hotel and Meilin Guan.  
 

Admission Fees	One-time ticket: CNY60 Annul ticket: CNY108 The ticket costs CNY48 (40% discount) during Chinese festivals and holidays.
Cableway	CNY50 for one-way ride and CNY95 for a round ride
Opening Hours	8:00-18:00

* Children between 3.9 – 4.9 feet (1.2 - 1.5 meters) tall enjoy half price for tickets and cableway. Children below 3.9 feet can visit for free.