Taizhou (Zhejiang) Travel Guide: Mount Tiantai, Guoqing Temple, Shenxianju and Linhai
This is the Taizhou on the Zhejiang coast, not Taizhou in Jiangsu, and its three big sights sit in three different counties. Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai, founded in 598 and the mother temple of Japan's Tendai Buddhism, is free and open from 07:00. Shenxianju in Xianju County is a cliff-walk park of volcanic peaks with cable cars. Linhai, the old prefectural seat, has a Song-era city wall that served as a model for the Ming Great Wall. Plan one day for each and sleep in two places, or base yourself in Linhai and travel out.
Getting in and where to stay
Check the station name on your ticket. The Hangzhou–Taizhou high-speed line, opened in January 2022, stops at Tiantaishan and reaches the coast near Linhai; the older Ningbo–Taizhou–Wenzhou line serves Linhai and Taizhou station in Huangyan. Xianju station is on a different line, the Jinhua–Taizhou railway, so check your route there. Taizhou Luqiao Airport has domestic flights.
- Tiantai: from Tiantaishan station, city bus 7 runs to the Guoqing scenic area, then it is about 1 km on foot to the temple; a taxi takes 15–20 minutes.
- Shenxianju: a tourist shuttle from Xianju station reaches the south gate or the visitor centre in about 50 minutes.
- Linhai: the old town is a short taxi ride from Linhai station.
Sleep in Tiantai county town for an early Guoqing start, near the Shenxianju gates if you want the cliffs in morning light, and in Linhai if you want an evening on Ziyang Street.
Places worth visiting
Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai
Guoqing was built in 598, on the dying wish of the monk Zhiyi, whose teaching on the Lotus Sutra became the Tiantai school. In 804 the Japanese monk Saichō studied here; back in Japan he founded the Tendai school, so Japanese pilgrims still treat Guoqing as an ancestral temple. Today's buildings mostly date from a Qing rebuild in the Yongzheng reign and a 1970s restoration, ordered by Zhou Enlai after Japanese prime minister Kakuei Tanaka asked to worship here on his mother's behalf. The temple covers about 23,000 m² and has 14 halls, among them the Mahavira Hall, the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats and a hall for the monk Jigong. The Sui Pagoda stands outside by the fields.
Entry is free with no booking in 2026. The temple is open 07:00–16:00, with last entry at 15:30. Come before 08:30 for quiet courtyards and soft light on the Sui Pagoda. The vegetarian dining hall is a simple lunch option. The Guoqing Temple sight guide tells the story of the Sui Pagoda, the Japanese Tendai link and the 1970s restoration.
Mount Tiantai beyond the temple
The Tiantai range is granite, with its highest point, Huading, at 1,138 m northeast of the county town. The scenic area, designated in 1985, covers 105 km² of ridges, waterfalls and smaller temples, including a Jigong temple at the Cave of Auspicious Mists. If you have a second day here, take a car up to Huading or to the waterfall areas. Tickets are separate from Guoqing, so check the scenic area's own notices.
Shenxianju
Shenxianju, "Home of the Immortals", is a park of sheer volcanic pillars and gorges in Xianju County. Boardwalks are bolted onto the cliff faces, and the Ruyi Bridge, opened in October 2020, crosses a gorge high above the valley. Two cable cars, Nantian and Beihai, reach the top. The usual plan is to ride up one, walk the cliff paths across the summit, and ride down the other.
In 2026 entry is listed at ¥110 and a cable car round trip at ¥120 (¥65 up, ¥55 down). Cable cars stop in storms and strong wind, and the cliff paths are miserable in rain, so keep this for a clear day.
Linhai: the Taizhou Prefecture city wall
Linhai was the seat of Taizhou from 591 until 1993. Its wall dates back to the Eastern Jin. It was faced with brick in 1045 and survived the Wuyue order of 978 to pull down city walls only because it held back the Ling River's floods. In the Ming, the general Qi Jiguang spent eight years here fighting Japanese pirates. He raised the wall and added thirteen two-storey hollow watchtowers, then took the design north to the Great Wall at Badaling, Mutianyu and Shanhaiguan. That is why locals call it the "Southern Great Wall".
Walk the northern section along the Beigu Mountain ridge for the views, then come down to Ziyang Street, about 1,080 m of stone paving with shops, small museums and craft workshops. The area has been a national 5A scenic area since 2022. The Linhai Ancient City Wall sight guide has the wall's history, the walking route and ticket details.
When to come
Spring (April–May) and autumn (October–November) are best for both the mountains and the walls. Summer is hot and humid. Typhoons between July and September can close cliff paths and stop cable cars. Winter is mild enough for temple visits.
Eating in Taizhou
Seafood is what Taizhou is known for. On the coast at Jiaojiang and Wenling, pick shellfish and fish from the tanks and agree the price by weight before cooking. In Linhai, Ziyang Street is lined with snack stalls. In Tiantai, the Guoqing vegetarian hall and simple restaurants near the gate are enough for lunch.
How to arrange the route
- Day 1: train to Tiantaishan, Guoqing Temple in the afternoon (last entry 15:30), sleep in Tiantai.
- Day 2: Guoqing again at opening if you want the morning light, then go on to Linhai for the wall and Ziyang Street at dusk.
- Day 3: Shenxianju for the whole day, then a train on to Wenzhou, Ningbo or Hangzhou.
Shaoxing is easy to reach from Tiantai on the Hangzhou line. For more mountain country, continue to Lishui.
What to cut if short on time
With one day, choose by interest: Guoqing and the Linhai wall for history (both are on the same high-speed line), or Shenxianju for scenery. Skip the outer Tiantai scenic spots first.
Things to confirm before you go
- Your ticket is for Taizhou in Zhejiang, and the station is the one nearest your sight.
- Guoqing hours on the day; free entry could change for festivals.
- Shenxianju ticket, cable car prices and weather closures on the official site.
- The last shuttle from Shenxianju back to Xianju station.
Frequently asked questions
Is Guoqing Temple free?
Yes. In 2026 entry is free with no booking, 07:00–16:00, last entry 15:30.
Which is better if I only have one day, Tiantai or Shenxianju?
Guoqing and Tiantai for Buddhist history and old buildings; Shenxianju for cliff walks and views.
Is this the same Taizhou as in Jiangsu?
No. Taizhou in Jiangsu is a separate city north of the Yangtze, with a different Chinese character.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved September 27, 2026, and rechecked on October 21, 2026.
- Taizhou, Zhejiang https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taizhou,_Zhejiang
- Guoqing Temple https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guoqing_Temple
- Mount Tiantai https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tiantai
- 台州府城 (Chinese Wikipedia) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/台州府城墙
- 神仙居 (Chinese Wikipedia) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/神仙居
- Guoqing Temple 2026 entry and hours (Taizhou Bendibao) http://tz.bendibao.com/tour/20251024/30089.shtm
- Guoqing Temple transport (Taizhou Bendibao) http://tz.bendibao.com/tour/202359/18141.shtm
- Shenxianju 2026 cable car prices (Taizhou Bendibao) http://tz.bendibao.com/tour/20251022/30063.shtm
- Shenxianju official site, tickets https://www.zjshenxianju.com/pwxx.jhtml
Prices are 2026 listings; check the official notice before you go.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under CC licenses or public domain; re-use requires attribution.
- taizhou-zhejiang-guoqing.jpg from File:Guoqing Temple 2019-11-14 1.jpg, by LimSoo-jung, CC BY-SA 2.5
- taizhou-zhejiang-shenxianju.jpg from File:神仙居景区 - Shenxianju Scenic Area - 2014.05 - panoramio.jpg, by rheins, CC BY 3.0
- taizhou-zhejiang-tiantai.jpg from File:Tiantai Mountain (Panorama).jpg, by Tokiwa Daijō, Public domain