梵净山

Why this place

Fanjing Mountain's summit is a rock pinnacle cleft down the middle, with a Buddhist temple on each half and a bridge between them — one of the most striking religious sites in China. The mountain is a UNESCO site and an important one for Chinese Buddhism.

What to see

• The Red Cloud Golden Summit — the split rock and its two temples, at 2,300m
• The mushroom rock, a balancing boulder that is the mountain's other emblem
• The Miao and Tujia villages of the surrounding valleys
• The primeval beech forest, which is why the mountain is a natural heritage site

What to eat

• Guizhou mountain cooking with a sour note; Tongren's 'lujiao' and rice tofu
• The Miao community feasts in the villages below

How to plan

Two days, one for the summit and one for the surrounding villages.

Best time

April–June and September–October

Practical tips

• The shuttle to the mountain and the climb both need planning in peak season — book ahead