Hiking Huashan Tianchi Mountain in Suzhou was unforgettable! It was supposed to be light rain, but it turned into bright sunshine. My sister, who just recovered from illness, and I got our heart rates soaring from the sun exposure, but after sweating it out, we felt refreshed. The kids even said, "Let's come again next time"~ The Lotus Peak at the mountain top is magnificent, and the route includes cliffs and gravel slopes, making it a full adventure. Here’s a detailed guide for parents who want to bring their kids!
🚗 Transportation
It’s just a 1.5-hour drive from Shanghai. Navigate to "Linjianglang Guanyintang" for free parking—no need to hunt for a spot, super convenient~
🏨 Accommodation Guide
Choose "Tianchi Mountain Boutique Homestay" nearby, a well-known local guesthouse close to the hiking trail, with a comfortable environment, perfect for staying with kids~
🚶♀️ Route
Follow the "Huashan Tianchi Mountain Fishbone Trail Small Loop" by Erbulu’s "Xiling Chuangxue" counterclockwise. The whole route is over 6 km, about 3 hours, with an elevation gain of 277m. The route: Hejiuling ➡ Lotus Peak ➡ Tianchi Mountain Jijian Temple ➡ South Gate ➡ Fishbone Trail ➡ JS Base City Wall ➡ Huashan ➡ Linjianglang Guanyintang.
1⃣️ Hejiuling to Lotus Peak: Start from the Guanyintang path, don’t enter the Tianyangren Stone Arch on the Hejiuling trail, turn left to go uphill! The path is rocky and yellow soil, with little shade, very sunny. Some steep sections require using hands and feet, remember to keep the kids hydrated~ After 40 minutes, reach Fanghe Pavilion. Although Lotus Peak is steep, the summit views are stunning and great for photos. Take it slow with the kids, no rush~
2⃣️ Tianchi Mountain to South Gate: Walk down stone steps toward the Tianchi Mountain scenic area, pass Lotus Pavilion to Jijian Temple, where you can see the ancient temple and Tianchi. The kids asked lots of questions about the temple. Then turn left to reach the South Gate~
3⃣️ Fishbone Trail: Turn right at South Gate to the big rocks of the "Fishbone Trail," where the uphill and downhill begin! The path is narrow and slippery, so hold onto trees or use trekking poles. Bend down to avoid branches scratching your face and neck. After descending, there’s a grass hut where you can buy water and rest. The kids happily had some snacks here~
4⃣️ Base City Wall: Turn left into the valley for the toughest part! We started at 1 PM, the sun was scorching, hot and thirsty, stopping every ten steps to drink water. Several times I felt dizzy, but we encouraged each other with the kids~ At the supply point, we had cold drinks and chatted with other hikers, then continued. Descend via Tanzhige to Huashan Scenic Area, exit via stone steps~
5⃣️ Huashan to Parking Lot: There’s still over 1 km to the parking lot. My sister and I rested by the roadside while Dad took the little brother to get the car. Once reunited, the trip ended!
Tips
1. Download the route in advance! The Fishbone Trail to Base City Wall is very difficult. If you can’t continue, you can descend from South Gate left toward Huashan instead. Don’t force it~
2. There are restrooms at Jijian Temple and the Huashan Scenic Area exit, convenient for kids~
3. Bring hiking shoes, trekking poles, long sleeves, and pants! Prepare for sun and mosquito protection, drink plenty of water and bring snacks on hot days. There are many supply points~
4. Bring wet wipes! The yellow soil path gets dirty easily. Wiping the kids after sweating makes them much more comfortable~
74Bell~Henry7