Jinyun Mountain is a forested ridge in the Beibei district, northwest of central Chongqing, rising to around a thousand metres above the Jialing river valley. It is one of the classic outings from the city: close enough for a half-day trip, high enough to be noticeably cooler, and covered in protected forest with a network of old stone paths.
The forest
Jinyun is known for its plant life, and the mountain has been protected for a long time. The forest includes species that are rare elsewhere in the region, and the mountain is a recognised botanical site with a research station. The vegetation runs from bamboo and broadleaf forest low down to pine, fir and cypress higher up, with rhododendrons and camellias in season. Because the ridge catches the moisture coming off the Sichuan basin, the forest is dense and the undergrowth thick, and the paths are shaded for most of their length.
Cable car and trails
A cable car runs up the mountainside from near the main entrance, giving a long view back over the Jialing valley and the city sprawl beyond. There is also a network of stone and boardwalk trails that climb through the forest to the summit area, past pavilions, viewing points and old temples. The paths are well made but steep in places, and the full climb on foot takes two to three hours. The summit is wooded, but there are clearings and platforms with views down over the river bends and the surrounding hills, and on clear days the towers of central Chongqing are visible in the distance.
Temples and buildings
Jinyun holds a number of Buddhist temples and shrines that have been on the mountain for centuries and have been restored in recent decades. They are small and quiet, set among the trees rather than arranged on a formal axis, and a number of them serve vegetarian food and tea. There are also old stone inscriptions, pavilions built for viewing, and the remains of earlier paths cut into the rock. The atmosphere is contemplative and local rather than touristic, and visitors are mostly residents of Chongqing escaping the city for the day.
Practical notes
Jinyun Mountain is reached by road or bus from Beibei, which is connected to central Chongqing by metro and rail; the journey takes about an hour. There is an entrance fee, with additional charges for the cable car. The mountain is at its best in spring for the flowers and in autumn for the colour, and it is a genuinely good escape in summer when the city below is stifling. Wear shoes with grip, carry water, and bear in mind that the ridge can be in cloud when the city is clear.
