Qingchengshan Mountain (Qingchengshan) is one of the ancient cradles of Daoism. The mountain has numerous Daoist temples and sites along the paths to its peak. The area is green all year round and is known for its secluded tranquility.
Jianfu Temple (Jianfu Gong) sits at the base of the mountain and is a large, well-preserved Daoist temple from the Tang Dynasty. About halfway up the mountain sits Tianshi Cave (Tianshi Dong) the temple and school of Zhang Daolin, a famous Daoist master who taught here and contributed greatly to spreading Daoism in China. The present Tianshi Cave buildings were built at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Lastly, near the peak sits Shangqing Temple, which was originally established in the Jin Dynasty, while the current temple buildings are Qing Dynasty constructions.
How to get Qingchengshan mountain : The mountain is 65km west of Chengdu, and is a good option for a long day trip from the city. Buses leave Chengdu from the north bus station every half-hour until 5pm daily. Buses also leave from the Ximen bus station every morning from 7am to 10am. The fares for the bus should be around RMB10. You can also catch an RMB3 minibus to Qingchengshan from Dujiangyan.
Where to stay: Although Qingchengshan can be a day trip from Chengdu, it is also relaxing to climb part of the way, stay along the mountain trail at Jianfu Temple, Tianshi Cave, or Shangqing Temple, and then climb to the peak in the morning and enjoy the sunrise. Most accommodation should cost around RMB15 or RMB30 for an attached bath room. You may be politely shepherded toward RMB100 doubles, which may better suit your sensibilities if you are not on a backpacker's budget.