96 min walk
Cuihua Mountain
- Must see
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Xi'an
Zhongnan Mountains
终南山
- Standing
- Notable
- Rank
- Rank 436 of 2,466
About Zhongnan Mountains
The Zhongnan Mountains (Zhongnan Shan), sometimes called the Taiyi or Zhounan Mountains, are a branch of the Qin Mountains in Shaanxi Province, south of Xi'an. The range extends from Wugong County to Lantian County, and its highest point, Cuihua Mountain, reaches 2,604 metres. Because the mountains lie close to the ancient capital Chang'an, officials who had fallen out of favour with the imperial court often fled here to escape punishment.
Checked 2026-11-10 · Source
What's inside
The Zhongnan Mountains have been a favoured home of Daoist hermits since at least the Qin dynasty, and Buddhist monks began living here after Buddhism arrived from India in the early first millennium AD. The Quanzhen School, one of the largest branches of modern Taoism, was founded in these mountains by the Song-dynasty Taoist Wang Chongyang. Notable places in the range include Lou Guan Tai, where Laozi is said to have lived and conveyed the Dao De Jing, as well as Nan Wutai and Guifeng; folklore also says the deity Zhong Kui grew up here.
Checked 2026-11-10 · Source
Place details and sources
- Type of place
- Peak OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
- Elevation
- 2604 m OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Common questions
How high are the Zhongnan Mountains?
The highest point, Cuihua Mountain, reaches 2,604 metres.
Where are the Zhongnan Mountains?
In Shaanxi Province, south of Xi'an, as a branch of the Qin Mountains.
Why are the mountains important to Taoism?
The Quanzhen School, one of the largest branches of modern Taoism, was founded here by Wang Chongyang.
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Source: OpenStreetMap contributors ·