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Zhongnan Mountains.

Wooded Qinling foothills, Buddhist monasteries and Daoist traditions, just beyond Xi’an.

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Zhongnan Mountains

South of Xi’an, the Zhongnan Mountains form part of the Qinling landscape: wooded slopes, narrow valleys and temples set between mountain and plain. For centuries, this landscape has drawn Buddhist and Daoist practitioners, poets and people seeking a quieter way of life.

At Jingye Temple, the story is Buddhist discipline: the monastery is associated with the Tang monk Daoxuan and the Nanshan Vinaya tradition. Further west, Louguantai belongs to a different spiritual world, with Daoist traditions connecting the site to Laozi and the teaching of the Daodejing. These are distinct places and traditions, best explored with time between them.

Bill Porter’s Road to Heaven, known in Chinese as Konggu Youlan, offers a thoughtful introduction to the region’s hermit culture. A visit here can bring together landscape, Chinese poetry and living religious traditions, without treating private hermit dwellings as visitor attractions.

Choose one temple area for a day from Xi’an, or allow two days for Buddhist and Daoist perspectives. Spring and autumn are appealing starting points; bring layers, shoes with good grip and rain protection. Mountain paths and opening arrangements are checked for your dates.