Mount Jizu, Buddhist mountain in Dali Prefecture, Yunnan, China
Mount Jizu rises to 3,240 meters and features dense forests and bamboo groves, with its distinctive three-peaked summit shaped like a chicken's foot. The landscape is dotted with numerous temples and monasteries that sit among the slopes.
Religious importance began on these slopes during the Three Kingdoms period, leading to the construction of 42 temples and 65 nunneries by the late 1600s. This extensive building activity reflects how central the site became to Buddhist communities across centuries.
The mountain has long served as a place where Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist traditions meet and coexist. Pilgrims and visitors experience this spiritual convergence when exploring the temples and meditation spaces throughout the slopes.
Several options exist for reaching the summit: a five-minute cable car ride, a two-hour climb up stone steps, or multi-day treks along the mountain ridge. Each route suits different time budgets and fitness levels.
The Zhusheng Temple was reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty with a semi-elliptical pond and an octagonal pavilion positioned at its center. This unusual arrangement demonstrates how Ming-era builders integrated elegant spatial design with the mountain setting.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
