Stand on the ridge of Longshou Mountain in May, when the slopes and gullies below you are covered in wild roses and the scent carries on the wind, and you have the clearest view of Tieling there is. The Chai River bends around the foot of the hill, the city spreads out to the west, and the old temple roofs sit just above the treeline. It is a modest city with a long memory, and most of what is worth your time is close together.
Tieling suits travellers who are already in Liaoning and want a day or two of scenery, old buildings and local history without the crowds of the better-known destinations. It rewards slow walking and an interest in the Qing dynasty, in Buddhist architecture, or simply in a hillside that turns red with maple in autumn.
This guide covers the sights named in the source material, ordered so that the strongest come first, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions visitors ask most often.
Top things to do in Tieling
1. Longshou Mountain
Longshou Mountain, also called Dragon Head Mountain, runs across the north and south of Yinzhou District, east of the Chai River and west of the city. It rises suddenly at the river bank in a shape that gives it its name, and it is the principal scenic spot in Tieling. In May the mountain and its valleys fill with colourful roses, and the autumn scenery is considered even finer, with red maple leaves drawing visitors through the trees. "Dragon Head looking for autumn" is counted among the eight sights of the Chai River.
The mountain has a long history and was a place where Emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty stayed on his eastern journeys. It has been developed and rebuilt several times, and you can see many cultural relics and monuments on it while looking down over the old city. Come in the morning if you want the slopes to yourself, and give yourself time to walk rather than rush the ridge.
2. Ciqing Temple
Ciqing Temple sits at the top of the north peak of Longshou Mountain. It was formerly known as Xiufeng Temple and Water tide Temple, and also as Sanqing Temple. The temple is an old, simple courtyard-style building with a main hall, east and west side halls, a Buddhist pavilion and the Zuiweng Building. In front of the courtyard stand two stelae pavilions, a half wall and Suyun. The main hall is three bays wide with two deep eaves over the corridor and bright painting on the square, and inside are three Buddha statues including Shakyamuni, along with eight clay vajra statues.
Ciqing Temple was listed as a cultural relic protection unit in Liaoning Province in 1988. Because it stands at the top of the north peak, it pairs naturally with the rest of a Longshou Mountain walk, and the views from the temple grounds are part of the reason to come.
3. Zuiweng Building
The Zuiweng Building was originally a mountain gate and was rebuilt in 1921 as a two-storey wooden structure in the hard mountain style. The first floor served as access to the temple, and the second floor was once a place where scholars wrote poems. It is now a guest lounge, and it holds a number of famous paintings and works chanting Longshou Mountain.
It is a small stop, but a rewarding one, and it sits within the Ciqing Temple complex on Longshou Mountain, so you can see it as part of the same visit rather than as a separate trip.
4. The pagoda of Xiufeng Temple
The pagoda of Xiufeng Temple stands about a hundred metres south of Ciqing Temple. It is an octagonal, nine-level solid brick pagoda with dense eaves, built during the reign of Hongzhi in the Ming dynasty and rebuilt in 1591. The tower carries brick statues of Buddha and Buddhist niches.
Around the pagoda are several smaller structures worth noting: Taoran Pavilion to the north, Drip Cui Pavilion to the south, and Kuixing Tower south of Drip Cui Pavilion. A small stone pavilion east of the pagoda holds a stone tablet recording the reconstruction of the ancient pagoda. These are all on the same stretch of Longshou Mountain, so walk the whole group together.
5. Yingang Academy
Yingang Academy is named among the sightseeing spots of Tieling and is one of the city's tourism business cards. It is also noted as the academy where Zhou Enlai studied, and it is described as well preserved.
It is the strongest of the city's historical sites for anyone interested in scholarship and architecture rather than scenery, and it works well as a counterpart to a morning on Longshou Mountain.
6. Lotus Lake Wetland Park
Lotus Lake Wetland Park lies in Fanhe Town, Tieling. It is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, known in the source material as Lianhua Lake National Wetland Park.
Wetland parks are at their best when you give them time rather than treating them as a quick stop, so plan this as a half-day rather than an add-on. It is a natural counterpart to the city's temple and academy sites.
7. Liao River Museum
The Liao River Museum is located in Lotus Lake Wetland Park. Because it sits inside the park, it combines naturally with a visit to the wetland rather than requiring a separate journey.
See the museum as part of your Lotus Lake Wetland Park time, and use it to make sense of the river landscape you have just walked through.
8. Chai River Reservoir
Chai River Reservoir is listed among the sightseeing spots of Tieling. It takes its name from the same Chai River that runs past Longshou Mountain and gives the city its historic eight sights.
It is a change of pace from the city sites and suits a slower afternoon. Pair it with the other water-based sights if you have more than one day.
9. Shangyang Lake Dam
Shangyang Lake Dam is an AAAA-level sightseeing spot in Qinghe District, Tieling. It is also called Qinghe Dam.
Note that Qinghe District is not conurbated with the built-up area of the city, so treat this as a separate excursion rather than something to fold into a city walk.
10. Tieling Museum
Tieling Museum is named among the city's modern tourist resorts. It is a sensible first stop if you want context before visiting the older sites.
Go early in your trip rather than at the end, so that what you see at Longshou Mountain and Yingang Academy has some background to sit against.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start on Longshou Mountain, walking the ridge in the cooler hours and taking in the views over the Chai River and the old city. Continue to the north peak for Ciqing Temple, then see the Zuiweng Building within the temple complex and walk the short distance south to the pagoda of Xiufeng Temple and its surrounding pavilions.
Afternoon. Come down into the city for Yingang Academy, the academy where Zhou Enlai studied. If time allows afterwards, head to Tieling Museum for context on what you have seen.
Evening. Finish at Lotus Lake Wetland Park in Fanhe Town, including the Liao River Museum inside the park, and let the day end at the water rather than in the streets.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Longshou Mountain?
May, when the mountain and its valleys are full of colourful roses and the flowers drift on the wind. Autumn is considered even finer, when the cool wind turns the maple leaves red and visitors come for "Dragon Head looking for autumn", one of the eight sights of the Chai River.
Which sights in Tieling are national AAAA-level tourist attractions?
Three are named in the source material: Lianhua Lake National Wetland Park, Diaobingshan Steam Locomotive Museum and Qinghe Reservoir Tourist Area. Shangyang Lake Dam, also called Qinghe Dam, is separately described as an AAAA-level sightseeing spot in Qinghe District.
Can I see the main sights of Tieling in one day?
You can cover Longshou Mountain with Ciqing Temple, the Zuiweng Building and the pagoda of Xiufeng Temple, then Yingang Academy and Tieling Museum, and finish at Lotus Lake Wetland Park with the Liao River Museum. Shangyang Lake Dam is in Qinghe District, which is not conurbated with the built-up area, so treat it as a separate excursion.
What is there to see inside Lotus Lake Wetland Park?
The Liao River Museum is located inside the park, so the two can be visited together. The park itself is in Fanhe Town, Tieling.
Decide which season you want — roses in May or red maple in autumn — and build your days around Longshou Mountain from there.