Understanding What "Hengshan" Means for Your Trip
"Hengshan" is a name shared by several different places in China and Taiwan, so the first practical step is to confirm which one you are visiting. The two best-known are Mount Heng in Hunan Province (衡山) and Mount Heng in Shanxi Province (恒山). There is also a Hengshan County in Hunan, a Hengshan District in Heilongjiang, a Hengshan District in Shaanxi, and a Hengshan township in Hsinchu County, Taiwan, among other places. The guidance below focuses on the Hengshan Mountain and Hanging Temple scenic area, which is the destination most visitors mean when they plan a trip around the mountain and its famous cliffside temple.
How the Scenic Area Transport System Works
The most important thing to understand about getting around Hengshan is that private vehicles do not go directly into the scenic areas. Visitors must park at the Tourist Center parking lot and then continue by shuttle bus. This applies to everyone, whether you are travelling independently or as part of a group.
Since 1 January 2025, all visitors must buy their tickets at the Hengshan Mountain Tourist Center. There are no ticket supplement or group ticket sales points remaining at the scenic areas themselves, so plan to sort out your tickets before you board the shuttle.
Shuttle Buses: Your Main Way Into the Scenic Areas
The shuttle bus is the primary public transport link between the Tourist Center and the two main attractions. Two separate shuttle services operate:
- Shuttle to the Hanging Temple scenic area: runs from 07:30 to 16:30.
- Shuttle to the Hengshan Mountain scenic area: runs from 08:00 to 16:00.
Because the two services have different operating hours, check the time before you set out, especially if you plan to visit both in one day. Note that hours may change during national statutory holidays and peak seasons.
Buying Tickets and Reservations
Tickets are sold at the Tourist Service Center, with different windows and hours for each attraction:
- Hengshan Mountain: 7:30–16:00
- Hanging Temple: 7:30–16:30
- Yong'an Temple: 8:30–17:00
Online ticket sales open daily at 7:20. Tickets are valid for the day of visit only. Refunds are available from 7:25 to 22:00 on the day before your tour date, but expired tickets are not refunded.
Online reservation rules are worth knowing before you book:
- Hanging Temple climbing tickets are limited per order, and climbing tickets can only be purchased once per week and twice per month.
- Other tickets can be pre-sold within seven days, with a maximum per order.
- You may place only one order per scenic area per account per day, and a new order can only be made after the previous one is written off, cancelled, or refunded.
- Unpaid orders are periodically returned to the pool, so complete payment promptly.
Buy only through the official website or official cooperative channels. Ticket scalping and high-priced resale are prohibited; violators' e-tickets are invalidated with no entry and no refund, and accounts and phone numbers can be blacklisted.
Discounts and Exemptions
Many visitors qualify for reduced or free admission. Discounts and exemptions are handled at the Tourist Center window, where you must present your ID and valid supporting documents, and you enter using your ID. Categories include active military personnel and military academy students, certain family members of military personnel, martyrs' families, disabled persons and disabled military personnel, tour guides with the required credentials, retired military cadres and retired non-commissioned officers, public security police officers, and fire rescue personnel and academy students. Students aged 18 and over with undergraduate or lower qualifications receive half price with ID and student ID. Visitors aged 60 and over may enter Yong'an Temple, Hengshan Mountain, and the Hanging Temple with valid ID, though a 0-yuan ticket is still required to climb the Hanging Temple.
Getting Help and Practical Contacts
If you have questions about tickets or transport within the scenic area, the ticketing service telephone number is 0352-8333031, and inquiry numbers are 0352-8333077 and 0352-8333037. Inquiry hours are 8:00–17:00 daily. Invoices can be issued through the Beiyue Yunyou applet under "My" and then "Invoice Issuance"; one invoice per order, and only used orders are eligible, with both online and offline scan-code options.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
Pets are prohibited in the scenic area, so arrange care for any animals before you arrive. Because all visitors must park at the Tourist Center and transfer to the shuttle, build extra time into your schedule for the transfer, particularly at busy periods. Confirm current opening hours and ticket rules before your visit, as they can change during national statutory holidays and peak seasons.