A fairytale landscape so spectacular that it’s easy to think ancient Chinese artists invented it, Wuyishan’s sheer cliffs and forested pinnacles are reflected in the winding Nine-Bend River. Wuyishan, also known as the Wuyi Mountains, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its pristine subtropical forest and historic temples, monasteries, and caves—but it's also the home of probably China’s most expensive tea: Da Hong Pao. Things to do in Wuyishan span the gamut from bamboo rafting and boat trips to temple tours and tea tastings.
Wuyishan is at its best during the warmer months of the year, with spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) preferable to the busy summer season. However, it’s best to avoid the Golden Week vacations at the start of October and May. If Mount Wuyi’s famous teas are on your agenda, visit between March and July: March is a good time for black tea, with May the optimal month to catch the oolong (rock tea) harvest.
Wuyishan North Railway Station has connections to cities including Fuzhou, Xiamen, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing. It’s a long way out of town, so take a taxi to your hotel or the park entrance. Wuyishan National Park contains seven separate scenic areas, all linked by shuttle buses and accessed by a single ticket: As is common, private vehicles are not allowed inside the park. You can also explore the river on a bamboo raft or by boat.
Wuyishan is famed for Da Hong Pao tea, a tea so valuable that 0.7 ounces (20 grams) once sold at auction for ¥180,000. The ancient tea bushes are on display in their own scenic area but are now too old and too fragile to be harvested. Non-millionaires can enjoy the Wuyi Mountains’ own rock teas at tea gardens, tea houses, and tea stores. The most precious oolongs are grown inside the nature reserve.
