Nantianmen is located on the summit southeast of Langya Temple, at an altitude of approximately 317 meters (equivalent to 1,040 feet), which is the highest point in the Langya Mountain area. The scenic spot includes Langya Pavilion, Huifeng Pavilion, Guibixia Palace, and other architectural complexes. From the summit of South Heavenly Gate, the view is exceptionally vast. You can see the Yangtze River in the distance, resembling a ribbon, and Zhongshan Mountain in Nanjing appearing delicate and charming. Looking down, the surrounding peaks converge like surging waves. This location is also renowned for its “mirage” phenomenon.
How to reach Heavenly Southern Gate?
1.Heavenly Brook & Cloud Trail Challenge Route: Leave the Langya Ancient Path and turn left, passing through the “Heavenly Brook & Cloud Trail” archway, and you will embark on the “Tianmen Ascent Path,” a trail paved with over 700 stone steps leading directly to the summit. The mountain path is flanked by dense vegetation, with the entire mountain shrouded in vibrant greenery. Walking along the trail feels like swimming through a sea of green. The lush greenery surges like waves, then quickly recedes behind you.
2.Erjiujing Path Easy Route: Enter from the Langya Temple direction, follow the hiking trail forward, pass through Langya Wonderland and turn onto Erjiujing Path, then reach Nantianmen.
3.By bus: North Gate Station – Xiao Dongmen Parking Lot Entrance – Fly Over the Jungle Entrance – East Gate Station – Langya Mountain Guest Station – South Gate Station – South Heavenly Gate (Zhihoutai Station) North Gate – South Heavenly Gate (Zhihoutai). The fare is 20 yuan per person for a one-way trip, and the distance is about 10 kilometers.
Mountain-top architectural complex: Langya Pavilion and Bixia Palace
Upon reaching Nantianmen, Langya Pavilion is directly ahead, and Bixia Palace is to the left.
Langya Pavilion is 24 meters high and has seven floors. Two floors are underground and five floors are above ground. From the outside, the four sides of the pavilion are different in shape and height. As you climb the stairs inside the pavilion, each floor has an exhibition hall introducing the history and development of Langya Mountain. We especially recommend climbing to the highest fifth floor. Here, you can lean on the railing and gaze out at the surrounding mountains: the entire city of Chuzhou lies at your feet, offering a breathtaking view. This scene of being surrounded by mountains is exactly as described by the ancient Chinese literary figure Ouyang Xiu in his famous essay about Chuzhou—“The city of Chuzhou is surrounded by mountains on all sides.”
Bixia Palace is a Daoist site. The vermilion-red gates are adorned with bracket decorations, and two stone lions guard the entrance. A pair of couplets carved on either side of the gates praise the sacredness and mystique of the place. Inside, the layout resembles a traditional Chinese courtyard. On one side are the Hall of the Medicine King, the Hall of the God of Wealth, and the Hall of Wenchang, while on the other side is the Hall of the Brush, along with a two-story pavilion with four corners. The courtyard holds talismans praying for national peace and prosperity, along with incense burners adorned with prayer ribbons. The most striking feature is a massive golden gourd inscribed with the characters “Fu Lu” (blessings and prosperity). This directly expresses the two most sincere wishes of the common people: happiness and wealth.
Mountain Summit Scenery
The weather was clear, and the sun shone like gold on Langya Mountain, adding a layer of splendor to the mountains. In the misty clouds, you can see the Nantianmen Archway towering in the mountain pass. At the top of the mountain, ancient buildings such as Bixia Palace and Langya Pavilion are dotted among the green mountains, full of cultural atmosphere.
Standing at Nantianmen on the summit of Langya Mountain, you can see endless mountains and forests stretching out before you. Mountains connect to mountains, trees overlap trees, and the scenery is hazy and magnificent. Looking into the distance, the mountains lie at your feet, and the fields and roads crisscross, creating a scene of endless variety. The scenery is truly at its peak. Up close, under the blue sky, the mountains and forests are serene, with lush, layered trees. A gentle breeze sweeps through, causing the entire forest to undulate like the sea. This majestic, ever-changing scene is truly awe-inspiring.
Climbing up to the Langya Pavilion, the view becomes even more expansive, giving a sense of vastness and distance. The mood brightens and becomes more relaxed, invigorating the spirit. As Fan Zhongyan wrote in his “Record of the Yueyang Tower,” ascending such a tower can bring joy, forget sorrows, and bring immense happiness.
The beautiful scenery at the top of Langya Mountain is worth a visit. Nantianmen is only about 300 meters above sea level, so it is not particularly high or dangerous. But when people climb the hundreds of stone steps to get here, they can truly appreciate the openness of “all around Chuzhou are mountains” and the exhilaration of “looking out over the vast sky.” The ancient temple on the mountainside of Langya emits rhythmic bell sounds that echo through the forest, symbolizing harmony and good fortune.
Nearby attractions: Langya Temple,Fly Over the Forest Adventure Park
