Mianshan Mountain scenic area in Jiexiu, Shanxi Province was approved as a National 5A-Level Tourism Spot by the China National Tourism Administration on September 12, 2013. The 5-A ranking is granted to sites which offer a perfect and exemplary combination of natural and cultural heritage.

Mianshan has both a splendid natural landscape and abundant historical and cultural resources that are integrated with cultural relics and historic temples. The area is also famous because Jie Zhitui (aka Jie Zitui), a famous hermit from the Jin Kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), lived there with his mother. Activities to commemorate Jie’s life eventually evolved into the Chinese Tomb Sweeping Day Festival.

The 5A-level Mianshan Mountain Scenic Area has a reputation for "spectacular, steep, and beautiful" mountain landscapes.

What's spectacular: Baofu Rock is so big that it can house more than 200 temple halls and thousands of tourists.

What's steep: Sky Bridge is a plank road built into the side of a cliff over 200 meters from the cliff’s top and over 300 meters from the bottom of a gorge. The pathway is over 300 meters long and less than one meter wide. Walking along the bridge amidst the clouds and mist that often drape Mianshan will make visitors feel as if they are strolling in a fairyland.

What's beautiful: Water Billowing Gully is home to winding paths, fantastically shaped rocks, dense forests and several dozen waterfalls of different sizes. Qixian Canyon is a narrow, winding and rising gorge filled with suspension bridges and hanging waterfalls.

Mianshan Mountain scenic area also known as "bounteous, delicate, and ancient" for its cultural landscape, which is unparalleled by other famous Chinese mountains.

What's bounteous: Mianshan has 88 temples and more than 2,000 halls and shrines. The Dailuo Palace architectural complex covers 30,000 square meters and is the largest Taoist temple in China.

What's delicate: Although Mianshan went through many calamities, many old structures, tablet inscriptions and sculptures still remain. All the eaves and other parts of the Stone Buddha Hall at Cloud Peak Temple are extremely delicately carved and have great value as cultural relics.

What's ancient：The Tiewa Temple is the first Buddhist temple built in a mountainous area in China. Cloud Peak Temple was initially built during Three Kingdoms period, Huiluan Temple was built before the Tang dynasty, and the Five Dragons Temple was built before the Northern Song dynasty.

After Mianshan was approved as 5A-level scenic spot, local administrators and operators improved services for tourists devoted more attention to respecting the natural landscape of the area. They have strived to provide the best personal services and pay close attention to the smallest details. They have emphasized the creation of a comfortable and beautiful tourism environment that allows visitors to experience the unique aspects of Mianshan, such as "living on the cliff, eating beside the gorge and walking in the clouds and mists."

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