Kongtong Mountain is one of the five sacred mountains of Chinese Taoism — the westernmost of the group, and the least visited by foreign travellers. The mountain rises steeply above the Jing River valley, its ridges covered in dense forest and its upper slopes studded with temple buildings. The complex developed over many dynasties; the earliest structures date to the Tang, though most of what survives is Ming and Qing reconstruction following periods of destruction in the intervening centuries.
The main pilgrimage route ascends through a series of gates and temple courtyards, passing through the Lingxiao Pavilion and the Taihe Palace before reaching the summit. The path takes about two hours on foot, or you can take a cable car to the upper section. The views from the summit over the Loess Plateau and the Liupan Mountain range are extensive on clear days. The atmosphere on the mountain is notably more authentic than at more commercially developed sacred sites — the pilgrims here are predominantly local and the monks seem to take their duties seriously.
The Tongtian Gorge, a deep ravine on the western flank of the mountain, is worth a detour for its dramatic rock formations. Entry includes access to both the main temple area and the gorge.