1. Overview
The Xuedou Mountain & Xikou-Tengtou Scenic Area in Ningbo’s Fenghua District spans 85 km², merging three key zones:
- Xuedou Mountain: A sacred Buddhist site with the 1,700-year-old Xuedou Temple and the world’s tallest seated copper Maitreya statue (56.74m).
- Xikou: The hometown of Chiang Kai-shek, featuring early 20th-century villas like his birthplace (Yutai Salt Shop) and ancestral home (Fenggao House).
- Tengtou: A "Global Eco 500" village known for sustainable farming and traditional crafts.
2. Xuedou Mountain: Nature & Buddhism
- Maitreya Culture:
- Xuedou Temple: Founded in 291 AD, it’s the origin temple of the "Laughing Buddha". The golden statue (built 2008) weighs 286 tons.
- Festivals: Annual Maitreya Culture Festival (November) features rituals and lantern displays.
- Natural Wonders:
- Qianzhangyan Waterfall: 186m drop, praised by poet Wang Anshi as "a jade loom weaving rainbows".
- Xu Fu Cliff: 242m waterfall with glass walkways (¥50 extra).
- Three Hidden Pools: A 1.6km gorge with cascades.
- Historic Sites:
- Miaogao Platform: Chiang Kai-shek’s 1927 summer villa, offering panoramic views.
- Zhang Xueliang’s First Prison: Where the general was confined post-1936.
3. Xikou: Chiang Family Legacy
- Key Landmarks:
- Fenggao House: Chiang’s ancestral home with Qing-era carvings.
- Yutai Salt Shop: His birthplace, rebuilt in 1946.
- Wenchang Pavilion: His honeymoon villa, later bombed by Japanese forces.
- Cultural Note: Visitors reenact "kowtowing at Chiang’s mother’s tomb"—a ritual once mandatory for KMT officials.
4. Tengtou: Eco-Utopia
- Highlights:
- Agro-Tourism: Organic farms, "Grandma’s Creek", and a stone-window museum.
- Zero-Carbon Policies: Solar-powered streetlights and plastic-free policies since 2008.
5. Visitor Guide
- Tickets:
- Xuedou Mountain: ¥150 (adults), ¥75 (students), includes shuttles.
- Xikou: ¥120; Combo ticket (¥210) covers both.
- Transport:
- From Ningbo: Bus #998 (1hr) or metro Line 2 to Fenghua + taxi.
- Internal shuttles: ¥30 for hop-on routes.
- Tips:
- Best season: April–October for waterfalls; November for autumn foliage.
- Avoid weekends to skip crowds at Xuedou Temple.
6. Why Visit?
A rare blend of Zen spirituality, 20th-century history, and eco-innovation—ideal for pilgrims, hikers, and culture enthusiasts.
