Riyue Mountain - important mountain pass in Ancient Chinese History
Located 40 kilometers southwest of Wuyuan County, Xining City, Qinghai Province, Riyue Mountain belongs to the Qilian Mountains. It is 90 kilometers long, stretching from the northwest to the southeast. The mountain is a natural dam on the east of Qinghai Lake.
- Chinese Name: Riyueshan (日月山)
- Height: 4,877 meters
- Things to do there: Photography, Hiking, Nature
- Who visits: Photographers, Adventure Enthusiasts, Nature Lovers
- Time required: 2 – 3 x hours

At Riyue Mountain, you can immerse yourself in the natural beauty. You can also explore the Princess Spring, the statue of Princess Wencheng, the bronze relief which tells us the story of Princess Wencheng who married to Songtsan Gambo departing from Xi’an for Tibet. The relief is 20 meters long and 6 meters wide.
The frescos at the Sun Pavilion demonstrate that the then minister of Tibetan king Songtsan Gampo, Lu Dongzan went to the capital of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) Chang’an (today’s Xi’an) to beg Emperor Taizong of Tang to marry Prince Wencheng to Songtsan Gampo, and during the competition for the marriage, Lu Dongzan overcome all the difficulties and defeated the ambassadors from other countries.
The frescos at the Moon Pavilion present that Princess Wencheng disseminated textiles skills, winemaking, music, dance, astronomy, geography and Buddhism in the Tibet, which promoted the development of the Tibet.
In addition, you can visit the Temple of Princess Wencheng and Ancient Road Museum. At the museum, you will see jade, bone wares, painted pottery and bronze wares during the Kayue and Xindian Periods in Qinghai.
Best time to visit Riyue Mountain
The best time to visit Riyue Mountain is in the morning during the opening hours.
The best months to visit are from June to August.
How to get to Riyue Mountain
There is no direct bus from Xining to Riyue Mountain. Therefore, there is only one option. Rent a vehicle to the mountain. This is the quickest and most direct option.
Additional Riyue Mountain Travel Advice
- Opening hours: 08:00 – 17:00
- As at 16th October 2020, the entrance pricing to the mountain is 40 CNY per person, the elder above 60 years old (60 years old included) are charged 20 CNY per person, children under 1.2m tall (1.2m tall not included) are free of charge. For the latest pricing information, please contact us via email (info@wendyweitours.com).
- Please take enough warm clothes.
- Please wear comfortable hiking shoes.
- It is not suggested to show, sing or run on the mountain due to the high altitude.
Interested in visiting Riyue Mountain on a Tour?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including Riyue Mountain, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.