Niushou Mountain Private Tour: Buddha Relic & Foding Palace

The Foding Palace's underground halls hold stories the guide reveals as you descend.

A half-day private tour of Niushou Mountain in Nanjing takes you by shuttle to the peak, through Wuyou Plaza's monumental stone carvings, and into the distinctive Foding Palace, a structure shaped like a durian, where you explore underground chambers. The mountain houses the world's only Buddha skull relic and operates as a 4 billion USD spiritual complex. Hotel pickup and a live guide in your choice of language are included. The pace is yours to set.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Niushou Mountain and Foding Palace

• Hotel pick-up
• Travel to Niushou Mountain
• Take shuttle to peak
• View stone carvings at Wuyou Plaza
• Visit durian-shaped Foding Palace
• Explore underground halls with guide
• Shop for souvenirs and local crafts

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Nanjing hotel and heads straight to Niushou Mountain, a site built around the world's only Buddha skull relic. A shuttle carries you up to the peak, where views open across the lush hillside. From there you move through Wuyou Plaza to see the massive stone carvings, then enter the Foding Palace. The structure's durian shape is immediately apparent and unmistakable. The palace is the centerpiece of the visit.

Once inside the Foding Palace, your guide leads you into the underground halls, where the architecture and layout tell stories tied to Buddhist ritual and history. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of eight other languages, so the explanations come in your own words. You set the pace throughout the tour, and if you want to climb the pagoda for panoramic views, that option is available. The whole experience runs four to five hours.

Bottled water is provided, and the vehicle has local 5G WiFi so you can share photos as you go. All areas of the palace and grounds are wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options exist nearby if you prefer to meet the guide on-site. If you want to extend the visit, traditional vegetarian meals are available for an additional cost: a way to round out the cultural immersion if the timing works for you.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• bottled water.
• entrance fees to Niushou Mountain and the Foding Palace.
• shuttle transport to the peak.
• local 5G WiFi in the vehicle.
• a live guide in your choice of language.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day14 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 15:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Cantonese, Chinese, Japanese and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Nanjing Best Tour Travel Agency

Is this one for you?This private tour suits travelers who want to move at their own pace through a single spiritual complex without joining a group. The half-day length fits into a morning or afternoon in Nanjing, and the optional pagoda climb and vegetarian meal let you shape the experience to your interests.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Cantonese.

What is the Foding Palace and why is it shaped like a durian?

The Foding Palace is the centerpiece structure of Niushou Mountain, designed with a distinctive durian shape as part of its architectural vision. It houses underground halls and chambers that connect to the Buddhist history and rituals of the site, which your guide will explain as you move through them.

How do I get to the peak of Niushou Mountain during the tour?

A shuttle takes you up to the peak, so you don't climb on foot. From there you have views across the lush hillside before moving on to Wuyou Plaza and the Foding Palace.

Can I climb the pagoda, and what will I see from the top?

Yes, climbing the pagoda is optional. It offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and is available if you want to add that to your tour.

What makes Niushou Mountain significant as a Buddhist site?

Niushou Mountain is home to the world's only Buddha skull relic, which is the spiritual centerpiece of the complex. The entire site, including the Foding Palace and its underground halls, was built around this relic and the Buddhist traditions connected to it.

Is there food included, or can I eat at the site?

Food is not included in the tour price, but traditional vegetarian meals are available at the site for an additional cost if you'd like to add that to your visit.