Pilgrimage Circuits · 6 routes · 4 regions
Walked clockwise around a mountain or a lake, by people doing it as a rite rather than a hike.
6 of them here, grouped by region. Each entry carries distance, climb and top height, and the last column says what a foreign passport gets you. See all six kinds, or the background on hiking.
1 route
North China (华北)
| Route | Where | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Wutai Mountain Grand Circuit (Da Chao-tai, Clockwise Pilgrimage) (大朝台（五台山五台连穿顺朝线，鸿门岩—东台—北台—中台—西台—南台）)The high grassland ridge linking the five terraces of Wutai, one of the four mountains Chinese Buddhism holds sacred. Sleeping is in temple dormitories alongside monks.52 km · 1400 m up · tops out at 3061 m | Xinzhou, Shanxi | Passport is enough B, strong walker |
2 routes
East China (华东)
| Route | Where | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Jiuhua Mountain Pilgrimage (Chizhou, Anhui) (九华山朝圣（安徽池州）)Ten to twelve kilometres through the front-mountain temples, about twenty thousand steps, or fifteen by way of Tiantai. Cable car and shuttle cut most of it, and the summit is 1,342 m. | Anhui | Passport is enough B, strong walker |
| Putuoshan Pilgrimage (Zhoushan, Zhejiang) (普陀山朝圣（浙江舟山）)Thirty kilometres around the island over one or two days, or ten to fifteen on the shorter line. Stone paths throughout, with the high point at 291 m. | Zhejiang | Passport is enough A, easy |
2 routes
Southwest China (西南)
| Route | Where | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Kailasha Outer Kora (Kailash Pilgrimage Circuit) (冈仁波齐外转经（转山）)Three days circumnavigating a 6,656 m pyramid sacred to four religions, described as the highest pilgrimage on Earth, starting at 4,675 m.54-57 km · tops out at 5648 m | Ngari (Purang), Tibet | Permit or a registered club needed D, expedition |
| Jizu Mountain Pilgrimage (Binchuan, Yunnan) (鸡足山朝圣（云南宾川）)Eight to ten kilometres and 1,200 m of climbing from the gate past Zhusheng Temple to the Golden Summit at 3,248 m, where the altitude is mildly felt. A cable car reaches the top in two kilometres. | Yunnan | Passport is enough B, strong walker |
1 route
Northwest China (西北)
| Route | Where | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Anyêmaqên (Amnye Machen) Kora (阿尼玛卿转山)The walking circuit is 120 km over seven to ten days between 4,000 and 5,000 m, crossing several passes. The driving circuit is about 200 km and takes a day. | Qinghai | Permit or a registered club needed D, expedition |
Walking It Legally
Some of these need a Tibet permit, a border pass or a registered club behind you, and a few are closed outright with fines attached. Tell our local team which route and which week, and they will say what has to be arranged and what is currently shut.