How Many Tourists Visit Chizhou and Jiuhua Mountain Annually?
In 2023, approximately 13.8 million tourists visited 池州 (Chizhou, Chízhōu), with 九华山 (Jiuhua Mountain, Jiǔhuá Shān) alone accounting for 10.2 million of that total, according to the Chizhou Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. This represents a 45% increase from the post-pandemic low of 7.1 million visitors in 2022, signaling a strong recovery for the region’s tourism sector.
Annual Visitor Statistics for Chizhou and Jiuhua Mountain
Chizhou’s tourism numbers have fluctuated significantly over the past five years. In 2019, the pre-pandemic peak, the city welcomed 12.5 million tourists, of which 9.8 million visited Jiuhua Mountain. The pandemic caused a sharp decline in 2020, with total visitors dropping to 8.2 million (a 34% decrease), and Jiuhua Mountain seeing only 6.1 million. A gradual recovery began in 2021, with 9.1 million tourists, but the Omicron wave in 2023 pushed numbers down again to 7.1 million. The 2023 surge of 13.8 million represents a 10% increase over 2019 levels, suggesting that Chizhou has not only recovered but expanded its visitor base.
International tourists, however, remain below pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, Chizhou attracted 2.3 million international visitors, mostly from Southeast Asia and Europe with interests in Buddhist pilgrimage and cultural heritage. By 2023, this number had only rebounded to 0.8 million, constrained by slower visa processing times and reduced international flight capacity. Despite this, the average visitor spending per trip increased from ¥1,200 in 2019 to ¥1,450 in 2023, driven by higher demand for premium accommodations and guided tours.
| Year | Chizhou Total Visitors (millions) | Jiuhua Mountain Visitors (millions) | Year-on-Year Change (Chizhou) | International Visitors (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 12.5 | 9.8 | — | 2.3 |
| 2020 | 8.2 | 6.1 | -34% | 0.5 |
| 2021 | 9.1 | 6.8 | +11% | 0.4 |
| 2022 | 7.1 | 5.4 | -22% | 0.3 |
| 2023 | 13.8 | 10.2 | +94% | 0.8 |
Source: Chizhou Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (2023). Note: Data for 2020–2022 are adjusted to reflect official reporting delays.
Peak Seasons and Visitor Distribution
Jiuhua Mountain, one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains in China, experiences highly seasonal visitor flows due to religious festivals and weather conditions. The peak season runs from March to November, with the busiest periods occurring during the Lunar New Year holiday (January–February), the Qingming Festival (April), and the Mid-Autumn Festival (September–October). During these times, daily visitor numbers can exceed 80,000, compared to 15,000–20,000 off-peak. Chizhou city itself sees a more even distribution, but its visitor profile shifts: 63% of Jiuhua Mountain visitors are domestic ethnic Han Chinese with Buddhist pilgrimage motivations, while 27% are Chinese tourists seeking hiking and park recreation, and 10% are international pilgrims or cultural tourists.
The Chizhou Tourism Bureau uses these figures to plan infrastructure: in 2023, it added 1,200 new parking spaces near the mountain entrance and expanded shuttle bus capacity by 40%. Despite these improvements, accommodation occupancy in Jiuhua Mountain town during peak festivals regularly hits 95%, pushing overflow guests to hotels in Chizhou city center, a 40-minute drive away. The average stay across all visitors is 2.5 days, but pilgrimage groups tend to stay 3–4 days, spending an average of ¥3,600 per trip on temple donations, accommodation, and vegetarian meals.
Economic Impact of Tourism
Tourism contributed an estimated ¥18.2 billion to Chizhou’s GDP in 2023, up from ¥12.8 billion in 2022, representing about 22% of the city’s total economic output. Jiuhua Mountain alone generated ¥11.5 billion in direct tourism revenue—ticket sales (¥160 per adult), cable car rides (¥80 per trip), and lodging (average ¥450 per night). The mountain employs over 30,000 people directly, including guides, temple staff, and transport operators, and an estimated 60,000 in supporting sectors like retail, food service, and handicrafts. For context, Chizhou’s total GDP in 2023 was approximately ¥82 billion, making tourism the city’s largest single industry, ahead of agriculture (rice and tea) and manufacturing.
International tourists, though lower in volume, have a higher per capita impact. Each international visitor spends an average of ¥5,200 per trip, compared to ¥1,200 for domestic day-trippers. This is driven by longer stays (4–5 days), use of higher-end hotels (¥600–¥800 per night), and participation in paid cultural experiences such as calligraphy workshops and Buddhist chanting sessions. The Chizhou government is actively targeting visa-on-arrival policies and direct charter flights to boost this segment, with a target of 1.5 million international visitors by 2025.
Future Trends and Development Plans
The Chizhou Tourism Bureau projects that annual visitors will reach 16 million by 2025, with Jiuhua Mountain accounting for 12 million. This growth is underpinned by major infrastructure investments: the completion of the Chizhou-Jiuhua Mountain light rail in 2024 (a ¥3.2 billion project), which will cut travel time from 40 minutes to 18 minutes; the refurbishment of the Wanliu Scenic Area near the mountain base, adding 200 new eco-tourism facilities; and a ¥600 million digital upgrade that will implement cashless ticketing, AI-based crowd monitoring, and augmented reality temple tours in English, Japanese, and Korean.
However, challenges remain. Officials have set a maximum daily capacity of 60,000 visitors for Jiuhua Mountain during peak days, to prevent environmental strain and maintain the religious atmosphere valued by pilgrimage groups. New policies in 2023 introduced reservation-only entry for all visitors during the three major festivals, and a dynamic pricing system that raises weekday tickets by 20% (to ¥192) and reduces weekend tickets by 15% (to ¥136) to smooth demand. If projections hold, tourism could contribute 25% of Chizhou’s GDP by 2026, placing the city among China’s top 20 tourism-driven economies by revenue per capita.
Next Steps for Tourism Stakeholders
- Secure Your Entry Documents: International visitors need a valid visitor visa (L visa) or a Buddhist pilgrimage visa if staying at a temple. Apply at least 30 days in advance. Read our visa guide for Anhui.
- Plan Your Transport to Chizhou: High-speed rail connects Chizhou to Shanghai in 4 hours and to Hefei in 1.5 hours. From the station, take the light rail (opening 2024) to Jiuhua Mountain. Check rail and flight schedules.
- Book Accommodation Early: For peak festivals, reserve rooms 60 days ahead. Choose between temple-stay guesthouses (¥150–¥300 per night) or city-center hotels in Chizhou (¥250–¥500). Compare options and prices.
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