Xiushan, Tonghai's temple hill of old trees and carved plaques
South edge of Tonghai town, Tonghai County
Xiushan is the wooded hill on the south edge of Tonghai, a national historic and cultural city, and its seven clusters of old temples and halls are protected together at national level. It is best known for calligraphy: carved plaques and couplets hang all over the hill, which earned it the nickname "a hill of plaques, a sea of couplets". Look for its three famous old trees, a cypress, a fir said to date from the Yuan dynasty and a magnolia said to date from the Ming, and for the view over Qilu Lake from the top.
What locals sayVisitors rate it highly, and Yuxi's own tourism itineraries make it the first stop of a day in Tonghai.
- Cost
- About ¥10 (2026)
- Time
- 2–3 h · Morning
- In Chinese
- 秀山历史文化公园
Ticket Xiushan Hill Historical & Cultural Park (Tonghai) US$3 ¥20 · prices & how to book →
Tonghai's copper chuiguo hotpot at Xiushanqing
Tonghai's best-known meal is the copper chuiguo, a shared pot whose broth is simmered from free-range chicken, pork ribs and old duck and seasoned with little more than salt, so it tastes clean and naturally sweet. The meat goes in first, then squash, taro, chestnuts, cabbage and tofu balls are layered on top. Xiushanqing, a courtyard restaurant at No. 7 Gaojia Lane, is one of the places Yuxi's own tourism guides send people for it; bring a group, since one pot feeds a table.
Good to know Tonghai is about 47 km from central Yuxi; make it lunch on a day that also takes in Xiushan hill.
Time: 1.5 h · Lunch
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Based on what locals and regular visitors share, checked against current sources · Updated September 2026. Details change — check opening times locally.
