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Hengshan, also known as Nanyue and Shouyue, is located in Nanyue District, Hengyang City, Hunan Province. It stretches for 800 miles and features 72 peaks, with its main peak, Zhurong, reaching 1,289.8 meters. While not as majestic as Huashan (West Peak) or Taishan (East Peak), Hengshan was a place where feudal emperors performed ceremonies and offered sacrifices to the gods. The layout of the Nanyue Temple adheres strictly to ancient imperial standards. For someone like me in Guangdong, Hengshan, the closest of the Five Sacred Mountains, is the perfect choice to experience the allure of the Five Sacred Mountains.
First, how to get to Hengshan: There are three train stations near Hengshan, Hengyang Station, Hengshan West Station, and Hengyang West Station. Hengshan West Station is the closest, followed by Hengyang Station, and Hengyang Station is farther away from the downtown area of Hengyang.
The closest station to the Hengshan Scenic Area is also a high-speed rail station. I personally think this is the most popular route. Many people from Changsha and Guangzhou go to Hengshan, and they flock to the scenic area to burn incense and worship Buddha. It is the easiest to get to the scenic area from here. Didi and buses are plentiful, and the ride takes more than ten minutes.
Hengshan is a county town. When you go out, you will hear various cars hailing whether you want to go to Hengshan Scenic Area or not. You can get there by sharing a car. You can get there by taking the bus from the bus station or the bus. It costs about RMB 10 per person and the ride takes about half an hour.
The old train station in downtown Hengyang is also the farthest station. The most convenient way to get to Hengshan Scenic Area is to share a ride. There are a lot of people hailing rides, and the price ranges from 20-30 yuan per person. It's very convenient. If you still want to take public transportation, you can go to the Hengyang Central Bus Station, which costs 25 yuan per person. Buses to Hengshan depart every 30 minutes, and the ride takes about 50 minutes.
The Hengshan Scenic Area is divided into two sections: Mountain Gate - Banshan Temple, Banshan Temple - Nantianmen
Both sections have public transportation options, meaning you can take a car directly to the summit. There's also a cable car from Banshan Temple to Nantianmen, offering both a cable car and a car. The bus ride costs 44 yuan per person and allows for as many rides as you like, with stops at various scenic spots along the way. I personally think this is a better value than the cable car, though I'd recommend hiking for those with more stamina.
Accommodation in the scenic area is mainly divided into three types: accommodation at the foot of the mountain, accommodation halfway up the mountain, and accommodation at the top of the mountain. Among them, accommodation in the ancient town at the foot of the mountain is cheaper, accommodation on the mountainside has moderate conditions and prices, is convenient for climbing, and the scenery at the top of the mountain is good, but there are fewer options.
Star-rated hotels: Yishan Yishui Hotel (the best star-rated hotel in Nanyue, 500 to 1000),
Junya Intercontinental Hotel (300 to 700),
Shouyue International Hotel (300 to 500)
B&B: Nanyue Youyuan Xiangju Inn (parking is available opposite the tourist center and you can have a meal there)
Hotels: Fortune Villa (around 500),
Yanxia Tea Garden (around 300).
B&Bs: Babaling Leisure Villa (around 200),
Chuanyan Shilin Inn (around 200).
Bed: Shangfeng Temple.
A 6-person room costs 50 per bed and includes two vegetarian meals (dinner is available around 5-6pm). There are usually not many people, so it won't be full, and there's no need for so many people to stay in one room. If a 6-person room is not particularly popular, you don't need to make a reservation.
The standard room is 300/room, with private bathroom, so it can accommodate more people. For reservations at Shangfeng Temple, please call Master Huiyuan at 18821811429.
There is an open space in front of Shangfeng Temple, which is suitable for camping. It is close to the Sun Observation Deck and is popular with campers.
There is also a camping spot on Zhurong Peak. It is recommended to camp in the small pavilion on Zhurong Peak, which is less crowded and has a good location.
Tips:
There are many camping spots on the top of the mountain. Choosing a good location is the key. There are public toilets.
There's a reason why Hengshan is considered one of the Five Great Mountains. Its beauty lies not at the summit, but on the ascent. From the hiking trail up the mountain, along the Fanyin Ancient Trail all the way to Fanyin Valley, you'll encounter streams, mountain streams, reservoirs, pavilions, waterfalls, clusters of flowers, and lush forests. This is where the beauty lies. Taking a car directly up the mountain would miss out on much of the scenery.
The bold yellow lines along the way are roads, where scenic area vehicles enter and exit, and the dotted yellow lines are hiking trails. The hiking trails and roads intersect so crisscrossed that it can be confusing. However, if you don't know the hiking route, it becomes clear once you exit the road.
Tips:
The Fanyin Ancient Road is on the right side of the scenic area driveway after entering the scenic area. It is great to hike up the mountain and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
There are few cliffs in Hengshan, and the mountains are continuous and there are many forests. In April, the mountain flowers in Fanyin Valley are in full bloom, and there are several flower paths in succession.
However, April is also the month with the most rain and fog. If you are unlucky, you will be shrouded in fog and it will be difficult to see the scenery clearly. Nanyue is worth visiting, but you should check the weather forecast before going. It is best not to go up on rainy or foggy days.
The Nanyue Scenic Area covers many attractions, with Nanyue Temple and Hengshan being the most popular. Nanyue Temple is 40 yuan in the off-season and 60 yuan in the peak season, with student tickets half price. Hengshan is 80 yuan in the off-season and 110 yuan in the peak season, with student tickets half price. Insurance is available for 3 yuan.
Basically, most of the tourists in Hengshan go there to burn incense and worship Buddha, and they come in large numbers. So whether it is weekdays or weekends, don’t expect it to be quiet on the mountain. People on Zhurong Peak kowtow three times with every step, and there are huge crowds of people in front of the Nanyue Temple.
The Nanyue Grand Temple has the longest history, and its ancient buildings occupy a very important position, so it is worth a visit; the sea of clouds and the sunrise and sunset at Zhurong Peak are also must-sees, and waiting for the sunrise is also a worthwhile thing to do when climbing any mountain; the second most interesting thing is that the scenery of Fanyin Valley is very beautiful, with hanging springs and waterfalls going up along the road, and clear streams flowing through the mountain streams; the stone poetry forest is very interesting, and the mountain trail that turns back in the cave has a feeling of mountains and rivers; the second thing worth mentioning is the Temple of Loyal Martyrs, which was built on the mountainside in imitation of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing. The building is magnificent and majestic, not inferior to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, but there are very few people in the Temple of Loyal Martyrs. It seems that most people take the bus to Nantianmen or Banshan Temple, and directly miss this scenery, which is a pity.
Nanyue Temple is a place where Buddhism and Taoism coexist. There are eight Taoist temples on the east side and eight Buddhist temples on the west side. It is a unique temple in my country. Every year on August 15th, a grand temple fair is held here. Many overseas Chinese in Southeast Asian Buddhist countries, Buddhist figures in Japan, and believers who have returned to their hometowns do not hesitate to travel long distances to come here to worship, so there is always incense here.
The Fanyin Ancient Trail is a hiking route in Hengshan, all steps and easy to walk. There are many pavilions along the trail for resting, and many small vendors set up stalls near the pavilions. It is a great place to take a leisurely hike during holidays.
Small waterfalls can be seen everywhere on the Fanyin Ancient Trail. The sound of flowing water seems like a symphony of nature. Various flowers are blooming beside the trail, giving people a feeling of being close to nature.
Located in front of Xianglu Peak on Hengshan Mountain, the Nanyue Martyrs' Shrine was built by the Nationalist government in 1942 to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. It also serves as a large martyrs' cemetery for the Ninth War Zone's fallen soldiers. At the end of 1939, the Nationalist government promulgated the "Outline of Regulations for the Worship of Martyrs and the Construction of Memorial Archways by Officials and Civilians Who Died in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression" and the "Regulations for the Establishment and Preservation of Martyrs' Shrines." Construction of the Nanyue Martyrs' Shrine began in 1940 under the auspices of the Ninth War Zone.
The Nanyue Martyrs' Shrine is nestled against a mountainside, facing northwest and southeast. Its architectural layout mimics the architecture of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, with a central axis encompassing the memorial archway, memorial tower, memorial hall, and hall of worship, stretching 240 meters. All buildings within the shrine are constructed of granite or white marble, and their roofs are covered with green glazed tiles. Set against the backdrop of the surrounding lush pines and cypresses, the shrine appears remarkably solemn and majestic.
July 7th Memorial Tower
The towers are shaped like five cannonballs, one large and four small, symbolizing the joint resistance against Japanese aggression by the Han, Manchu, Mongolian, Hui, and Tibetan ethnic groups. The Chinese character "七七" (July 7th) is inlaid in white marble on the front and left and right sides of the central tower, denoting the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War on July 7, 1937.
The back of the tower was originally engraved with an inscription by Xue Yue, commander-in-chief of the Ninth War Zone and chairman of the Hunan Provincial Government: "When the enemy invaded Lugou, great waves arose. The loyal and brave soldiers sacrificed their lives to defend their country. Their righteous spirit will be recorded in history. The revival of the Han people will forever redeem the history of our country."
As you near Banshan Temple, you'll see the "Chuanyan Poetry Forest," a section of the trail that I highly recommend. It's a small cavern you have to crawl through on your hands and knees. Over 40 ancient and modern poems praising Mount Nanyue, written by contemporary calligraphers, are inscribed on the rocks. It truly lives up to its name: the "Chuanyan Poetry Forest."
Exiting the Chuanyan Poetry Forest, you will reach the Banshan Pavilion cable car. There are many snacks and small stalls here. You can resupply here, and if you don't want to walk, you can take the cable car from here to Nantianmen.
Xuandu Temple
During the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, Taoist Tan Jiaoqing rebuilt the Buddhist temple Xiyunyan, which was originally built in the Southern Qi Dynasty. There was originally a Shengxin Pavilion next to the temple, which was commonly known as the Banshan Pavilion.
In mythology, the Nantianmen Gate is the entrance between the human world and the immortal realm; passing through it leads to the celestial realm. Hengshan Beidou Ridge, also known as the Nantianmen Gate, is dedicated to Xuanwu Zushi, the Taoist deity of the north. Renovated in the first year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the existing structure consists of stone walls and iron tiles. The tiles typically weigh over 20 jin and are inscribed with the reign titles of Qianlong, Daoguang, and Tongzhi.
Nantianmen, the end point of the cable car, houses a tourist service station. Snacks like instant noodles and corn are available for purchase, though they're a bit pricey. Military coats are also available for rent. The only way to reach Zhurong Peak from Nantianmen is by foot; scenic area buses only go as far as Nantianmen, with the exception of some chartered tours that go as far as Shangfeng Temple.
On Zhurong Peak, there is Shangfeng Temple, which is currently the only accommodation on the mountain top. It needs to be booked in advance by phone. The reservation method is mentioned above. There are public toilets at multiple points on the mountain top, but Shangfeng Temple does not provide toilets for outsiders.
There is a Sun Viewing Platform behind Shangfeng Temple, which is a good place to watch the sunrise, but you need to go there early to occupy a good spot because the Sun Viewing Platform is quite small. The best spot to watch the sunset is on Zhurong Peak.
If you walk to the left of the stone tablet on Zhurong Peak, you will find an abandoned military radar station. You can walk all the way to the edge of the mountain and look at the once dilapidated radar, the sunset and the sea of clouds. I believe you will feel that this trip is worthwhile.
The Five Sacred Mountains are the cradle of Chinese culture: Mount Tai in the East, Mount Hua in the West, Mount Heng in the South, Mount Heng in the North, and Mount Song in the Center. While you're still young, explore beautiful China with your own feet. The world isn't far away; it's just the distance between your first and last foot.
