Wunv Mountain

Wunv Mountain

Wunv Mountain is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Wunv Mountain is located 8 kilometers north of Huanren Town in Huanren Manchu Autonomous County and was the founding capital of the Goguryeo people. Legend says five women stationed troops here, giving the mountain its name. As one of the Goguryeo royal cities, the Wunv Mountain fortress in Huanren, along with Goguryeo ruins in Ji’an, Jilin, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wunv Mountain has become a famous tourist destination in eastern Liaoning and a flagship tourism attraction for Huanren County. Locals believe that after being inscribed as a World Heritage Site, more and more domestic and international tourists will come here to explore its ancient charm.

Wunv Mountain – A Famous Historical Mountain in China

Wunv Mountain is situated on the north bank of the Hun River, approximately 8 kilometers northeast of Huanren County in Benxi City. The mountain is rectangular in shape, with its main peak standing at an elevation of 824 meters. It stretches 1,500 meters from north to south and 300 meters from east to west, featuring cliffs with vertical drops of over 200 meters. This is the birthplace of Goguryeo civilization. In 37 BC, a prince of Buyeo—after losing a court struggle—arrived here and established the first capital of Goguryeo on the mountain, historically known as Heshenggu City. In the 22nd year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1424 AD), Li Manzhu, the third leader of the Jianzhou Jurchens, led his forces into Liaoning and set up camp on this mountain. Therefore, Wunv Mountain is also regarded as the cradle and starting point of Manchu civilization.

In recent years, archaeologists have discovered numerous ancient relics and artifacts on the mountain. The oldest artifacts are pottery pieces from the late Neolithic Age, dating back over 4,500 years. This indicates that humans were living on the mountain as early as 4,500 years ago. Other findings include stone swords, stone chisels, and pottery vases from the late Warring States period, as well as various daily tools, production implements, and weapons from the Liao and Jin dynasties.

In 1996, the Wunv Mountain fortress was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit; in 1999, it was listed as one of China’s Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries. In 2002, the Wunv Mountain scenic area was rated as a AAAA-level tourist attraction. In 2004, the Wunv Mountain fortress was added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

The peaks of Wunv Mountain resemble an exquisite green screen, surrounded by steep cliffs that are towering and precipitous. The mountaintop is flat, with fertile soil and lush vegetation. To the south lies a pass, Wunv Mountain Snow Trek.

A cable car can take visitors to the summit. Standing at the eastern peak, you can gaze upon the largest reservoir in Liaoning Province (with a capacity of 3.4 billion cubic meters)—Huanlong Lake. Its misty waters blend seamlessly with the sky and mountains, while Huanren Town unfolds before your eyes like a painted scroll.

The picturesque Wunv Mountain enjoys fame both at home and abroad, often hailed as the “Famous Mountain of the Northern Frontier.” Japanese scholars such as Kikuta Teiji and Yamagami Tsugio have also written about it. On August 5, 1925 (Taisho 4), page 203 of Kikuta Teiji’s book *Relics and Sites of the Three Eastern Provinces* states: “Fifteen li north of Huanren County lies Wunv Mountain. Legend says that during the Tang Dynasty, five women made the mountain their stronghold. The mountain rises a thousand ren, with two peaks facing each other, forming a majestic and perilous landscape. The first peak is round and flat, encircled by massive rocks, with gates to the east and west. It forms a natural stone fortress capable of holding ten thousand people...”

Throughout the four seasons, Wunv Mountain presents stunning scenery. In spring and summer, the mountain bursts with blooming flowers and lush greenery, while bees and butterflies flutter about, and the calls of kites echo softly. Below, Huanlong Reservoir shimmers with vast blue waves, dotted with boats crisscrossing its surface. In late autumn, the pines stand dark and solemn, while maple forests blaze like fire, with vibrant colors painting the hills. In winter, the mountain is draped in silvery white, with ranges of peaks appearing like dancing silver snakes or galloping jade dragons.

The ancient Wunv Mountain fortress features peculiar peaks and strange rocks, pine waves, and a serene, elegant landscape. Below the mountain lies Huanjiang Reservoir. When the sun sets, the emerald-green waters ripple gently, reflecting the colorful clouds. Fishermen return with their rods, birds flock back to the woods, and colorful flags flutter on pleasure boats as tourists sing melodiously.

In the year 3 AD, the second king of the Goguryeo Dynasty, King Yuri (Lelü), moved the capital to Ji’an. In 427 AD, the Goguryeo capital was relocated to Pyongyang. After the kingdom’s fall in 668 AD, some of its people migrated inland to regions around present-day Henan, assimilating with the Han people, while others joined the Göktürks, Khitans, or Silla. Therefore, the ancient Goguryeo people should not be seen as a direct lineage of today’s Korean ethnic group. As the site of the first capital, the Goguryeo regime operated here for 40 years, with two successive kings exercising governance and issuing decrees.

Wunv Mountain is located north of Huanren in Huanren Manchu Autonomous County. “Legend says five women stationed troops here, hence the name.” There is also a tale that five celestial maidens once descended to Earth to rid the people of calamities, and in their memory, a Five Women Temple was built on the mountain. The temple site still exists today and is a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit.

Wunv Mountain is called the “First Fortress of the East.” When mentioning fortresses, one might think of the Acropolis of Athens or Mycenae. Wunv Mountain also possesses the six essential elements of a fortress: temples, palaces, granaries, barracks, water sources, and city walls standing at a relatively high altitude of 200 meters. Thus, the Wunv Mountain fortress is hailed as the First Fortress of the East.

During the Goguryeo period, a large architectural ruin measured 16.4 meters in length, 9.3 meters in width, and 1.4 meters in depth. The northern side was carved into the mountain’s earthen wall, while the other three sides were constructed with stone walls. The base consists of a relatively flat rock surface. In ancient times, rolling logs and wooden planks were placed here to store grain. The indentations are remnants of barracks—semi-subterranean structures commonly known as "diyinzi"—which helped maintain warmth in winter and coolness in summer. The zigzag-shaped structure inside is a heated brick bed (kang), featuring 2–3 flues, topped with flagstones coated in mud to form the kang surface. Inside the kang was a stove, with a chimney built onto the earthen ledge. In recent years, archaeologists have uncovered numerous pottery and iron artifacts here,

many of which were weapons. A relatively intact suit of armor was also excavated, leading experts to conclude that this site was likely a military barracks, serving as the garrison for the fortress defenders.

“Frost weighs heavy on perilous peaks tinged purple; fallen leaves redden every slope. Pines cradle a sliver of moon; clouds enshroud Wunv City.” This is a poem written by Lin Sheng, former Vice Governor of Liaoning Province, dedicated to Wunv Mountain. If you visit in spring, you’ll find vast wild vegetables growing on the mountain. In summer, you can see the goddess magnolia in bloom. Autumn paints the hills in fiery red foliage, with layers of forest ablaze in color. In winter, the entire mountain is blanketed in snow, as if the world fades into a realm of pure white. Wunv Mountain offers scenic beauty in every season and historical significance at every turn. May your visit to Wunv Mountain be rewarding.

Huanren Town: Huanren Town is located in the central part of the county, covering a total area of 339 square kilometers. It currently administers 14 administrative villages and 137 neighborhood groups. The town has a total population of nearly 40,000, including 10,359 agricultural households and 36,350 agricultural residents. In 2005, the town achieved a gross regional product of 770 million yuan. Total fiscal revenue reached 22.3 million yuan, with general budget revenue at 7.5 million yuan. Village-level collective income amounted to 2.88 million yuan, and the per capita net income of farmers was 3,730 yuan.

The area boasts beautiful mountains and clear waters, with abundant forestry, water resources, and mineral deposits... More details on Huanren Town++

The area boasts beautiful mountains and clear waters, with abundant forest, water, and mineral resources... Detailed information about Huanren Town++