Dongping Mountain

Dongping Mountain

Dongping Mountain is located in Yushufang Village, Taiyang Subdistrict, Wafangdian City, 10 kilometers from downtown and 4 kilometers from the Wafangdian exit of the Shenyang–Dalian Expressway. The mountain features a unique landscape, rugged cliffs, and forests of stone pillars. Viewed from above, the entire Dongping Mountain resembles a sea turtle gazing up at the sky, creating a delightful sight; from afar, it looks like a barrier and is situated to the east of the ancient Fuzhou City, hence the name Dongping Mountain, which echoes Xiping Mountain in the west. The highest peak of Dongping Mountain stands at an altitude of about 340 meters. The mountain stretches from north to south, spanning 1.5 kilometers in length. Its eastern slope is slightly steeper than the southern slope. The scenery is best appreciated from the second peak when viewed from south to north. The northern and southern peaks cover an area of 3 square kilometers, while the middle peak is slightly smaller, bringing the total area to about 7.5 square kilometers. The hilly landscape around Dongping Mountain is characterized by its unique terrain, rugged cliffs, and forests of stone pillars, especially the dramatic arrays of stone forests atop the summits. These stone forests consist of tens of thousands of stone pillars, averaging around 20 meters in height. The mountain vegetation is primarily a mixed forest of oak and pine, along with woody plants such as Amur cork tree, white wax, ailanthus, maple, and mountain apricot, as well as herbaceous plants including wild chrysanthemum, evening primrose, dianthus, balloon flower, and pulsatilla. The scenic highlights of Dongping Mountain include green mountains, brown rocks, cliffside stone forests, and wooded grasslands.

At the northern and southern foothills of Dongping Mountain, there once stood the renowned Chaoyang Temple (currently under restoration) and Beiying Temple in southern Liaoning. To this day, remnants such as the "Temple Well" and the "Tomb of the Goguryeo Crown Prince" can still be found. Numerous folk legends are associated with this site, such as the Azure Dragon Bringing Rain, the Battle of Hundred Monsters, the Python Fighting the Magpie, and the Scholar Visiting the Temple.

At the foot of Dongping Mountain lies a specialty dining street featuring Taiyang Family Chicken, a signature dish of Wafangdian. Taiyang Family Chicken refers to free-range roosters raised by locals in Taiyangsheng Township, Wafangdian City. These chickens are fed on insects, grains, and fine sand, resulting in tender, smooth, and flavorful meat that is beloved by both locals and visitors.