Honey Mountain Scenic Area

Honey Mountain Scenic Area

Honey Mountain Scenic Area

Honey Mountain Scenic Area. Located in the southeastern part of Mishan City (county-level) in Jixi, Heilongjiang Province. Accessible via the Fangzheng-Hulin and Jixi-Tumen highways, as well as National Highway 201. It is 130 kilometers from downtown Jixi. A natural scenic area dominated by forests and wetlands. The formation of Honey Mountain can be traced back to the initial stage of the Xingkai Lake basin, having undergone multiple processes of expansion and recession. The central uplift zone eventually emerged entirely above water. Entering the Quaternary period, it was primarily shaped by tectonic movements, ultimately forming a mountain range in the northern part of the basin. The main peak of Honey Mountain stands at an elevation of 574 meters, rising prominently above the surrounding peaks with steep slopes and dense forests, stretching for dozens of kilometers.

Honey Mountain is covered with dense forests, and its summit is scattered with uniquely shaped rocks, naturally formed as if by divine craftsmanship. Notable landscapes include Camel Peak, Axe-Cleft Gully, Immortal’s Bed, Arhat Stone, Lake-Viewing Pine, Ancient Plank Path, and Cross-Shaped Sky.

Camel Peak is the main peak of Honey Mountain. From a distance, it strikingly resembles a large camel lying atop the summit. Upon closer inspection, the camel’s eyes and mouth are clearly visible, appearing remarkably lifelike. Legend has it that among the heavenly deities under the Jade Emperor, there was a water-controlling god who originally rode a divine camel. This sacred camel could absorb water during floods and summon rain during droughts, ensuring favorable weather for the region. Learning that the people living at the foot of Honey Mountain, despite their hard work in farming, suffered from frequent water disasters caused by Xingkai Lake and had poor harvests nine years out of ten, the water god sacrificed his beloved mount to guard the shores of Xingkai Lake. When the lake water rose, the camel continuously drank, storing the water in its massive humps. When drought struck, it would release the water from its humps to nourish the crops. Since then, the people living by Xingkai Lake and at the foot of Honey Mountain have enjoyed a life of favorable weather and prosperity.

“Axe-Cleft Gully” is another natural wonder on Honey Mountain. It is a perilous rock crevice about a meter wide and several zhang (a traditional Chinese unit of length, roughly 3.3 meters) high, resembling a split made by a divine axe. According to folklore, this crevice was left behind by the sword marks from a battle between the Stone Dragon Slayer and the Black Dragon of Xingkai Lake.

“Immortal’s Bed” is a unique landscape located on the sunny side of Honey Mountain’s main peak. It is a large, flat, giant rock. Legend says this stone was once a piece cut off by Nüwa when she was mending the sky with stones, and it fell here, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, thus becoming quite spiritual. It remains warm in winter and cool in summer, offering an extremely comfortable surface to lie on, giving one a sensation of floating as if becoming immortal. It is said that celestial beings often come here to rest and rejuvenate.

“Arhat Stone” is a human-shaped rock hollow on the summit of Honey Mountain. Legend has it that in the past, a wandering monk arrived at the lush-green Honey Mountain and built a small temple dedicated to Samantabhadra. As the temple was very small, with almost no extra space beyond the shrine and Buddha statue, and because the monk sought to absorb the spiritual energy of the wild mountains, he meditated facing the Big Dipper year-round. Over time, a human-shaped hollow formed in the rock, which people call the Arhat Stone.