Banla Mountain Scenic Area

Banla Mountain Scenic Area

Banla Mountain Scenic Area offers breathtaking views of steep cliffs covered in dense forests and the surging waters of the river, especially the spectacular mixed-color forest landscape in autumn, which can be considered a unique wonder of northern China. Banla Mountain is a highlight of the Hongxing Volcanic Geological Park. From a distance, it resembles an ancient and majestic castle, standing proudly at the confluence of the Erpi River and the Kurbin River. The mountain was formed by tectonic fractures, with its eastern slope almost vertical, as if sliced off by a sharp sword. Who drew the sword from the heavens and cut it in two? And where did the other half go? According to local myth and legend, it was the work of the Mountain God. Seeing how beautiful the peak was, the Mountain God cut it in half, leaving one section on the Daping Platform and taking the other to heaven to please the Jade Emperor.

Originally, Banla Mountain had no name. During topographic surveys in the 1960s, surveyors felt such a beautiful mountain should not be nameless, so they gave it the name “Castle.” However, following convention, they only marked its elevation on the map, as survey personnel are not authorized to name mountains at will. On a topographic map, the elevation serves as the name of the mountain. The practice of naming mountains after their elevation originated from military needs—maps included the coordinates and elevation of key peaks for accurate artillery targeting, a method favored by the military. As a result, many famous mountains and highlands around the world are named after their elevations. Later, it came to be called “Banla Mountain,” based on the descriptive term used by the Oroqen people.

Banla Mountain is composed of early Yanshanian white granitic gneiss and is a newly formed block mountain created by tectonic activity. The western slope of the mountain is relatively gentle, while the eastern side forms a fault scarp (i.e., fault cliff), which is extremely steep, almost at a right angle. At the foot of the mountain lies the beautiful Kurbin River. Surrounded by mountains and water, the area boasts fresh air and is an ideal place to enjoy the beauty of nature and ponder its wonders.

Address: Western part of the Hongxing Volcanic Geological Park, Yichun City