Banla Mountain Scenic Area

Banla Mountain Scenic Area

Banla Mountain Scenic Area offers breathtaking views of steep cliffs covered in dense forests, the majestic rush of the river, and especially the spectacular colorful forest landscapes in autumn, which are considered one of the most remarkable sights 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. Banla Mountain was formed by tectonic fractures, with its eastern slope almost vertical, as if sliced off by a sharp sword. Who drew a celestial sword and cleaved it in two? And where did the other half go? According to local folklore, it was the work of the Mountain God, who found the peak so beautiful that he split it in half—leaving one part on the Daping Platform and taking the other up to heaven to please the Jade Emperor.

Banla Mountain originally had no name. During a topographic survey in the 1960s, surveyors felt such a beautiful mountain should not be nameless, so they dubbed it “Castle.” However, by convention, only its elevation was marked on the map, as surveyors aren’t allowed to name mountains arbitrarily. The elevation marked on the topographic map became the mountain’s name. Naming mountains after their elevation originated from military practices—maps with coordinates and elevations allowed for accurate artillery strikes, making this method popular in military circles. As a result, many mountains and highlands around the world are named after their own elevations. Later, it was named “Banla Mountain” based on the descriptive term used by the Oroqen people.

Banla Mountain is composed of early Yanshanian pegmatitic granite and is a newly formed block mountain created by tectonic movements. The western slope of the mountain is relatively gentle, while the eastern side features a fault scarp (i.e., fault cliff), which is extremely steep, almost forming a right angle. At the foot of the mountain lies the beautiful Kurbin River. Surrounded by mountains and water with fresh air, it 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