Fangshan National Geological Park

Fangshan National Geological Park

Fangshan National Geological Park is a national geological park.

Fangshan is located in the central part of Jiangning District, Nanjing. The mountain is square-shaped, standing alone and precipitously, with a flat summit, hence the name Fangshan, which means "Square Mountain." It is also known as "Tianyin Mountain" (Heavenly Seal Mountain) because its four corners are square, resembling a jade seal descending from the sky. In the Ming Dynasty, the "Tianyin Woodcutter’s Song" was listed as one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Jinling" and "Forty Scenic Spots of Jinling," and in the Qing Dynasty, it was included as one of the "Forty-Eight Scenic Spots of Jinling."

Fangshan covers a total area of approximately 6.5 square kilometers, with an elevation of 209 meters. Its geographical coordinates are 31 degrees 54 minutes north latitude and 113 degrees 52 minutes east longitude, and it has a subtropical monsoon climate. The mountain is primarily composed of Tertiary amygdaloidal basalt and volcanic breccia. The vegetation on Fangshan is lush, with a very high coverage rate. In addition to large areas of tea plantations, there are numerous tree species such as elm, chestnut, sandalwood, Pteroceltis tatarinowii, and beech. The natural ecological environment remains well-preserved to this day.

Fangshan is one of the famous extinct volcanoes in the Nanjing area. According to geological research, two volcanic eruptions occurred here during the Pliocene epoch, between 3 million and 10 million years ago, and the cooling and solidification of magma formed the mountain. There have been no further eruptions for millions of years since then. With its unique volcanic landforms, Fangshan boasts many extraordinary natural landscapes and a long cultural history. From the legend of Taibo fleeing to Wu 3,000 years ago, to Emperor Qin Shi Huang suppressing the "royal qi" of Jinling 2,000 years ago, and through the prosperity of the Six Dynasties, Fangshan embodies half of the cultural history of Jinling. To this day, there are over 100 historical sites and folk legends on Fangshan, including Dinglin Temple Pagoda, Dongxuan Taoist Temple, Sun Quan’s General Platform, and the tomb of Wang Sengbian, all set against the meandering beauty of the Qinhuai River at the mountain’s base. Together, they form a captivating landscape belt integrating mountains, water, forests, and temples.

The Fangshan Tourism and Holiday Resort spans an area of 15 square kilometers. Its planning took two years, and the final blueprint was completed by the end of 2008, after which external investment was officially solicited. The resort attracted foreign capital for the development of scenic spots, restoration of historical sites, landscape design, and the construction of a small number of high-end residential properties. A culture-based development model has been established within the Fangshan Scenic Tourism and Holiday Resort. Dinglin Temple, which has a history of 1,200 years, has fully launched its restoration project, and Dongxuan Taoist Temple, with a history of over 1,800 years, will be revived and reconstructed by the Jiangsu Taoist Association. Supporting projects such as the Fangshan Tea House, viewing platforms, and the geological park are under intensive development. In the near future, Fangshan Scenic Area will become a leisure tourism destination rooted in the culture of the Six Dynasties, centered around volcanic geology, anchored by the ancient Dinglin Temple, characterized by the scenic beauty of the Fangshan Purple Mist Tea Plantations, supported by the "tea industry" and "tea culture," and enhanced by green and humanistic landscapes—a spiritual home ideal for leisure, Zen practice, meditation, and rejuvenation amid picturesque scenery.

Scenic Spot Location

Jiangning District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province