Renhuang Mountain Scenic Area

Renhuang Mountain Scenic Area

Renhuang Mountain is situated in the Taihu Holiday Resort to the north of Huzhou city center. The mountain resembles a giant phoenix with emerald-green feathers, soaring and dancing like a dragon — it was originally called “Phoenix Mountain.” During the reign of Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty, the Zen master Wenyi built the “Renwang Temple” on Phoenix Mountain. The mountain took on the name of the temple, earning a religious and cultural moniker: “Renwang Mountain.”

Thanks to its geographical advantages, Renwang Mountain has now become integrated into Huzhou’s new urban district. It serves not only as the city’s green lung but also as one of its most iconic landmarks right at residents’ doorsteps. Historically, Renwang Mountain is also connected to Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Legend has it that during one of his tours, Qin Shi Huang feared the local nursery rhyme “A Heavenly Son shall rise from Bird Mountain” might come true and endanger his reign. To prevent this, he ordered his chancellor to cut through the middle of the mountain, creating a river.

The Renhuang Mountain Scenic Area primarily encompasses the Renhuang Mountain massif, along with the surrounding water network and plains to the south (planning boundary: east to Bronze North Road, south to Ma’er Port, west to Zhaowan Village and Yangbai Line, north to Greentown Yiyuan). The park spans a total area of about 325 hectares (including 250 hectares of mountainous land, accounting for 77%, and 75 hectares of flatland, making up 23%), with the main peak rising approximately 211 meters above sea level. The planned total construction area is around 60,000 square meters.

The Renhuang Mountain Scenic Area makes optimal use of its terrain to form an organized layout of scenic zones, structured according to a planning framework of “one core, one loop, two zones, two axes, and multiple areas.” The core refers to the cultural hub — centered around the Renhuang Flying Clouds scenic zone, emphasizing cultural expression. The loop denotes the leisure ring — a scenic boulevard encircling the foothills of Renhuang Mountain. The two zones are the mountain forest area and the plain area. The two axes consist of the north-south landscape control axis formed by the southern entrance, Renwang Temple, and Renhuang Pavilion, and the east-west landscape control axis comprising the eastern entrance, Renhuang Pavilion, and the mountain ridge line. The multiple areas refer to various functional zones located along both sides of the leisure boulevard.

The park’s landscape features can be summarized as: one pavilion (Renhuang Pavilion), one temple (Renwang Temple), one street (Folk Culture Street), one garden (Cultural Creative Park), ten major scenic spots (Dawn at Renhuang, Evening Bell at Renfan, Flying Clouds over Phoenix Terrace, Distant Views over the Flat Lake, Phoenix Hearing the Spring, Mountain-Water Melody, Floral Splendor along the Shore, Blossoming Plum Snow, Crimson Maple Grove, Secluded Bamboo and Rocks), ten distinctive plant areas (Plum Slope, Osmanthus Rain, Cherry Blossom Grove, Lotus Pond Moon, Bamboo Grove Breeze, Azalea Stream, Maple Grove Glow, Camellia Path, Mulberry Garden, Reed Field), and twelve international clubhouses.

Today, Renhuang Mountain serves as Huzhou’s natural oxygen bar, attracting many visitors for hiking and exercise. There are two main routes up the mountain: one is a stone stairway that allows you to ascend from the foot of the mountain and enjoy the charm of mountain paths; the other circles around the mountain, which you can also drive along to take in the scenery. At the mountain’s base, there are shops selling local Huzhou specialties and areas for self-service barbecues. At the summit stands Renhuang Pavilion, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Huzhou. The Renhuang Mountain scenic area is still under continued development.