Manjuelong

Manjuelong

Manjuelong, also known as Manlong or Manjialong, is located south of West Lake in Hangzhou and is a valley at the southern foot of South Peak. In the fourth year of the Tianfu era (939 AD) during the Later Jin Dynasty of the Five Dynasties period, the Yuanxing Temple was built here. In the second year of the Zhiping era (1065 AD) during the Northern Song Dynasty, it was renamed Manjue Temple. “Manjue” means “complete enlightenment,” and the place was named after the temple.

Manjuelong is famous for its osmanthus flowers. Every autumn, when the osmanthus blooms, the fragrance fills the mountains, and fallen petals shower like rain, earning it the poetic reputation of “Osmanthus Rain in Manjuelong.” In 1985, “Osmanthus Rain in Manjuelong” was designated as one of the New Ten Scenes of West Lake.

In Gao Lian’s *Four Seasons of Secluded Delights*, a work from the mid-Ming Dynasty, there is an entry titled “Viewing Osmanthus in Manjialong,” which reads: “The places most abundant in osmanthus are Nanshan and Longjing, but the grove in Manjialong is dense as a wall of spears. An entire village makes a living from this floral emblem, supplying osmanthus to other provinces. In autumn, ride on horseback into the hills to admire the blossoms, and you’ll catch their refreshing fragrance from miles away. Entering the path, the jewel-like blossoms and tree trunks fill the mountains with scent, offering a tranquil delight as if entering a world of sacred golden grains.” The Qing Dynasty poet Zhang Yun’ao wrote a quatrain titled *Savoring Osmanthus*: “West Lake in August is perfect for leisurely outings—where does such a subtle fragrance waft, delighting the soul? Golden osmanthus blooms all around Manjuelong, and the autumn wind scatters them across a thousand hills.”

Osmanthus is the city flower of Hangzhou, and Manjuelong has been the place with the most abundant osmanthus blossoms since the Ming Dynasty. Today, over 7,000 osmanthus trees grow along the roadsides, slopes, cliffs, and streams in the area, some of which are over 200 years old, making it the most renowned spot for osmanthus viewing in Hangzhou. When the golden osmanthus flowers bloom each autumn, the air is fragrant with their scent, and tea stalls set up by villagers line both sides of the road. Visitors can enjoy sweet and delicious osmanthus chestnut soup here, play cards for fun, and unwind from the fatigue of work.