Henglang Mountain

Henglang Mountain

Henglang Mountain is located in Xihe Town, Wuhu County, just 25 kilometers from downtown Wuhu. Surrounded by the Qingyi River, it enjoys convenient land and water transportation. As an ideal destination for leisure and recreation during holidays, it has unique advantages for tourism development. The mountain is lush with trees, and its two peaks stand opposite each other, resembling corridors under a shop’s eaves. Nearby are Danxiang Mountain, while to the east stands Baima Temple, to the south lies Xingyun Temple built during the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang, beside which is Baiyun Pool, below which lies Daiming Lake, creating the illusion of an immortal perched on a rock.

Legend has it that Wangtai Mountain has the aura of gold, Mount Emei the aura of silver, Mount Putuo the aura of bronze, and Jiuhua Mountain the aura of iron. Henglang Mountain combines all four auras and also possesses the aura of jade, leading many to regard it as the birthplace of Jiuhua Mountain, where Buddhist activities have flourished. Temples such as the Two Golden Halls, the Flesh Body Hall, the Fifteen Halls, the Yan Gong Hall, the Tazi Nunnery, and the Wannian Stage were built here. Over time, especially during the Cultural Revolution, some temples were destroyed, but the ancient Henglang Pagoda still stands proudly on the mountain.

The main peak of Henglang Mountain rises 301.4 meters above sea level, making it the highest peak in Wuhu County. Historically, the area was dotted with temples and shrouded in incense, earning it the nickname “Little Jiuhua” and the saying “The enlightenment of Jiuhua Buddhism originates from Henglang.” Built during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, the Henglang Pagoda covers a base area of 11.6 square meters, stands about 29 meters tall, and has six sides across seven levels, constructed from specially made large bluestones. Each level features a round arch door on every side. In 1991, the county government designated Henglang Pagoda as a “County-Level Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit” and reinforced its foundation. In recent years, private donors have funded the construction of Huayan Temple, Guanyin Nunnery, and the Mahavira Hall on the original temple sites, which now attract thriving worship.

Henglang Mountain is embraced by rolling hills and shaded by lush greenery, offering pleasant scenery and a climate that is warm in winter and cool in summer, with the gentle sound of springs. As early as the Northern Song Dynasty during Emperor Yingzong’s reign, Buddhism flourished here with numerous temples. Now, the “Ten Scenic Spots of Henglang” have been developed: Henglang Pagoda Shadow, Turtle Probing Its Head, Huayan Temple, the Precipice of South Mountain, Yijiang River Rafting, Divine Toad Worshiping the Sky, Dragon Pool and Tiger’s Den, Horseback Echo, Prime Minister’s Tomb, and Lonely Bird Gazing at the Moon. Tens of thousands of visitors come here each year for pilgrimage and sightseeing.

Running from north to south, Henglang Mountain reaches an elevation of 301.4 meters, making it the highest peak in Wuhu County. Surrounded by mountains and blessed with pleasant scenery, it offers a climate that is warm in winter and cool in summer, with the gentle sound of springs. As early as the Northern Song Dynasty during Emperor Yingzong’s reign, Buddhism flourished here with numerous temples. Now, the “Ten Scenic Spots of Henglang” have been developed: Henglang Pagoda Shadow, Spirit Turtle Exploring the Path, Huayan Temple, the Precipice of South Mountain, Yijiang River Rafting, Divine Toad Worshiping the Sky, Dragon Pool and Tiger’s Den, Horseback Echo, Prime Minister’s Tomb, and Lonely Bird Gazing at the Moon. Tens of thousands of visitors come here each year for pilgrimage and sightseeing. The ancient Henglang Pagoda is a key cultural relic protection unit of Wuhu County. Originally built in the first year of the De’you era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1275 AD), it underwent major repairs during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. This hexagonal, seven-story brick-and-wood structure stands 24 meters tall, with a square corner-pillar base. Each level features four layers of stacked bricks forming a diamond-shaped eave. During the Anti-Japanese War, the pagoda was hit by Japanese artillery, causing its spire to tilt and its upper floors to burn.

The Henglang Pagoda, an ancient pagoda dating back to the ninth year of the Qiandao era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1173), was designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit by the county government in 1985, a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit by the city government in September 2012, and a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit by the provincial government in December 2012. It is located in Shijia Dam Natural Village, Xinglang Administrative Village, Hongyang Town. The pagoda is a six-sided, seven-tiered brick-and-wood structure in the pavilion style, with an external wall side length of 3.6 meters and an internal wall side length of 2.21 meters. The total height of the pagoda is 23.50 meters. The finial consists of an inverted bowl, a disk, an upturned lotus, a precious canopy, and seven layers of spoked wheels, standing 5 meters tall. In 2008, the county cultural relics management office oversaw its restoration.