Xiaowudang Scenic Area

Xiaowudang Scenic Area

Xiaowudang Scenic Area is a national scenic area and a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Xiaowudang Scenic Area is located in Longnan County, Ganzhou City, with a planned total area of 30.8 square kilometers. It consists of two sections: Wudang and Guanxi, including four scenic zones—Wudang Peak, Yubi Peak, Qitang Mountain, and Guanxi Wai—and four independent attractions: Yan Yi Wai, Taiping Bridge, Wushi Wai, and Caiwu Ancient Banyan. The area is characterized mainly by Danxia peak forest landform scenery and the cultural landscape of Hakka enclosed houses in southern Jiangxi, with densely distributed attractions. The Danxia peak forests along National Highway 105 stretch for ten miles, forming a nationally representative Danxia peak forest corridor. Enclosures such as Guanxi New Wai, Yan Yi Wai are well-preserved, large in scale, and functionally rich, serving as typical representatives of the square-style Hakka dwellings in southern Jiangxi, with high historical, scientific, and artistic value.

Xiaowudang Mountain is situated at the junction of Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces, 45 kilometers from Longnan County. It is a scenic area that integrates Danxia stone forest landscapes and Buddhist culture, with the main peak standing at an elevation of 864 meters. National Highway 105 runs across the western side of Xiaowudang Mountain, which is 220 kilometers from Guangzhou.

The towering peaks, bathed in warm sunlight, make the Danxia stone forests resembling swords and halberds appear even more splendid. Walking slowly up the stone steps, looking up at the clustered peaks, one is struck by their majestic grandeur. The rugged stone peaks resemble heavenly soldiers descending to earth. The towering main peak vividly forms a pair of elephants soaring through the sky; the grotesque rocky outcrops turn into a golden turtle swallowing the mountain; the “Lovers’ Peak” resembles a pair of lovers reunited after a long separation, leaning on each other and whispering their affection; beneath the “General’s Peak,” five charming fairies, draped in misty robes, are kneeling to offer birthday wishes to the Queen Mother of the West... Scenes such as Heaven’s Slit, Monks Worshipping, Monkey Deity Appearing, Sea-Pacifying Pillar, Southern Heavenly Jade Screen, Cold Valley Flying Rainbow, and Sky Corridor... Xiaowudang Mountain boasts numerous attractions with unique landscapes, presenting a magnificent ten-mile scroll that vividly displays the wonders of nature. These boundless stone peaks were formed in the Paleozoic era, the result of tectonic movements over 200 million years ago.

Longnan’s Wudang Mountain has 99 peaks, stretching continuously and standing like upright halberds, with oddly shaped rocks in a myriad of forms. Among them, two side-by-side peaks resemble sisters embracing each other, creating a particularly enchanting sight. Between the peaks, winding paths twist and turn. At the southern end, one peak is hung with an iron chain. Visitors who climb the steps and pull themselves up the chain can reach the mountaintop directly. Amid the mountain waist, clouds drift ethereally, while the mountaintop offers a broad view stretching for dozens of miles. The mountaintop connects with the rear peak, covering an area of several dozen acres, where a monastery veiled in red eaves and flying rafters lies hidden in beauty, like a painting. It is surrounded by lush pines and cypresses.

The group of rocks and peaks of Xiaowudang Mountain are handsome and layered, shaped like swords and halberds, pointing straight to the sky. The vast and majestic stone forest corridor is divided into three major areas: “Wudang Victory Land,” “Layered Green Valley of Rosy Clouds,” and “South Sea Field Headquarters,” encompassing ten scenic zones and ninety-four landscape spots.

Wudang Mountain, according to the 1876 edition of the Longnan County Annals, states: “Wudang Mountain is named after the renowned Wudang Mountain in Central China, which is a scenic wonder. This one is named similarly to mark its uniqueness, with the character ‘Xiao’ (small) added to distinguish it,” hence the name Xiaowudang Mountain. This magical and spectacular provincial scenic area, Xiaowudang Mountain, stands at the border of Jiangxi and Guangdong within Wudang Town, the southernmost part of Longnan County, Jiangxi Province, and is thus also known as the “Guest-Greeting Mountain” and “Guest-Bidding-Farewell Mountain.” Xiaowudang Mountain borders Guangdong Province’s Heping County to the east, Lianping County to the south, reaches 500 meters west of National Highway 105, and starts from Wudang Town in the north, covering a total area of 13.5 square kilometers, with the main peak at an elevation of 864 meters. Ninety-nine peculiar peaks rise abruptly from the ground, unfolding like a splendid scroll along National Highway 105.

The stone forest peaks were formed in the Mesozoic era, about 200 million years ago, when frequent crustal movements caused the area to rise into a conglomerate peak cluster. Located at the fault edge zone of the Jiulian Mountain Range on the Jiangxi-Guangdong border, it is a typical Danxia landform. The stone forest corridor is divided into three major areas: “Wudang Victory Land,” “Layered Green Valley of Rosy Clouds,” and “South Sea Field Headquarters,” featuring a total of fifty-four scenic spots. From south to north, the peaks include “Golden Turtle Emerging from the Mountain,” “Jade Rabbit Racing to the Moon,” “Sea-Pacifying Pillar,” “Monkey Viewing the Scenery,” and others. The two majestic peaks standing side by side in front are the southern Wudang Peak and the northern General’s Peak. The two peaks resemble two giant elephants flying from the sky, hence known as the “Twin Elephants Soaring.” The “Mountain-Guarding Lion” on the south side of the mountain gate stands like a loyal sentinel protecting the front of the scenic area, while the undulating stone forest peaks extend to the north.

Walking slowly up the mountain steps along the hiking trail, it takes about 40 minutes to reach the summit of Wudang Peak. Ahead of us appears the Merit Pavilion. Directly in front is the “Monkey Viewing the Scenery,” to the south is the “Sea-Pacifying Pillar,” and about a hundred meters further south is the “Golden Turtle Emerging from the Mountain.” Beneath the elephant trunk-like base of Wudang Peak lies the “Bowing Rock” attraction, with a smiling statue of the Maitreya Buddha... Before we know it, we arrive at the “Little One-Line Sky,” a passage so narrow that only one person can pass through. Exiting the “Little One-Line Sky,” we enter the “Big One-Line Sky,” a grand canyon between Wudang Peak and General’s Peak. Turning right leads us to the famous “Iron Rope Cloud Ladder” of Xiaowudang Mountain, an iron rope path to ascend Wudang Peak for a view. Looking up, an iron chain hangs suspended in the rocky cliff. Climbing the Iron Rope Cloud Ladder, you reach the majestic “Cliff Gate of Heaven.” Ten meters past the Cliff Gate of Heaven is the “Guanyin Sacred Water,” where spring water flows from the rock, said to be bestowed by Guanyin. Following the winding path through green bamboo, you arrive at the “Wudang Holy Temple.” Wudang Mountain has a long Buddhist history—the Wudang Holy Temple was originally built during the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty and renovated in the 34th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Today, only relics such as a new stele commemorating the reconstruction of Wudang remain. Crossing the western cliff to the Cold Valley, you’ll find the magnificent modern structure “Cold Valley Flying Rainbow” (a steel sky bridge spanning a deep valley), the main passage connecting Wudang Peak and General’s Peak. Beyond the sky bridge is the “God of Wealth Cave.” A few dozen meters past the cave is the “Sky Corridor” of General’s Peak, where the fantastical Layered Green Valley of Rosy Clouds, Five Maidens Worshipping Longevity, Ten-Mile Painting Gallery, Queen Mother Peak, Turtle Climbing the Cliff, and Jade Brush Piercing the Sky compete in splendor, immersing visitors in a state of aesthetic transcendence. Descending along the leisure island path, we arrive at the “Wenhua Pavilion,” where a nunnery—a Ming Dynasty structure—stands. Continuing down the granite path, we reach the “Qingfeng Pass,” an ancient natural mountain gateway once used by travelers climbing uphill, surrounded by peaks with only a single narrow gorge. Before we know it, we’re back at the foot of the mountain. Let’s take a car along National Highway 105 toward Longnan County. The “Lovers’ Peak” before us resembles a pair of lovers reunited after a long separation, embracing and whispering sweet nothings. Other attractions such as “Sisters’ Peak,” “Stone Bamboo Peak,” “Victory Stele,” “General’s Sword,” “Monks Worshipping,” “Southern Heavenly Jade Screen,” and more are strikingly lifelike, majestic, and awe-inspiring.

The stone forest wonders and historical-cultural landscapes of Xiaowudang Mountain leave endless memories and inspire beautiful reveries for all who visit. With continuous development and improving facilities, tomorrow’s Xiaowudang Mountain will become even more picturesque and enchanting.

Address: Wudang Town, Longnan County, Ganzhou City

Recommended visiting time: 4–5 hours

Phone: 0797-3506248

Opening hours: 07:00–18:00

Wudang Town: Wudang Town is located on the Jiangxi-Guangdong margin of National Highway 105. To the southeast, it borders Heping County and Lianping County of Guangdong Province, and to the northwest, it neighbors Nanheng Township and Yangcun Town of Longnan County. It is 40 kilometers from Longnan County and serves as the southern gateway to Longnan. National Highway 105 runs through the entire town, and the provincial scenic area Xiaowudang Mountain is located within its jurisdiction. The town has 4 administrative villages, 1 neighborhood committee, 64 villager groups, 2,760 households, and a total population of 13,688. The town covers a land area of 110.11 square kilometers, with 4,902 mu of arable land and 151,295 mu of forested land. The per capita arable land is 0.4 mu... More details about Wudang Town++

Further reading:

· Ninth Batch of National Scenic Areas