Yangling National Forest Park

Yangling National Forest Park

Yangling National Forest Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national forest park.

Chongyi Yangling National Forest Park is a national AAAA-level scenic area, a national agricultural tourism demonstration site, a national forest park, and a nature reserve in Jiangxi Province. It is located in the southern suburbs of Chongyi County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province. It is 467 km from Nanchang, 77 km from Ganzhou, and 507 km from Guangzhou.

Yangling

Yangling

Yangling was anciently known as Guanyin Mountain, but was later renamed Yangling in honor of the renowned Ming Dynasty philosopher, statesman, and military strategist Wang Yangming, who suppressed bandits and established the county here.

Yangling

Yangling

The total area of Yangling Park is 10,000 hectares. It features 36 scenic peaks, with the main peak standing at an elevation of 1,295.5 meters. The area boasts overlapping mountain ridges, towering ancient trees, gatherings of rare birds and animals, nine cascading waterfalls, sweet springs, winding streams, ancient vines, precious trees, and a rich variety of flowers and plants throughout the seasons. According to measurements by the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences, the average negative ion concentration in Yangling reaches 92,000 per cubic centimeter, with the highest value of 192,000 per cubic centimeter in the Lanxi Waterfall area— the highest in China— earning it the reputation of a “natural oxygen bar.”

Yangling

Sea of clouds, Lanxi Stream, peculiar rocks, rainforest, azaleas, and bamboo sea are the “Six Wonders of Yangling.” Major attractions include Yangming Lake, Lanxi Valley Rainforest, Cloud Hidden Temple, Wanshou Rock, the Summit of Yangling, and the vast 100,000-mu bamboo sea. The area also features a three-star international hotel, Oxygen Bar Villa, along with supporting facilities, making it an emerging destination for conferences, convalescence, sightseeing, leisure, and reconnecting with nature. The annual Yangling Tourism Festival and China Green Valley Health Forum are held from April 28 to May 7, while the Beautiful Village Girls Tourism Ambassador Competition takes place in September.

The forest layers of Yangling are very distinct: broadleaf forests at the foot of the mountain with tall, dense trees; moso bamboo forests in the middle; and shrub forests at the summit, where many azalea groves can be found. The entire Yangling area enjoys excellent ecological preservation, forming a clear multi-layered forest structure— within the same region, trees are distributed across three levels: the first layer consists of tall trees; the second, mid-level forests; and the third, shrubbery.

Located 3 km south of Chongyi County, Yangling is the closest provincial nature reserve and forest park to an urban area in southern Jiangxi. It has relatively complete tourism infrastructure and great development potential. Covering an area of fifty square kilometers, it features 36 scenic peaks and 9 waterfalls. The park is characterized by overlapping mountains, towering ancient trees, sweet springs, winding streams, ancient vines, precious flora, seasonal blossoms, and gatherings of rare wildlife, preserving the pristine beauty of a subtropical primeval forest. Among the verdant mountains and bamboo groves lie historical sites such as Cloud Hidden Temple and Guanyin Temple. Due to its vast expanse of primary forest, the area has exceptionally high negative ion levels, averaging 92,000 ions per cubic centimeter, peaking at 140,000 ions— earning it the title of “natural oxygen bar.” It is an ideal destination for those seeking to reconnect with nature and enjoy leisure holidays.

Yangling, anciently known as Guanyin Mountain, has a legend from the Southern Song Dynasty’s Shaoxing era. A scholar surnamed Zhong, accompanied by two friends, was traveling to the capital for imperial exams. Enchanted by the mountain’s grandeur, they decided to hike it together. Amidst the breathtaking scenery and shared enthusiasm, they reached the summit just as dusk fell. Looking back, they were daunted by the steep cliffs and hesitated to descend. Reciting the Guanyin Sutra, they were helped down by a mysterious figure in white, who advised them that this was a heavenly paradise and no further journey was needed. The scholars, moved by the encounter, eventually passed the exams. Hence, the mountain was named Guanyin Mountain. Later, it was renamed Yangling in honor of Wang Yangming. The original Guanyin Temple has been destroyed, but the Guanyin Spring remains.

Chongyi is one of China’s Top Ten Bamboo Towns. Yangling’s bamboo forest, vast and spectacular, is called the “100,000-mu Bamboo Sea.” As the saying goes, “Better to live without meat than without bamboo.” Rich in flavonoids and with a unique fragrance, frequent visits to the bamboo sea and consumption of bamboo shoots can nourish the heart and lungs, soften blood vessels, cleanse the intestines, and promote longevity.

Yangling Resort is a vacation village integrating accommodation, dining, and modern entertainment. It is an excellent place for leisure and sightseeing, and a great spot to enjoy the views. We’ll take a short rest before continuing our tour.

Cloud Hidden Temple is nestled in a valley between two towering mountains. The temple is surrounded by flowers and plants, offering a paradise-like experience. It is said that prayers here are especially efficacious— believers may believe, while others may simply enjoy the visit. You can go in and have a look. Behind the temple, a clear spring flows year-round and is said to be the Guanyin Spring. Bathing in or drinking from this spring is believed to cure all ailments. Many women come here to wash their faces, trusting in its legendary beautifying effects. To the west of the temple’s main gate stands a large maple tree that reportedly did not sprout a single leaf for three years and was thought to be dead. However, when the temple was being restored, the withered branches suddenly bloomed with lush green leaves, leading people to believe it is an ancient Guanyin Tree. There is also a legend that long ago, hundreds of families lived around Yangling. A demon caused fog and epidemics, afflicting locals with eye diseases. No doctors could cure them. One day, Guanyin passed by, created a magical spring to heal the villagers’ eyes, and turned a tree into the Guanyin Tree to protect them. Though kind-hearted, Guanyin only subdued the demon, locking it inside the tree to repent. But the demon, cunning as ever, tricked Guanyin into removing its chains and continued to wreak havoc. Eventually, the Buddha intervened, sending a mountain-guarding Buddha to permanently subdue the demon, who remains pressed beneath the Buddha’s feet to this day.

Yangfeng Scenic Area. To reach the main peak from the parking lot, you must climb a towering stairway of 838 steps, divided into two platforms. The first platform features an archway inscribed “Summit of Yangling,” while the second has an octagonal pavilion. As you ascend the stairs, you’ll hear crisp “dong-dong” echoes— adding a musical touch to your climb. This is the origin of the name “Listen to the Sound,” marked along the stairs.

Yangfeng Peak stands at an elevation of 1,295 meters, with a relative height difference of 1,022 meters. The charm of Yangfeng lies in its height, steepness, clouds, rocks, and azaleas. Ascending to the summit via 838 steps gives you a sensation of “ascending into the heavens.” Walking east from Qiyun Pavilion to Tianzhu Pavilion, you’ll fully experience its height— with surrounding mountains appearing small—and its steepness— with winding, sheer paths. Yangling is the source of Yangming Lake and West Lake. With a relative elevation exceeding 1,000 meters and dense forests enhancing evaporation, the area is often shrouded in mist, creating a spectacular sea of clouds. On clear autumn afternoons following rain, the “Buddha’s Light” phenomenon may appear. The rocks of Yangfeng are Danxia-type, resembling a giant Buddha, a carp, a divine dog, or a golden turtle— all strikingly lifelike. Azalea thickets surround the peak, and as the saying goes, “When all flowers fade in April, the azaleas here begin to bloom.” From April to May, the mountains are ablaze with red, purple, white, and mixed hues.

At the summit, there is a broadcasting tower and a telecommunications signal relay station, both elegantly designed. Together, they are called the Yangfeng Twin Towers. On either side of the main peak is a Buddhist worship platform, featuring a rock that strikingly resembles a side-profile Buddha face— referred to as the Mountain-Guarding Buddha.

The Waterfall Scenic Area lies deep within Yangling’s forests, home to numerous waterfalls. The most famous are the Dragon Spitting Waterfall and the Lanxi Waterfall. The Dragon Spitting Waterfall earned its name from its outlet, which resembles a dragon spurting water. It has a drop of 18.6 meters. Nearby is the 15.8-meter Lanxi Waterfall. Here, the Lanxi Stream meanders through fields of orchids, which bloom fragrantly in late summer and early autumn, filling the air with a refreshing scent. Hence the name Lanxi. The pavilion by the waterfall is called Lanxi Pavilion, offering visitors a place to rest and admire the view. Below the waterfall, steep cliffs form the Lanxi Gorge. The water winds through the gorge, rustling in the wind and releasing bursts of fragrance. The Lanxi Waterfall and Gorge area have the highest concentration of negative ions. Resting at Lanxi Pavilion or strolling through the gorge is more invigorating than inhaling oxygen— truly refreshing.

The Rainforest Scenic Area, below 700 meters in elevation, mainly consists of pristine broadleaf forest. The area downstream of the Lanxi Waterfall is primary forest. Primary forests are rarely visited or undisturbed, characterized by many fallen trees. Rainforests have three defining traits: strangulation, parasitism, and evergreen growth. Yangling’s Valley Rainforest is both primary forest and rainforest. Towering trees and thick vines line the valley. This region also hosts precious subtropical biodiversity. Preliminary surveys identified 371 species of woody plants across 87 families, including 12 nationally protected species such as metasequoia and bald cypress, and 63 provincially protected species. There are 135 species of wild vertebrates, including 32 nationally protected rare animals such as the yellow-bellied tragopan, silver pheasant, and Chinese giant salamander.

Admission Fee

40.00 RMB

Opening Hours

All day

Location

Chongyi County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province