Bamianshan Nature Reserve

Bamianshan Nature Reserve

Bamianshan Nature Reserve is located in the central-southern section of the Luoxiao Mountain Range, connecting to the Hunan-Jiangxi border, WanYang Mountain, and Zhuguang Mountain to the east, and extending to Hongshui Mountain to the south. Its geographical coordinates are between 113°48′–113°51′ east longitude and 25°57′–26°03′ north latitude. The reserve spans a total area of 64,466 mu and is located in the northwest part of Guidong County, Hunan. It borders Zixing to the west, connects to Sidu Township of Guidong to the east, and adjoins Qingshan Township of Guidong to the south. The forested area covers 43,233 mu, including the Bamianshan branch of the state-owned Songping Forest Farm and slopes and valleys at elevations between 900–1,500 meters, such as Taoliao.

Bamianshan features a mid-mountain landscape dominated by longitudinal valleys and ridgelines. Its lowest elevation is 860 meters, while its highest peak reaches 2,043 meters. With towering high mountains, majestic momentum, undulating peaks, and vast stretches of forests, it is famously described as “three feet from the sky—where humans must bow their heads and horses must dismount.” A poem by Hong Zhong, the Qing Dynasty magistrate of Guidong, titled “Passing Bamianshan,” depicts it: “Cliffs thousands of feet high, cleaved as if by gods; bird paths hang precariously, no more than a foot wide. Driving away bizarre rocks to open primordial chaos, wondrous forms stand naturally against the azure sky. One peak passes, another blocks the way; ascending to heaven or descending into an abyss fills one with dread. Hungry eagles swoop down with fierce cries by day, mournful monkeys howl in the deep of night. In all my travels, I’ve never seen such a place, as if you’ve split open the chaos of the universe. The Five Great Mountains rise proudly in my heart, yet before this, how could I boast of their wonder? A hundred miles of thunderous peaks and jade-like mountains, green steeds and yellow tassels lost amid white clouds. May the customs of the Five Districts remain virtuous, and may human hearts not rival the rugged pride of these mountains.” The awe-inspiring, perilous, and extraordinary nature of Bamianshan is evident.

The current landform of Bamianshan Nature Reserve is the result of a long geological history shaped by the combined effects of internal and external forces. It is profoundly influenced by the crustal movements, geological structures, rock properties, and external forces of the region. Geologically, it lies in an area where the east-west Nanling Structural Belt and the north-south Luoxiao Mountain Structural Belt intersect, overlap, and interact. It has been affected by major tectonic movements such as the Indosinian, Yanshanian, and Indochina orogenies. From the Sinian to the Silurian periods—spanning four geological eras—it was once part of an ocean, situated at the edge of the ancient marine trough sedimentary zone of the “Cathaysia Ancient Land” in central and southeastern Hunan. By the end of the Silurian, the Caledonian orogeny caused the sea to recede and the area to rise as land, marked by large-scale uplift. The Indosinian movement at the end of the Middle Triassic period involved intense compression, creating an S-shaped fold structure stretching approximately 45 kilometers from Shuikou to Bamianshan. The Yanshanian movement at the end of the Middle Jurassic period resulted in significant block faulting, forming nearly north-south oriented folded mountains. After the Yanshanian movement, tectonic activity continued with intermittent uplift, erosion, and planation, resulting in five levels of erosion surfaces above 1,000 meters in elevation, forming the prototype of Bamianshan’s “H”-shaped landform. The neotectonic movements beginning in the Late Tertiary inherited the characteristics of the Yanshanian movement, continuing with block uplift and exhibiting distinct intermittent and differential features. This elevated the five erosion surfaces above 1,000 meters to their current heights, creating the basic outline of the present landscape. Influenced by external forces such as surface water runoff, weathering, and gravity, Bamianshan now features a terrain of crisscrossing ridges and valleys with deeply cut “U” and “H”-shaped gorges.

Bamianshan Nature Reserve has a subtropical mountainous humid climate, with no severe cold in winter or extreme heat in summer. Autumn temperatures are higher than in spring. The annual average temperature is 15.8°C, with a frost-free period of 240–280 days. The area enjoys abundant sunlight and diverse microclimates, earning it the reputation of a “natural air conditioner.”

Due to intense geological movements, the main peak of Bamianshan features steep cliffs, towering rocks, and crisscrossing valleys, forming natural attractions of great scenic value such as Chicken Heart Rock, Golden Rooster Crowing at Heaven’s Gate, Heavenly Seal, Immortal Ox Soaring Through Clouds, Bronze Gong Ring, and Little Stone Forest. The area boasts a pleasant climate, serene and elegant ecological environment, and rich flora and fauna, with ancient trees, rare animals, and exotic plants scattered throughout. In spring, azaleas blanket the mountains, accompanied by the affectionate songs of lovebirds. In summer, the jade-leaf bamboo grass on the mountaintop is lush and green, soft as a green carpet. In autumn, red leaves blaze like flames, showcasing the beautiful scenery of “layered forests dyed in color.” In winter, the trees are adorned with frost and snow, resembling pear blossoms, presenting a world dressed in powdered jade. Winding through the peaks and valleys, crystal-clear streams flow alongside trickling brooks. The creeks follow the mountains, and the mountains curve with the creeks, each with unique terrain and varying springs. The sounds range from the gentle murmur of a jade zither to the harmonious resonance of drums, or the fluttering of a silk ribbon. “Mountains come alive with water, and water becomes more serene with mountains.” The diverse water features bring life and vitality to Bamianshan. Strolling through it, one experiences the wonderful ambiance of “no mountain without greenery, no water without clarity, fragrant in all seasons, birds singing in every valley.”

Historical sites on Bamianshan include the ruins of Nantian Ancient Temple, inscriptions on Bamianshan, the legendary Fire-Burned Mountain where Guo Fazhu subdued demons, and the divine farming fields of the Lily Immortals, all evoking a sense of nostalgia. From 1934 to 1949, revolutionary struggles were continuous in Bamianshan (the Western Mountain area), and the site of the Red Army’s 359th Brigade’s southern and northern expedition camps still remains. Taoliao Village within Bamianshan is known as the “Red Army Village.” In 1928, out of 17 households and over 60 people in the village, 17 young men joined the Red Army, and 46 villagers sacrificed their lives for the revolution. In 1934, the first Soviet regime in Hunan after the Long March was established here. Veteran proletarian revolutionaries such as Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Peng Dehuai, Chen Yi, and others also carried out revolutionary activities in Bamianshan. During the Anti-Japanese War, a U.S. Flying Tigers plane crashed in Taoliao, Bamianshan, during a battle with enemy aircraft, adding a layer of legendary lore to the mountain and making it an ideal base for patriotic education.

The main peak of Bamianshan, Shiniuxian, stands at 2,043 meters. Scenic spots such as Shiniuxian and Immortal Ox Soaring Through Clouds are associated with many beautiful legends in Guidong, the most widespread being the tale of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl of Guidong and Shiniuxian. Legend has it that the Gray Ox Immortal, who was banished from heaven for violating celestial rules, was subdued here. Shiniuxian is said to be the immortal ox found by the Cowherd. Bamianshan, being only three feet from the sky, enjoys a cool climate. Legend says it is where celestial beings descend to escape the summer heat, bathing in the Ou River to cool off or playing in the water. Immortals play chess on the mountaintop while fairies bathe in the river, creating a heavenly scene. When the heat in heaven becomes unbearable, the Weaver Girl and other fairies also descend to cool off, leading to the Cowherd finally reuniting with the Weaver Girl with the help of the immortal ox, thus forming a blissful marriage and leaving behind a timeless love story.

Shiniuxian is also a renowned Buddhist sacred site in both Guidong and Zixing counties. Before the Liberation, it was a bustling temple with flourishing incense offerings. It was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, but a smaller temple still houses two Buddha statues missing their heads. Additionally, Bamianshan preserves historical sites such as the ruins of Nantian Old Warehouse and Bamianshan inscriptions, along with beautiful legends like “Guo Fazhu Subduing Demons and Burning the Mountain” and “Lily Immortals Farming.”

Within Bamianshan Nature Reserve, there are three ancient trails—upper, middle, and lower—that date back a thousand years. These trails run from Sidu through Jinyinpu, Xiaowuxi, and Jiangnaoli to Chizhuyuan and Qingshi in Zixing, spanning a total length of 40 kilometers. Before roads were built in Guidong, these were the main official routes connecting Guidong to Chenzhou. The roadsides are lined with towering ancient trees, rugged rocks, and steep, perilous paths, regarded as treacherous by travelers. Legend has it that in ancient times, several scholars traveling this route to take provincial exams, to relieve their fatigue, agreed to compose a line of poetry every ten li: “At ten li, Gaolongxian; at twenty li, Niushimao exhales blue smoke; at thirty li, through the valley in the trough; at forty li, qinggang trees block out the sky; at fifty li, Longzha waters are vast; at sixty li, Miao Gong ascends to heaven…” The poem describes the scenes along this ancient trail. Though the poets have long passed, the ballad is still orally passed down among the people. After National Highway 106 was completed in October 1957, this road was mostly overgrown and forgotten, gradually fading from memory and now difficult to verify. Guidong’s Bamianshan, with its beautiful scenery and vast forests, is an excellent destination for scientific research, tourism, and summer camp activities.