Mingyue Mountain Hot Spring Scenic Area

Mingyue Mountain Hot Spring Scenic Area

Mingyue Mountain Hot Spring Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national forest park.

As a national key scenic spot, national forest park, and national geopark, Mingyue Mountain is situated 31 kilometers southwest of Yichun City, the first ecological city in China. Covering a planned area of 136 square kilometers with a core scenic zone of 80 square kilometers, it lies in the northern foothills of the Wugong Mountains. The area is characterized by "spectacular peaks and perilous gorges, hot springs and waterfalls, rare flora and fauna, and Zen Buddhist culture." It integrates "ecotourism, leisure vacationing, science education, and religious tourism" into one mountainous scenic destination.

Mingyue Mountain mainly consists of over ten peaks exceeding 1,000 meters in elevation, including Taiping Mountain, Yujing Mountain, Lao Mountain, and Yangshan. The main peak, Taiping Mountain, stands at 1,735.6 meters above sea level. Due to its semi-circular shape resembling a half-moon, it is called Mingyue (Bright Moon) Mountain.

Climate Features

Mingyue Mountain has a subtropical humid monsoon climate with unique landscapes, mild weather, an average annual temperature of around 12°C–15°C, and an average annual precipitation of 1,800–2,000 mm. It supports the growth of diverse flora and fauna, earning reputations as a "natural zoo" and "kingdom of plants." The mountain is home to year-round fragrant wildflowers, lush forests, bamboo groves, drifting clouds, and mist that condenses into rain. Springs emerge from shaded valleys, and the sound of flowing water echoes through the gullies. The area is covered in greenery with exceptionally fresh air—35 times the national standard—making it a renowned natural oxygen bar both domestically and internationally.

Major Scenic Areas

Mingyue Mountain comprises five scenic zones and one resort: the Tanxia Zone, known for its Cloud Valley Waterfall and Thousand-Zhang Cliff; the Taiping Mountain Zone, featuring sunrise views, alpine meadows, and peculiar peaks; the Tangjia Mountain Zone, highlighted by the Wuyun Cliff and its meteorological wonders; the Yangshan Zone, showcasing Zen Buddhist culture and local folk customs; the Yujing Mountain Zone, noted for its rare plants and wild jungle charm; and the Wen Tang Hot Spring Resort, famous for its therapeutic hot springs, vacationing, leisure, and entertainment.

Enchanting Natural Scenery

The majestic Mingyue Mountain range presents a variety of grand forms—some celebrated for their beauty, others for their imposing strength, thrilling peaks, or serene seclusion.

The beauty of Mingyue Mountain lies in its natural state. Vast seas of clouds, mountain lakes, and roaming macaques create its "Four Wonders": breathtaking cliffs, competing grotesque rocks, competing pines in splendor, and floral tapestries. It is famed for its peaks, waterfalls, caves, and stones. The area features overlapping ridges, oddly shaped rocks, blooming mountain flowers, and proud pines. Birds and beasts roam everywhere amidst fragrant blossoms and birdsong. Stone paths covered in moss and cascading streams and waterfalls make visitors feel as if they’ve entered a fairyland, earning it the reputation of being "Huangshan-like."

In spring, the mountain is lush green; in summer, it’s shaded by dense foliage; in autumn, valleys glow golden; and in winter, everything is draped in crystal frost. The mountain hosts medicinal herbs such as rock ginseng and stone ear fungus, as well as animals like deer, river deer, snakes, wild boars, monkeys, pheasants, rabbits, foxes, and salamanders. It also boasts flora named after the mountain itself, such as the Mingyue Mountain camellia, azaleas, and magnolia, along with trees like pine, bamboo, cypress, camphor, fir, ginkgo, silver fir, and blue willow. Among them, the southern yew, originating 230 million years ago and rich in the cancer-treatment compound paclitaxel, is a rare plant in China. The Chinese deciduous magnolia is a globally rare species, with only two remaining—both unique to Mingyue Mountain.

Captivating Zen Buddhist Culture

With a long history and rich cultural heritage, Mingyue Mountain has been a cradle of religious culture in China. As early as the reign of Emperor Wen of Han (179–156 BCE), the Temple of the Dragon King (commonly known as the "Ancient Temple of Yangshan") was established on Yangshan Mountain. Local worship of the Yangshan deity began then, later flourishing to the extent that "Yangshan worship spread across half the world." The ancient temple was not only a renowned pilgrimage site for the Dragon King but also the origin of dragon king worship nationwide. During the Wei and Jin dynasties, Taoist masters Ge Xuan and Ge Hong were said to have cultivated immortality on Yangshan’s Jiyun Peak—a history spanning over a thousand years. Song Dynasty hero Wen Tianxiang inscribed the plaque “Ge Xian Guan” (Temple of the Immortal Ge) for the site. In 841 CE (the first year of the Tang Dynasty's Huichang era), Huiyi, founder of the Weiyang sect (one of China’s five Zen schools), established Qiyin Temple (later renamed Taiping Xingguo Temple) on Yangshan. Since then, the temple has maintained continuous Buddhist activities for over a thousand years, spreading the Weiyang sect’s influence worldwide. Monks and pilgrims from India, Silla (modern-day Korea), Japan, and beyond came to study and admire the site. Over 100 Zen stupas from the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties have been discovered around the temple ruins.

"The benevolent delight in mountains, the wise in water." Historical figures such as Han Yu, Zheng Gu, Lu Xisheng, Zhang Shangying, Xin Qiji, Fan Chengda, Huang Tingjian, Zhu Xi, Xu Xiake, and Yan Song all visited Mingyue Mountain. They prayed for rain, retreated from office, explored nature, visited friends, lectured, or studied the landscape, leaving behind timeless poetry. For instance, Han Yu wrote, "Do not say Yichun is far—the rivers and mountains are full of wonder," while Zhu Xi of the Southern Song noted, "I walk through Yichun’s wilds, surrounded by extraordinary peaks." Late Ming geographer Xu Xiake praised, "The sunrise glows like gold in a furnace; visitors tread the clouds." Additionally, Mingyue Mountain is a red revolutionary site. In April–May 1936, Tan Yubao, Secretary of the Hunan-Jiangxi Provincial Committee, Chairman of the Military-Political Council, and Political Commissar of the Hunan-Jiangxi Guerrilla Unit, led his forces to the mountain. Based at Ruiqing Temple under Ruiqing Pagoda, they trained troops, expanded their forces, and resisted enemies, achieving remarkable victories. A poem commemorates this: "Tour the famed green mountain, explore wonders, enjoy the view—ascend Ruiqing’s natural tower. Pay homage to the Red Army’s base, reflect on valor, honor bravery—erect a towering monument."

Rare Selenium-Rich Hot Springs

Mingyue Mountain is home to the Wen Tang geothermal hot springs, with an 800-year history. The springs are distributed across 0.8 square kilometers in the Wen Tang town area. Emerging from granite at 470 meters underground, the hot spring center sits at an elevation of 168 meters. With a daily outflow of 7,000 tons, the water maintains a constant temperature of 68°C–72°C. Colorless, odorless, and fine in texture, the water is sulfur-free, low in mineralization and sodium, yet rich in selenium and metasilicic acid—qualities that are exceptionally rare worldwide. Nationally certified and tested by the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, the springs are high-volume, high-temperature mineral waters suitable for both drinking and bathing, with a pure taste. The water contains nearly 20 trace elements beneficial to health, offering significant anti-cancer and health-protective effects, as well as therapeutic benefits for the cardiovascular, digestive, and urinary systems.

Mingyue Mountain is not only a destination for sightseeing and wellness but also an ideal place for studying flora and fauna, as well as the historical and cultural aspects of Buddhism, Taoism, and ancient folk traditions.