Hongyan Fairyland

Hongyan Fairyland

Hongyan Fairyland is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Hongyan Fairyland, situated in the northeastern part of Leping City, features distinctive natural landscapes, rich historical culture, and abundant tourism resources. It lies 48 kilometers from Jingdezhen, the "Porcelain Capital," 80 kilometers from Wuyuan, renowned as China's premier "painted village," and just a two-hour drive to Mount Sanqing. It is also 120 kilometers from Mount Longhu and 200 kilometers from Mount Lu. The surrounding tourism resources are abundant and diverse in style.

Hongyan Fairyland Scenic Area is approximately 50 kilometers from downtown Jingdezhen, 38 kilometers from downtown Leping, and adjacent to Wuyuan and Dexing counties/cities. It is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a key scenic spot in Jiangxi Province, a provincial forest park, and one of the top ten scenic spots in Jingdezhen.

Hongyan Fairyland is located within Hongyan Town and is divided into two main sections: a karst cave and a stone forest. The most noteworthy attraction is the underground karst cave, which dates back over 300 million years. Although Hongyan Fairyland may not be as famous as major caves like Guilin’s Seven-Star Cave, its scenery is truly remarkable. The cave is quite spacious and even features an underground waterfall, making it a perfect spot for cooling off and sightseeing in the summer.

The Hongyan Bus Station is located near the scenic area exit. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from there to the entrance, or around 15 RMB by motorcycle taxi. The road up the mountain is a well-paved asphalt path, and after passing the ticket office, you’ll soon reach the cave entrance. Inside the cave, simply follow the walking paths and signs. After passing the “Fairy-Mortal Boundary,” you’ll noticeably enter a cool world, with the sound of the waterfall clearly audible at the cave entrance. Notable rock formations inside the cave include Immortal’s Field, Lady Bilu, and Golden Rooster Announcing Dawn—visitors can let their imaginations run wild with the help of nearby informational plaques. The cave walls feature many small streams, with the largest being the Nine Heavens Waterfall, the most unforgettable sight in the cave. The temperature here is cool, and the air is very humid. A slightly slippery staircase runs beside the waterfall, so extra caution is advised when walking.

As the cave is deep underground, descending from the entrance to the cave floor involves going down several stories, and exiting brings you back up to the mountaintop, also several stories high. From the vantage point of Songmo Pavilion at the highest spot, you’ll see lush greenery and scattered villages, full of vitality. On the way down, you can visit the stone forest along the route. The trees in the stone forest aren’t very tall but are numerous, with vines winding around them—a unique feature. However, the scenery here is less impressive compared to the cave, so a brief look is sufficient if time is limited. Finally, after walking through a bamboo grove, you’ll reach the scenic area exit.

The area features a variety of natural, ecological, and cultural attractions, such as the miraculously formed Hongyan Fairyland, known as one of the “Four Wonders of Karst Caves”; the fragrant osmanthus-scented Stone Forest Valley, with its bizarre rocks, vines growing through stones, and stones embracing trees; the Iron Well Flying Spring, built in the 26th year of the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli reign, which splashes year-round; the Xiang Family Ancestral Hall, bestowed with the imperial inscription “Shide Liuguang” (Virtue Lasts, Radiance Shines) by Emperor Yongzheng; and the legacy of Hong Gong’s integrity, known for “four scholars from one family, one prime minister, and two ministers,” as well as the great literary contribution of Notes of a Cottage of Leisure. It is a fine destination integrating tourism, leisure, wellness, business retreats, and patriotic education.

Hongyan Fairyland is a karst cave formed from Huti limestone over 100 million years ago during the Mesozoic era. The entire scenic area spans 40,000 square kilometers, with the cave chamber covering 100,000 square meters and the cave itself extending over 2,000 meters. The cave is filled with stalactites and stalagmites, intricately arranged, dazzlingly beautiful, and incredibly diverse—all masterpieces of nature. Hong Hao, a famous Southern Song Dynasty official born here (whose 28th-generation descendant was Hong Xiuquan, leader of the Taiping Rebellion), left behind the timeless verse: “In this universe, there is this cave; who would have thought paradise lies on earth?”

Inside the cave are the “Four Wonders of China’s Karst Caves”: the Nine Heavens Waterfall, Thunderous Roar, Immortal’s Field, and Water Sky. There are also attractions like the 38-meter-tall Pillar Reaching the Sky, Gold and Silver Mountains, the Top Scholar Worshiping the Pagoda, Cloud Rock, Five-Finger Mountain, Phoenix Facing the Sun, Dragon Gate, Golden Bell Pagoda, the Immortal Offering a Finger, Embroidery Building, and more. There are also uniquely shaped, lifelike formations such as the Human-Faced Lion, Journey to the West, Guanyin Sitting on a Lotus, Upside-Down Golden Turtle, Zhuge Reading Behind the Book, Guanyin Bestowing a Child, Golden Rooster Announcing Dawn, God of Heaven Holding the Pagoda, South Sea Guanyin, Jiang Ziya Fishing, Divine Eagle, Sacred Turtle, Buddha Bathing, Pearl Spring, Phoenix Pool, Crystal Palace, Water Curtain Cave, Yao Pool, West Sea Dragon Palace, Lotus Pool, and the Great Wall.

Hongyan has countless scenic wonders, both inside and outside the cave. There are also ancient human settlement ruins, the remains of Hong Hao’s school from the Southern Song Dynasty, the Iron Well Flying Spring from the Ming Dynasty, and contemporary archaeological sites from Sino-American agricultural teams. Additionally, there is a picturesque 140-acre stone forest, as well as classic sights like Songmo Pavilion, Nanxing Rock, Immortal Aunt Rock, Divine Treasure Peak, Lion Roar Peak, Songmo Peak, Duxiu Valley, and Pearl Rock.

Located atop the karst cave mountain, this area was formed by ancient tectonic movements over 300 million years ago. It features bizarre rocks, dotted with rare flowers and plants growing in clusters, creating bright and beautiful scenery. Attractions include Peach Blossom Valley, Songmo Pavilion, Dakai Peak, Vines Through Rocks, Elephant Trunk Rock, Bandit’s Bed, Twin Dragons Playing with a Pearl, Horse-Riding Dilemma, Zhu Bajie Flirting with Chang’e, and more. The forest here is lush and misty, making you feel as though you’ve stepped into a fairyland. The thousand-acre, picturesque stone forest is home to ancient trees and rare wildlife, with wildflowers everywhere and birds chirping in the woods—it’s like entering a dream. The area is famed for its peculiar rocks, trees, vines, and peaks.

Peculiar Rocks: These are uniquely shaped and incredibly lifelike, resembling animals such as rabbits, whales, goats, monkeys, boars, snakes, and elephants. Every rock forms its own distinct scene.

Peculiar Trees: Ancient trees dominate the landscape, alongside clusters of osmanthus and swaying green bamboo, forming a breathtaking embrace with the strange rocks.

Peculiar Vines: Thousand-year-old vines wrap around rocks and entangle with trees—an inseparable bond between flora and stone.

Peculiar Peaks: In the serene valleys with flowing streams, you’ll find Bandit Peak, Songmo Pavilion, Duxiu Valley, Lovers’ Valley, Quiet Valley, Nanxing Rock, Immortal Aunt Rock, Divine Treasure Peak, Lion Roar Peak, and Pearl Rock.

Climb to Guangming Summit for a breathtaking panoramic view—the vast mountains, peeking peaks, and idyllic farmland all come into sight. Being here feels like stepping into a heavenly realm, making it hard to leave. Food · Accommodation · Shopping

Hongyan Mountain Villa covers an area of 40 acres and is located within the scenic area. It offers dining, accommodation, and various business conference facilities. Standard rooms cost around 300 RMB per night, and the dining area can accommodate up to 120 people.

Address: Hongyan Town, Leping City, Jingdezhen

Type: Cave · Geological Landform · Historic Site

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 3 hours

Phone: 0798-6318006

Official Website: http://www.jxhyxj.com/

Opening Hours:

08:00–16:30

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 81.0 RMB

Adult tickets cost 81 yuan, including access to both the Karst Cave and Stone Forest scenic areas, plus a 1-yuan insurance fee; children under 1.2 meters are admitted free of charge; children between 1.2 and 1.4 meters, seniors over 60 years old, and students can enjoy discounted tickets at 41 yuan.