Dayou Mountain

Dayou Mountain

Dayou Mountain, located in northeastern Jiangxi, is a boundary mountain between Fuliang County of Jingdezhen City and Wuyuan County of Shangrao City. The mountain stretches from northeast to southwest. Its northern slope is relatively gentle, while the southern slope is steep. On the Wuyuan side lies the famous ancient village of Youshan Village. Fengyou Mountain, with an elevation of 675 meters, stands prominently among the surrounding hills and is a renowned religious mountain. Legend has it that in ancient times, a colorful phoenix flew eastward and came to this spot, hence the name.

The mountain features spectacular peaks, lush forests, and numerous jagged rocks and strange stones. The most remarkable sight is the "Stone Forest," which forms its own caves and grottoes interconnected with one another. Each cave seems to lead to a dead end, but upon approaching, it suddenly turns into another hidden world. Its exquisite beauty rivals that of Suzhou gardens, yet without any traces of artificial carving—truly a marvel of nature’s wonder. At the summit lie the ruins of the ancient Jingyin Temple, where two founding monks, Kai Shan and Wang Chong, once practiced Taoism. Broken bricks and remnants of steles can still be found scattered around. Today, a new temple has been built on part of the original foundation. Though it is far less grand than the former, it remains active, with devout worshippers from several surrounding counties and cities making pilgrimages here on designated days each year.

Dayou Mountain is located at the border between Wuyuan County and Jingdezhen City. Legend says that a phoenix once perched here in ancient times, hence it was formerly called “Phoenix Mountain.” The mountain boasts a wealth of scenic wonders, including Da’an Cave, Eyebrow Ridge, Sky-Stealing Crevice, Jing’an Temple, and the Stone Forest, with the latter being the most striking. The Stone Forest is interspersed among woods, hidden and mysterious. Some stone formations tower several zhang high, while others rise about a zhang. Below the stone forest lie various caves and grottoes of differing depths and densities, all interconnected in a labyrinthine maze. Just when you think there's no way forward, another hidden chamber appears—rivaling even the Lion Grove Garden in Suzhou. Visitors here often take inspiration from its grand landscapes to decorate their gardens and its smaller scenes to adorn their desks.

Youshan Village, under the jurisdiction of Zhentou Town in Wuyuan County, is a famous historical and cultural village in Jiangxi Province. The village has over 700 households and a population of more than 3,000, with over 95% of the residents surnamed Dong. It is situated in the southwestern part of Wuyuan, adjacent to Fuliang County of Jingdezhen City.

This ancient village located at the border of Wuyuan, Fuliang, and Leping was established during the Tang Dynasty. Today, it preserves over 500 residential houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties. An artificially dug river in the shape of a Taiji diagram—the Junxi Stream—flows through the village, with houses built along its banks, giving the settlement a Taiji-shaped layout. Stretching 600 meters from Tizhu Bridge in the east to Rulin Bridge in the west, the streambank resembles a bustling riverside street lined with shops. Inside the village, there are seven ancestral halls, both main and branch ones, all showcasing exceptional architectural artistry and craftsmanship.