Yanshan Mountain

Yanshan Mountain

Yanshan Mountain, located on the northern side of the Hebei Plain in China, stretches roughly from east to west from the Chao Bai River Valley to Shanhaiguan. It extends over 300 kilometers and is a fold-fault block mountain, with elevations ranging between 400 and 1,000 meters. To the north, it connects with the Qilaotu Mountains and the Nulu’erhu Mountains, while to the south lies the Hebei Plain, creating a significant elevation difference. The Luan River cuts through the mountain, forming the Xifeng Gorge, and the Chao River carves out the Gubeikou Pass, among others. Historically, this area has served as an important north-south transportation corridor and holds significant military importance, often contested in both ancient and modern warfare. The mountainous region features reservoirs such as those at the ancient Yandu No. 1 architectural site at Miyun and Panjiakou. Its main peak, Wuling Mountain, stands at 2,116 meters; Baxianzhuozi reaches 1,052 meters; Dushan rises to 1,846 meters; and Daqing Mountain is 1,224 meters high.

From a historical perspective, there is a distinction between the Greater and Lesser Yanshan. The Greater Yanshan refers to the Yanshan Mountain Range north of Beijing, which was named relatively late. The Lesser Yanshan is located in the southwest of Beijing, northwest of Fangshan Chengguan Subdistrict and Yanshan Administrative Office—specifically, the greater Fangshan and Fenghuang Mountain ranges. The Lesser Yanshan is the earliest known Yanshan, roughly named during the Shang Dynasty, specifically during the reign of Yan (or Yan). Later, when the Yan capital moved northward, the name Greater Yanshan became prevalent. Records of Yanshan prior to the Warring States period generally refer to the Lesser Yanshan.

The rhesus macaque, also known as the common monkey, is a second-class protected animal in China. It is mainly distributed in tropical regions of South and Southeast Asia, and within China, it is primarily found in the southern regions, with few in the north. Up until the 1960s and 1970s, rhesus macaques were only found in the Liuping area of Xinglong County in the Yanshan region, which was considered the northernmost natural habitat for the species. However, after 1970, no rhesus macaque groups were seen in Liuping either. On October 22, 1987, an employee of the Liuping State-owned Forest Farm discovered a dead rhesus macaque, and from then until this spring, no further traces of the monkeys have been seen anywhere in the Yanshan area.

Since this summer, rhesus macaques have reappeared in Liuping Forest Park in Xinglong County, as well as in nearby villages such as Sanchakou and Huayuan. They appear in groups of three to five, or sometimes just one or two. The return of the macaques to their “hometown” in Yanshan has been welcomed and protected by local villagers. In recent years, ecological projects such as the Capital Greening Project and the Small Watershed Management Project along the upper Luan River have been implemented in Xinglong County. In 1999, the county was designated as a national key county for ecological environment construction. Local wildlife protection authorities explain that these ecological initiatives have effectively improved the natural environment, providing favorable conditions for the breeding and habitation of rhesus macaques.

Yanshan is honored as one of the “Eight Ancient Scenic Spots of Huaiyang.” It was also a filming location for the Hong Kong ATV TV series Journey to the West. The Yanshan Scenic Area boasts a diverse ecological environment and profound cultural and historical heritage, integrating mountain hiking, water recreation, rock climbing, adventure, vacationing, gourmet dining, and archaeology—all showcasing the unique charm of Yanshan.