Tianmushan Nature Reserve

Tianmushan Nature Reserve

A national nature reserve. Located in the northwest of Pingqiao District, Xinyang City, Henan Province. It is 70 kilometers from Xinyang City, 25 kilometers from the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and National Highway 107, and 6 kilometers from Provincial Highway 335. It is an ecological tourism area that combines rich natural and cultural landscapes.

The reserve spans 24 square kilometers, with its main peak, Xiaoshide, standing at an elevation of 813.5 meters. It lies in the transitional zone between the northern subtropical and warm temperate regions, on China’s “geographical dividing line” between north and south. The area features a northern subtropical monsoon climate, characterized by distinct seasons, mild weather, and abundant rainfall. It preserves well-developed secondary forests where the Dabie Mountains meet the Tongbai Mountains. According to surveys, the reserve is home to 2,435 plant species from 954 genera and 235 families, including 23 rare and endangered plant species. In addition, there are approximately 2,300 wildlife species in the reserve, including 52 classified as national first or second-class protected animals. Influenced by geological structures, the area features towering cliffs and crisscrossing ravines. Many of the large rocks on the mountain resemble objects such as stone beds, stone cabinets, peacocks, and reclining Buddhas—truly works of nature’s artistry. The reserve also boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage, dating back as early as the Shang Dynasty. It was once the fief of Jiang Wenhuan, the Marquis of Nanbo, with the summit of the small mountain serving as his sacrificial site. In the late Spring and Autumn period, King Zhao of Chu, after being defeated by the King of Wu, sought refuge in this area before later establishing Chengyang City at Changtaiguan. During the late Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, visited here while searching for descendants of the Chu royal family. In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the famed general Zu Ti stationed troops here. He and fellow official Liu Kun, both serving as secretaries of the Sizhou region, often motivated each other to stay diligent. Upon hearing the crow of a rooster at midnight, they would rise immediately to practice swordplay—giving rise to the idiom “Rising at the Crow of the Rooster.” At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the celebrated general Yu Chijingong also garrisoned troops in this area. The Xiaoshide Taoist Temple on the mountain is one of the “Eight Scenic Spots of Xinyang,” originally built during the Northern Wei Dynasty. It houses the Hall of Heavenly Kings and the Goddess Hall, and is perpetually shrouded in incense smoke. Other attractions include Zushi Peak, Old Stockade Mountain, Tianmu Valley, Lovers’ Gorge, Soul-Returning Slope, Lovers’ Cliff, and Mandarin Duck Pool.