Wangfu Mountain

Wangfu Mountain

Wangfu Mountain is a protected cultural heritage site of Henan Province.

Wangfu Mountain is located on Wangfu Street in Nanyang City, Henan Province, a renowned historical and cultural city in China. It is an artificial rockery. Constructed in the 24th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1391 AD) and rebuilt in the 2nd year of the Yongle era (1404 AD) using the former site of the Nanyang Guard headquarters, it later became known as Wangfu Mountain after the addition of rocks. Wangfu Mountain is one of the masterpieces of ancient Chinese architectural art. It appears so ancient and weathered, having witnessed 601 years of worldly dust under the rising and setting sun, through changing seasons.

Built in the early Ming Dynasty, Wangfu Mountain has a history of 600 years. In the 24th year of the Hongwu era (1391 AD), Zhu Yuanzhang appointed his 23rd son, Zhu Zhen, as the Prince of Tang, with Nanyang as his fief. At that time, Zhu Zhen was only five years old. Before he was officially enfeoffed, the imperial court began large-scale construction in Nanyang to build the Tang Prince’s Mansion. According to the "Nanyang Prefecture Annals of the Jiajing Era of the Ming Dynasty": “Behind the Tang Prince’s Mansion lies a stone mountain, called Wangfu Mountain.” It was the main structure in the mansion’s garden. Folklore says that these rocks were transported from Taihu Lake in Jiangsu Province, over 2,000 li away, carried by people and pulled by oxen over several years. The mountain is cone-shaped, with the main peak and four smaller peaks, symbolizing "five peaks standing together" and "four peaks paying homage." Beneath the smaller peaks are ingeniously crafted caves, interconnected through rugged paths with ever-changing views. By traversing the caves and climbing 60 spiral steps, you can reach the top of the main peak. At the summit sits a pavilion where you can overlook the entire city and gaze at the distant Nine Solitary Hills — Purple Hill, Pagoda Hill, Solitary Hill, and Reed Hill (all names of nearby hills) — all clearly visible.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Henan Province