Qichun Henggang Mountain Forest Park

Qichun Henggang Mountain Forest Park

Qichun Henggang Mountain Forest Park is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Henggang Mountain Forest Park, located in the southeastern part of Hubei Province, is a provincial-level forest park approved by the former Ministry of Forestry in 1992. It spans the border areas of Qichun, Wuxue, and Huangmei counties, covering an area of 7.24 square kilometers, with over 90% of the land being forested and a forest coverage rate of 58.1%. The highest peak reaches 863.5 meters, featuring beautiful natural scenery, towering ancient trees, and abundant wildlife and plant resources.

As early as over 1,300 years ago, Henggang Mountain was a major site for Taoist and Buddhist activities in the regions of Jing, Wu, and Yu. Grand temples were built here, including the majestic and spectacular Zhenwu Hall, which belongs to the Wudang Taoist sect and was first constructed in the late Sui and early Tang dynasties.

In 621 AD, the Yun Gai Temple — “Heavenly Clouds Covering the Temple” — affiliated with the Jiuhua Mountain Buddhist sect, was established during the flourishing Tang Dynasty in 753 AD. Today, there are nearly thirty temples of various sizes built on the mountain.

Qichun Henggang Mountain Forest Park is situated at the border between Qichun County and Wuxue City in Hubei Province. Approved by the national forestry authorities in 1992, it covers a total area of 5,235 mu with a forest coverage rate of 86.7%. As early as over 1,300 years ago, Henggang Mountain was a major site for Taoist and Buddhist activities in the regions of Jing, Wu, and Yu. Grand temples were built here, including the majestic and spectacular Zhenwu Hall, which belongs to the Wudang Taoist sect and was first constructed in the late Sui and early Tang dynasties around 621 AD; the Yun Gai Temple — “Heavenly Clouds Covering the Temple” — affiliated with the Jiuhua Mountain Buddhist sect, was established during the flourishing Tang Dynasty in 753 AD. Today, there are nearly thirty temples of various sizes built on the mountain.

Since ancient times, Henggang Mountain has been a renowned destination for Buddhist and Taoist tourism and a natural summer retreat. The park features ancient temples dating back to the Sui and Tang dynasties, with over 1,500 years of history. Throughout the ages, literati, scholars, eminent monks, and poets have traveled to Henggang Mountain and left behind inscriptions and records. Historical figures such as Xu Xiake, Li Bai, and Du Fu are among those documented. Stone inscriptions and steles still remain on the mountain today. The Fourth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, Daoxin, became a monk here in his childhood, with specific records found in the chronicles of the Yun Gai Temple on Henggang Mountain. Yu Chijingong, a founding general of the Tang Dynasty, visited the mountain and left poetic inscriptions; Wu Cheng'en, author of "Journey to the West," wrote parts of his book here; and Li Shizhen collected medicinal herbs on the mountain.