Huashi Scenic Area

Huashi Scenic Area

Huashi Scenic Area is situated in the southwestern part of the county, about 50 kilometers from the county seat and roughly 30 kilometers from Mount Hengshan (Nanyue). It serves as China’s hub for Xianglian processing and distribution. The area earned its name from a legend about patterned rocks in the water. During the Qin and Han dynasties, it was the administrative center of Xiangnan County. The scenic area features many attractions, including surviving structures such as the Qing Dynasty-era Han Dynasty Bridge and Guanzheng Bridge. Legend also tells of 18 arhats who transformed into stone mountains to forever suppress a flood demon. Due to their resemblance to arhats, the mountains are called Arhat Mountain. The rocky peaks display hues of brownish-red and dark brown, with the “arhats” vividly crafted in diverse and lifelike poses. (By Chen Huang)

The Huashi Reservoir within the scenic area has been developed to offer a variety of water-based and island tourism activities.

From October to March each year, Wild Duck Islet is frequented by over ten species of migratory birds, including egrets and swans, which come here to rest and play. Arhat Mountain

Arhat Mountain is located south of Huashi Town in Xiangtan County, about 55 kilometers from downtown Xiangtan. The site features 17 stone peaks aligned in a row, connected to one another and standing tall beside the Han Dynasty Bridge. Locals refer to them as the “Eighteen Arhats,” hence the mountain’s name. The front of the mountain features steep cliffs, with heights ranging from about 200 meters to around 100 meters. The rocks are brownish-red and are known as “red sandstone.” Some stones contain small pebbles inside and are referred to as “pockmarked stones.” The mountain is covered in moss. On the left peak stands the Thunder Ancestor Hall, built during the Ming Dynasty. It is a single-eave structure housing a statue of the Thunder Ancestor. Arhat Mountain is uniquely spectacular and quite rare in central and eastern Hunan. It resembles a landscape painting stretching over 2,000 meters. According to the 1725 “Record of the Reconstruction of Han Dynasty Bridge” from the third year of the Yongzheng reign in the Qing Dynasty: “Arhat Mountain is an ancient site, and Han Dynasty Bridge was its former name... The mountain-city is picturesque, with winding waters creating a beautiful scene.”

Arhat Mountain has many beautiful legends: In Zhaotan beneath Zhaoshan in Xiangtan, “water ghosts” often caused trouble, claiming many lives and properties. Helpless, the local “Earth God” sought help from the “Mountain God” of Mount Heng. The monk Huisi took on the task and dispatched eighteen arhats, including the Dragon Subduer and Long-Legged Arhat, to deal with the threat overnight. To avoid being recognized by mortals, Huisi transformed the arhats into a group of “piglets” running swiftly, each carrying twelve iron pellets as weapons. Along the way, a sudden fierce storm broke out. Seeing the danger, Long-Legged Arhat quickly ran ahead and reached Xiangtan, waiting in front of Shizui’ao, where he later turned into the rock formation itself. The other seventeen arhats, upon reaching Zhongyong Temple in Huashi amid a sudden flash flood that submerged the area, found the local people in distress. The leader, the Dragon Subduer Arhat, immediately ordered the arhats to stand side by side in the river to block the flood. After a fierce struggle, they managed to make the flood recede that very night, saving the people. However, by the time the waters subsided, dawn had broken, and the seventeen arhats had turned into 17 stone mountains.

To the north of the mountain, along the Juan River, lies the ancient town of Huashi. During the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era, it was called Huashi Market. In 1913, it was officially established as Huashi Town and has since served as the name for a district, township, and commune. It was once a strategic junction between Xiangtan (Xiang) and Hengyang, and is now a key town in southern Xiangtan County. It has grown into the largest distribution center for Xianglian in the country and is also one of the key projects in Hunan Province’s model town construction initiative. The locally produced iron pots are sold nationwide. “Huashi Tofu and Shibei Wine” are also famous across central and eastern Hunan. To the south of the mountain lies the Huashi Reservoir, the largest water storage facility in Xiangtan County. As a medium-sized reservoir, it holds great potential for tourism development. (By Mian Du) Han Dynasty Bridge

The Han Dynasty Bridge is located in Malong Village, Huashi Town, Xiangtan County, about 55 kilometers from downtown Xiangtan. According to the Guangxu-era “Xiangtan County Annals”: “Han City was the seat of Xiangnan County during the Western Han Dynasty, hence the name.” In September 1986, it was designated as a cultural relic protection unit by the Xiangtan County People’s Government.

The Han Dynasty Bridge spans the Huashi River and was once a major route between Xiangtan and Hengyang. It is a single-span red sandstone arch bridge oriented east-west, standing 7 meters high, 12 meters long, and 5 meters wide on the western end with a span of 10.7 meters. The bridge’s ends feature stone steps, while the middle section has a flat surface with stone railings on both sides. Nine stone steps descend from either side onto earthen platforms, which in turn connect to roads along the waterway via additional steps. A “Record of the Reconstruction of Han Dynasty Bridge” stele stands beside the bridge. The entire structure is tightly built, simple yet robust, with the arch resembling a crescent moon. It is one of the earliest bridges in the county. Later, the bridge deck was damaged, and the steps, platforms, and railings were lost, leaving only the arched stone structure. In 1935, locals built a 3-meter-wide, two-hole flat bridge with stone piers beside the original to accommodate vehicles. In 1979, an additional 13-meter-long, 5-meter-wide two-hole stone arch bridge was added next to the flat bridge, allowing passage for small motor vehicles. Today, the three bridges stand side by side, complementing each other.

To the east of the bridge are attractions such as Arhat Mountain; to the west are the late Neolithic pottery kiln ruins at Hanjiaya and tombs from the Warring States to Han Dynasty periods; to the south lies the Huashi Reservoir, the largest water storage project in Xiangtan County; and to the north are the ancient town of Huashi, Baiwan, and the late Neolithic site at Yangjialing. (By Ye Zhou) Guanzheng Bridge

Guanzheng Bridge is located at the confluence of the Huashi River and the Juan River in Huashi Town, Xiangtan County. In the 20th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1755), local resident Wang Tongren and others raised 70,000 taels of silver to build the bridge. In 1914, a three-hole red stone arch bridge was reconstructed. The entire bridge stretches 27 meters from east to west, is 5 meters wide, and 8 meters high. The edges are lined with diamond-shaped railing stones, each side having 16 pillars carved with figures such as lions, elephants, and rabbits. The bridge piers are diamond-shaped to help divert the flow of water. To the south of the bridge are a scripture-burning furnace and a Temple of the Earth God, both of which were later destroyed. The bridge banks are reinforced with stone slope protection. The entire bridge is exquisitely constructed with careful detail, showcasing the architectural style of southern China. Despite centuries of weathering, it remains well preserved. The surplus water from the Huashi Reservoir and the Xuanfeng Bridge waterway flow into the Juan River, dividing Huashi Town into northern and southern sections. Guanzheng Bridge connects the two halves of the town and ensures the unobstructed flow of traffic along the Xiangtan–Hengyang route. With the construction of National Highway 107 and the Hekou–Lingpo Road, pedestrian traffic has shifted, but Guanzheng Bridge is still in use. (By Chang Jiang) Zijingshan (Purple Thorn Mountain)

Zijingshan is situated at the junction of Huashi Town, Chaiensi Town, Baishi Township, and Zhonglupu Town in Xiangtan County, about 70 kilometers from downtown Xiangtan. It stands 383 meters above sea level, with a circumference of over 20 kilometers and a distance of about 15 kilometers from the mountain foot to the summit. The rolling hills present a majestic sight. The mountain connects to Tianma Mountain to the southwest, Xiaoxia Mountain to the northeast, and Lianhua Fort to the east, making it one of the renowned peaks in the county.

At the summit are five peaks encircling a central flatland, forming what is called “Five Horses Galloping to the Trough.” On this flatland sits the ancient Di Xing Temple, covering a construction area of about 500 square meters with a brick-and-wood structure and blue-tiled roof, exquisitely decorated. The Guangxu-era “Xiangtan County Annals • Mountains and Waters” records the presence of Zijingshan Temple and Zijing Chanlin (Zen Forest) on the mountain. The Zen Forest “houses deities, spirits, humans, ghosts, and Buddha statues,” and includes “32 mu of temple fields” (later expanded to 170 mu). Both the north and south walls of the temple have gates, connected by a west wall with open space in between. The south gate bears the inscription “Zijingshan” and couplets reading: “Deities reside in the Purple Mansion; Treasures lie hidden in Zijingshan,” both authored and inscribed by the Qing Dynasty scholar Yin Huchen. The center of the west wall features a window with couplets reading: “The Heavenly Horse carries gold back to Langyuan; the miraculous fish climbs the tree to worship Bodhi,” composed and written by Ma Ruitu, a Qing Dynasty scholar. The temple is divided into upper and lower sections, with a red stairway in between. The lower section has two floors, with the upper floor called Yuxian Tower (also known as Yuxiang Tower). The upper section houses the main hall, with the Wenchang Palace to the left and the Wusheng (Martial Saint) Hall to the right. Above the main hall hangs a plaque reading “Merciful Clouds Shelter All,” and inside is a sign bearing “Zijing Chanlin.” The hall enshrines Sakyamuni in the center, Guanyin on the left, and Mulian on the right, with niches on both sides featuring the Twenty-Four Devas and Eighteen Arhats. The Wenchang Palace honors Confucius, while the Wusheng Hall venerates Guan Yu. Each has its own couplet: “Literary brilliance shines to the Ox and Dipper constellations; Prosperity turns the cosmic wheel.” “Martial valor extends across the universe; The sage’s legacy spans ancient and modern times.” The red stairway leads to north and south gates connecting to monks’ and nuns’ quarters, with couplets reading: “Purple clouds surround three Buddha seats; Zijingshan is a famed mountain.” “The Purple Mansion leads to the immortal path; Zijing flowers offer to the Buddha gate.” These were authored and inscribed by Ma Bi, former member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and the Central Standing Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang. Outside the west wall of the temple are two wells, north and south, with clear spring water. The Guangxu-era “Xiangtan County Annals • Mountains and Waters” notes: “The front pool is called Linghui Spring, home to unusual fish with golden backs and silver bellies, no scales but feet, which once slept on tree branches—now none exist.” On September 11, 1986, Di Xing Temple was designated as a cultural relic protection unit by the Xiangtan County People’s Government. However, due to lack of guardianship, it has suffered repeated damage and no longer exists. Only a temple bell is preserved at Huashi Town’s Zijingshan School.