Magu Fairyland

Magu Fairyland

Magu Fairyland is located at the foot of Tianzhu Peak. Legend has it that it was where Magu, a maid of Lady Wei from Mount Heng, celebrated her mistress’s birthday. Employing landscaping techniques such as “carving scenery from rocks, creating views with water, opening paths to reveal vistas, and adding charm with trees,” Magu Fairyland has become a true earthly paradise. Major attractions include Magu Celebrating Birthday, Red Pearl Pavilion, Peach-Stealing Rock, Crouching Tiger Rock, and Lingzhi Fountain. The Lingzhi Fountain consists of a Lingzhi Spring and a swimming pool. This artificially created fountain gathers mountain spring water and sprays it out in a spectacular display, making it an ideal spot for sunbathing and forest bathing.

Walking about 1 kilometer west from Banshan Pavilion will bring you to Magu Fairyland. Magu is a legendary female immortal who, in preparation for celebrating the Queen Mother of the West’s birthday on the third day of the third lunar month, picks lingzhi mushrooms on Mount Heng every year to brew wine, then flies to heaven to offer the wine to the Queen Mother.

Going west past an arched bridge and a bamboo pavilion, you’ll see a flat bridge with a three-tiered waterfall beneath it—this is the famous Red Pearl Waterfall. Further up, you’ll find the Red Pearl Pool, which, according to legend, is where Magu brewed her wine. A statue stands in Red Pearl Pool: the fairy perched on the rock, holding a peach and a jug, with a celestial deer by her side, looks as if she is about to fly to the heavens.

The natural scenery of Magu Fairyland is incredibly beautiful. Walk along the stream into the woods, where fragrant wildflowers bloom and green shade abounds. Visitors here can’t help but marvel at the wonders of nature. Other sights in the area include Crouching Tiger Rock and Monkey Rock.

In addition, there is Lingzhi Spring adjacent to Magu Fairyland, consisting of a Lingzhi Fountain and a swimming pool. The Lingzhi Spring features a giant artificial lingzhi sculpture from which spring water gushes.

It’s worth mentioning that the legend of Magu celebrating the Queen Mother’s birthday is also the origin of an ancient Chinese saying: in the phrase “May your fortune be as boundless as the Eastern Sea, and your life as enduring as the Southern Mountain,” the “Southern Mountain” refers specifically to Mount Heng in southern China (commonly known as the “Southern Mountain”). Mount Heng is also honored as the “Mountain of Longevity.”

Transportation

Magu Fairyland is situated at the foot of Tianzhu Peak within the Mount Heng Scenic Area, approximately 60 kilometers from Hengyang City.

You can walk or take the scenic area’s sightseeing bus. Sightseeing bus fees (including cable car): uphill 45 RMB, downhill 45 RMB, round trip 80 RMB. Operating hours: 7:00–17:30, subject to seasonal adjustments.

Opening Hours

Open all day

Location

Within the Mount Heng Scenic Area, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, about 1 kilometer west of Banshan Pavilion.