Yunyang Mountain in Chaling

Yunyang Mountain in Chaling

Yunyang Mountain in Chaling is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national forest park.

Situated at the junction of Hunan and Jiangxi provinces within the Luoxiao Mountain Range’s Wugong Mountain System, Yunyang Mountain comprises several major peaks such as Yunyang Mountain, Tiantang Mountain, Yangliu Mountain, and Yan Yingzui. The highest peak, Tiantang Mountain, reaches an altitude of 1,130 meters, and the lowest point, Xianrenwan, is at 110 meters, with a relative elevation difference of over 1,000 meters. The mountain features four distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, no harsh winters, and no scorching summers. Its diverse terrain presents notable variations. Around Yunyangxian at elevations of over 500 meters, summer temperatures remain around 25°C. With its pleasant forest climate, it serves as an ideal destination for tourists seeking to escape the heat, relax, and enjoy leisure. Yunyang Mountain boasts deep valleys and crisscrossing streams, with more than ten large and small creeks. The Mi River, a first-order tributary of the Xiang River, flows through the park for 15 kilometers with an average annual flow rate of 134.57 cubic meters per second, allowing year-round navigation.

Yunyang Mountain boasts profound cultural heritage and stunning natural scenery, where human landscapes blend seamlessly with natural wonders. Here, visitors can admire seventy-two peaks, view ten spiritual rock formations, pay homage to the founding sage of Mount Tai, and bask in the divine radiance of Taoism and Buddhism.

Yunyang Mountain is the ancient fief of Shennong. According to ancient texts such as the *Hanxue Tang Silk Manuscripts* and *Huangfu Ji*, the mountain was named after the Yellow Emperor’s son Shaohao, the Yunyang Clan, who was enfeoffed here. It was also the fief of the eighth-generation Flame Emperor, Shennong. The progenitor of the Chinese nation, Shennong, promoted agriculture, cultivated grains, tasted herbs, picked tea leaves, and left behind sacred sites on Yunyang Mountain such as the Prayer for Abundance Platform, Herbal Washing Pool, Herb Drying Ground, Medicine Grinding Trough, Alchemy Furnace, and Shennong Hall. In 1986, carbonized rice grains over 6,000 years old unearthed from the Duling’ao Daxi Culture Site at the southern foot of Yunyang Mountain provided strong evidence of Shennong’s legendary “slash-and-burn” farming teachings here.

Yunyang Mountain is a sacred site for Taoism and Buddhism. As early as the Northern and Southern Dynasties, religious activities flourished here. In the second year of the Liang Dynasty’s Tianjian era (503), Buddhist missionaries built the Chongfu Temple on the eastern foothills of Yunyang Mountain. During the Datong era (535–545), a man named Rao Daoheng, under the tutelage of the Purple Star Immortal, constructed the Yunyangxian Taoist Temple on the mountain. Since then, Taoists and monks have flocked here to practice, meditate, and build temples. In the early Tang Dynasty, Yunyang Mountain was once honored as the Southern Sacred Mountain, earning the nickname “Ancient Southern Sacred Mountain.” For over 1,500 years, it has been revered by Taoism and Buddhism as a blessed land for seclusion and longevity. Today, the sole nationally unique Chisongxian Taoist Temple, named after the immortal Chisongzi, stands at the eastern entrance. The northern entrance hosts the Buddhist Ziyun Temple. On the eastern foothills of Ziwu Peak, the Ancient Southern Sacred Mountain Palace (Yunyangxian) and Baiyun Temple have alternated between serving as Buddhist temples and Taoist shrines, even coexisting as shared spaces. The mountain’s prime geographical location and thriving Taoist and Buddhist cultures have created an enduring ambiance of drifting clouds, resonant bells, and continuous incense.

Yunyang Mountain is a sacred peak of Confucianism. Blessed with inspiring landscapes, it has long been an ideal place for scholars to study and seek enlightenment. Throughout history, students have frequented its temples and monasteries to immerse themselves in learning. Ancient institutions like the Ziwu Academy were established here, along with others such as Xiyai, Xunle, Xichou, Fanyue, Youxue, and Longhu at the mountain’s base. Consequently, two of the twelve jinshi (imperial examination top scorers) from Chaling’s history—two zhuangyuan (number one scholars) and one bangyan (number two scholar)—hailed from the foothills of Yunyang Mountain. Countless literati have left behind poetic masterpieces on the mountain, infusing it with a rich scholarly aura. Renowned Song Dynasty poet Huang Tingjian, Ming Dynasty leader of the “Chaling Poetry School” Li Dongyang, the famous traveler Xu Xiake, and Tan Yankai, former Chairman of the Nationalist Government, all visited Yunyang Mountain, leaving behind celebrated works. Yunyang Mountain is a heavenly paradise. With seventy-two connected peaks spanning seventy square li, the area features towering summits, crimson cliffs bathed in rosy clouds, cascading waterfalls like hanging silk, serene deep valleys, and ancient caves hiding wonders. The lush and majestic Ziwu Peak, also the best vantage point, offers views across three counties—earning its reputation as the “One Peak Overlooking Three Counties.” The Southern Sacred Mountain Palace, Chisongxian, and Baiyun Temple, nestled among bamboo groves, exude a serene and mystical charm, resembling traditional ink paintings of “ancient temples hidden in deep mountains.” On rainy days, they transform into scenes of “misty green hills and pavilions veiled in drizzle.” The Shigu Valley winds through secluded, steep, and perilous terrain with murmuring springs. The Luohan Cave Gorge features cascading waterfalls, verdant forests, and abundant crimson cliffs and emerald walls. The Laojun Rock Valley conceals tranquility amid peculiar rocks. The Guanyin Rock formation showcases massive stones stacked high, suspended and perforated. The Wulei Pool holds a crystal-clear spring of unique hue. The Mahaye Cave presents karst landscapes in countless forms, with stalactites and stalagmites described as “luminous and jade-like, hanging like inverted lotuses, their patterns intricately carved and shapes dancing”—alluring countless historical literati to explore, compose poetry, and paint. Figures such as Song Dynasty poet Huang Tingjian, Ming Dynasty leader of the “Chaling Poetry School” Li Dongyang, the renowned traveler Xu Xiake, and Tan Yankai have all left behind famous works about Yunyang Mountain. Yunyang Mountain is a natural oxygen bar. With its pristine ecological environment, breathtaking scenery, and fresh air, the mountain meets the highest standards for atmospheric and surface water quality. A rich diversity of flora and fauna thrives here, with precious animals often seen in streams and valleys, and various tree species forming lush forest landscapes. As a natural oxygen bar with exceptionally high negative ion levels, it is an ideal retreat for health, longevity, and spiritual cultivation.

In December 2008, Yunyang Mountain successfully passed the evaluation and acceptance by experts from the National Tourism Administration, earning the national AAAA-level tourist attraction designation. In 2009, the mountain pre-applied for recognition as a provincial scenic area, nature reserve, and geopark.

1. Yunyang Mountain Taoist Temple (Ancient Southern Sacred Mountain Palace)

Originally built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it was reconstructed in the tenth year of the Song Chunxi era (1183) as the Yunyangxian Taoist Temple, with founding patriarch Chen Shanzong. In the late Southern Song Dynasty, it was converted into the Ziwu Academy. During the Ming Dynasty, it was successively renamed Yunyang Temple, Jingzhong Academy, and Yunyangxian Taoist Temple, eventually settling as the Yunyangxian Taoist Temple. During the Cultural Revolution, most statues were destroyed during the “Smash the Four Olds” campaign. In 1989, partial structures such as the Ancient Southern Sacred Mountain Palace, Cihang Hall, Sanguan Hall, and the mountain gate archway were restored. In 2006, the original palaces and halls were rebuilt according to Ming and Qing architectural styles. Over a thousand years, Yunyangxian has transitioned between Buddhist temple, Taoist shrine, and academy. Yet, the Southern Sacred Mountain Palace has always been central, enshrining the Southern Sacred Mountain Emperor. This unique arrangement allows the deity to share incense with Buddha, Taoist immortals, and even Confucius, coexisting harmoniously—a rare cultural phenomenon. The reason Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism all regard this site as a “fengshui treasure” is their belief that it is where Yunyang Mountain’s spiritual energy converges. Folklore adds that the Southern Sacred Mountain Emperor chose this spot for the palace, and people believe his chosen land must be “divine.” The area is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the back mountain higher and the flanking ones lower, resembling an “armchair” facing east. Legend says that a fairy, bathing in Swan Lake on Yunyang Mountain, threw three clumps of mud to form these mountains, shielding her modesty.

This adds an extra layer of “immortal charm” to the Yunyangxian Taoist Temple.

Behind and to the left of the Ancient Southern Sacred Mountain Palace lie four rock-spring attractions: the Wulei Pool, Trial Sword Rock, Guanyin Rock, and One-Line Sky. These four sites form a cohesive yet distinctive ensemble.

2. Baiyun Temple

Originally named Baiyun An and commonly called Baiyunxian, this site was an obscure mountain hermitage before the Yuan Dynasty. It rose to prominence during the Hongwu era (1368–1398) of the Ming Dynasty, attracting thriving incense offerings. The turning point came when Duan Wen, a former Yunnan garrison commander, took an interest in the location. Duan Wen, courtesy name Si Feng, was a Chaling Wei officer conscripted to Yunnan by Zhu Yuanzhang. He earned multiple military merits, was titled Mingde General, and promoted to Wude General in 1386. Legend says that during a hike up Weifeng, Duan Wen heard a loud noise near Baiyun An and saw a massive rock split from Ziwu Peak, resembling a mighty general standing on the mountainside. A local saying goes: “When Yunyang Mountain smiles, a general emerges”—with “smiles” referring to landslides in the dialect.

Startled, Duan Wen consulted Baiyun An’s monks for a divination. Receiving a top-tier fortune stick, they congratulated him: “Congratulations—the prophecy ‘Yunyang Mountain smiles, a general emerges’ will come true for you!” Though skeptical, he trusted their words. The monks explained that Ziwu Peak is Yunyang Mountain’s spiritual core, and Baiyun An sits at its base. Witnessing such a sign here meant destiny. Thus, Duan Wen vowed to rebuild Baiyun Temple if he ever achieved success.

In 1387, after retiring, Duan Wen donated 3,000 taels of silver to rebuild the temple and contributed over 400 acres of temple farmland. Baiyun Temple flourished, housing up to 200 monks at its peak. The current structure was restored in 1992 and 2008 following its original design.

The wild tea grown in front of Baiyun Temple, historically known as “Baiyun Tea,” was cherished by monks for personal use and serving guests.

3. Ziwu Peak and Prayer for Abundance Platform

At 864.7 meters, Ziwu Peak is Yunyang Mountain’s second-highest summit. Its cliffs are rugged, adorned with bizarre rocks resembling crouching, leaping, or soaring figures, while towering rock pillars flank its sides. Xu Xiake described Ziwu Peak in *Travel Diaries of the Chu Region*: “The stone cliffs tower high, with peak pinnacles standing like isolated sentinels.”

Ziwu Peak is the premier vantage point, famed for its “One Peak Overlooking Three Counties” view. To the east lies Chaling County, southward is Xiong’er Mountain in Anren, and northward is Youxian. From its summit, layered peaks stretch endlessly, a sea of emerald waves surging into view. After rain, the peaks glisten freshly, some emerging above the clouds like fairy islands. A Qing Dynasty poem by Tan Zhaohong (*Ziwu Peak*, using lines from Tang poets) vividly depicts the “Ziwu Emerald” landscape: “Looking down, all is one vast hue; the peaks seem low beneath. Day and night divide as twilight lingers; lingering rain parts the rainbow’s glow. Stone steps level the yellow earth; layered waves cradle the green stream. The heavenly path seems near; arriving guests stand level with the clouds.” To the east lies the “Miluo River Loop,” the foremost of Chaling’s Eight Scenic Spots—where the Miluo River, like silver silk descending from the sky, merges with the Wen and Chaling Rivers, embracing the county before flowing north through the Hongshan Temple Gorge. When the Wen and Chaling tributaries run slightly turbid, the “Golden Thread Hanging a Gourd” spectacle appears. By night, the mountain city’s lights twinkle alongside the river and starry sky, creating a mesmerizing scene. Some poets liken Chaling to a “Crystal Palace”: “The foremost peak of Yunyang gleams; jade-like verdure fills the gaze. Miluo flows south, then west and east, winding northward in embrace. General Yue’s city, the Crystal Palace, stands in grace.” (Yue Fei once stationed troops here, hence “General Yue’s City.”)

Ziwu Peak is also an exceptional sunrise spot. At dawn, the sea of clouds churns like a tide, and the rising sun bursts forth, its radiance seemingly within reach. It embodies the verse: “Sunlight on Ziwu, clouds brush the railing; tides surge over stone steps, dyeing robes in rosy hues.” Ming Dynasty poet Luo Mao praised the “Ziwu Morning Sun”: “The sun ascends from Fusang, seas blush red; Ziwu’s morning freshness emerges from the void. King Yu’s jade cascades sing crisp; jade-like trees cast heavy shadows. Crows bring dawn mist over fields; geese trail autumn hues across the sky. Eight directions pierce the void; it feels like Mount Penglai’s foremost peak.” Many visitors camp overnight or picnic atop Ziwu to witness its sunrise. As the second-highest peak (after Zhengyang Peak at 963.2 meters), Ziwu earns the title “Foremost Peak of Yunyang” for its majestic beauty. Beyond its scenery, its profound cultural layers enrich every rock, cave, and even its contours with legendary tales.

Address: Shibaqiu, Chengguan Town, Chaling County, Zhuzhou City

Rating: AAAA

Official Website: http://www.yunyangshan.com.cn/

Opening Hours:

8:00-17:00

Ticket:

Ticket: 75 RMB