Da Nanshan Mountain

Da Nanshan Mountain

Da Nanshan Mountain is located 26 kilometers north of Xinan Subdistrict in Sanshui, bordering Liuhe Area of Datang Town to the north and Longwangmiao Reservoir to the southeast. It serves as the boundary mountain between Sanshui and Sihui. Originally named Da Tan Mountain, it earned the name due to the presence of five ponds of varying sizes within the mountain. In the early Qing Dynasty, people from Jiaying Prefecture built a village at the foot of the mountain called Da Nan Village. Because the pronunciation of “Nan” (south) and “Tan” (pond) are similar, the name was eventually changed to its current form. Da Nanshan has now been rated as one of the New Eight Scenic Spots of Sanshui, known as “Verdant Beauty of Nanshan.”

It is a gem within the Liuhe Eco-Tourism Area. The biggest highlight of Da Nanshan is that it lies on the Tropic of Cancer, making it the only mountainous area in Foshan situated on this line. Its main peak, Tianxintang, stands at an elevation of 547 meters, making it the second highest peak in the region. The entire mountain area is lush and verdant. It is home to rare wildlife and plants such as figs, mud snails, grilled fish, forest frogs, and stone frogs.

Most captivating are the mountain’s waters and streams. They converge from gullies all around and, upon reaching the first pond at an altitude of 300 meters, suddenly cascade down steep cliffs like a silver river falling from the sky — a truly majestic sight. The pool below is icy cold, referred to by locals as the Dragon Pool. The overflowing water flows down along the mountain slopes, forming clear, bubbling streams flanked by dense tree cover. Even in the height of summer, the area feels cool and refreshing, making it a place visitors never want to leave.

Da Nanshan is more rugged and pristine than Xiqiao Mountain, but unfortunately, it lies in a remote area and has not been effectively developed or promoted, thus remaining relatively unknown. The sunrise and sunset here are extraordinarily beautiful, making it a great spot for watching the sun rise or set from a high vantage point. Looking at the world map, most landscapes along the Tropic of Cancer are typically deserts or grasslands with sparse vegetation. However, Southeast Asia features evergreen broadleaf forests, full of lush greenery. This difference is due to variations in continental positioning and atmospheric circulation. Da Nanshan is located within the rare green geographical landscape of the Tropic of Cancer, with a vegetation coverage rate of 80%, hills covering 50% of the area, and water bodies accounting for 11%. It boasts an outstanding ecological environment and stunningly diverse natural scenery.