Shangjin Rock Paintings

Shangjin Rock Paintings

A total of 21 rock paintings have been discovered in Longzhou so far, with 20 of them located on the cliffs along the Left River (Zuojiang) in the Shangjin and Xiangshui river sections of Longzhou. The Huashan Rock Paintings of Longzhou are most densely concentrated in the river section from Jinming Village to Juanfeng Village in Shangjin Township, where as many as 14 painting sites are distributed within a stretch of less than 10 kilometers. This river section also boasts the most stunning natural scenery in the Zuojiang basin, where the Huashan Rock Paintings blend harmoniously with the area’s spectacular mountains and beautiful waters, together forming the unique Zuojiang Scenic Area.

The largest rock painting site in Longzhou County is the Mianjiang Huashan Rock Painting located in Xiangshui Town. The rock formation where these paintings are found stretches approximately 400 meters from north to south, with the main peak rising over 290 meters above the river. The riverside cliffs here are sheer and dramatic. The surviving images are mainly located on the ceilings and adjacent walls of two caves to the south and north. Excluding those that have peeled off or become indistinct, there are a total of five locations and eight groups, comprising 267 figures — including humans, deer, horses, bronze drums, pathways, and knives. The site features massive compositions and is the second-largest rock painting cluster on the Zuojiang, following only the Huashan Rock Paintings in Ningming.