Duping Mountain

Duping Mountain

Duping Mountain is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Also known as Nanshan, Duping Mountain is a Guangxi provincial-level scenic area and one of the famous mountains in southeastern Guangxi. It is well known for its typical Danxia landform, situated 7 kilometers from Rong County, and is the 20th of the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens according to Taoist texts. The mountain boasts remarkable landscapes such as “two caves, eight peaks, and twenty rock formations.” Renowned throughout history for its abundance of temples and spectacular scenery, the site was home to nine temples and thirteen Taoist observatories in ancient times. Notable sites include the famous Taijiyan lecture hall. Historical figures such as the Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo, statesman Li Gang, and Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake visited and left inscriptions here. Duping Mountain is a celebrated mountain that combines religious significance, cultural heritage, and natural beauty.

The mountain is composed of Tertiary "red beds." These red beds originated from inland lake basin sedimentation, primarily consisting of sandstone and conglomerate. Due to the hot and arid paleoclimate at the time, iron in the sediments oxidized into ferric iron, dyeing the rock layers purple-red or brownish-red—hence the name "red beds." Viewed from afar, the mountain resembles a crimson cloud (the name of Danxia Mountain in Renhua, Guangdong, also derives from this). This type of landform is generally referred to as Danxia landform in China. Its mountains and rocks feature a strong sense of wholeness, with textures and lines that balance hardness and softness. Compared to mountains and hills formed from granite or limestone, the scenery here is uniquely picturesque and holds high aesthetic value.

Duping Mountain rises above the Rongxiang Plain, which sits at an elevation of around 100 meters. Most of its main peaks are over 500 meters high, with Xianglu Peak reaching 743.7 meters, the highest point on the mountain. The relative elevation difference ranges from 400 to over 600 meters. The entire mountainous region features overlapping ridges and towering peaks. Especially on the northern foothills, the Danxia red cliffs appear as if cleaved by axes, standing majestically in rows from east to west. Viewed from Rongcheng to the south, the peaks stretch continuously for 8 kilometers, resembling a painted screen rising from the plain or an open desk of brushes against the southern sky. Their ever-changing appearance throughout the day creates a magnificent scene.

The red beds of Duping Mountain are rich in calcium, and during weathering and erosion, many caves often form along bedding planes. These caves develop in horizontal rows and vertical layers. Above Qingshouyan, a series of caves extend intermittently at roughly the same height, with the remnants of ancient house walls arranged neatly inside, creating the wonder of the “Seventy-Two House Wells.” On Yungai Peak, caves such as Taijiyan, Shengrenyan, and Baogaiyan are distributed from bottom to top. Houses and pavilions were built within these rocks, many of which remain well-preserved to this day. As an inscription on Baogaiyan reads: “Pavilion upon pavilion, cave atop cave.” According to incomplete statistics, there are over 300 caves of various sizes on the mountain, with more than 100 named ones. These caves are typically wider than they are deep or tall. The largest, Bulingjingyan, is 46 meters wide and about 16 meters both high and deep, capable of holding hundreds of people. The sheer number of caves on Duping Mountain is rare among Danxia landform scenic areas in China.

The mountains and rocks of Duping Mountain feature unique and vivid shapes. After weathering and erosion, the red beds have developed into distinctive landforms. For example, the Eight Peaks resemble objects such as incense burners, immortals, cooking stoves, horse saddles, and bamboo baskets—hence their names. There are even more smaller rocks and hills that resemble objects, such as Candle Piercing the Sky, Phoenix Facing the Sun, Sword Drawn from Its Sheath, Scholar’s Brush Standing Tall, Dolphin Leaping from the Sea, and Carp Jumping Over the Dragon Gate. These formations are strikingly lifelike, greatly enhancing visitors’ enjoyment. Other attractions like Immortal Bridge and Immortal’s Bed are also highly appealing.

Duping Mountain is the 20th Grotto-Heaven of Taoism in China and is rich in cultural resources with a deep historical background. As early as the Han Dynasty, figures such as Liu Gen and Hua Ziqi came to cultivate Dao here. It is said that Ge Hong of the Jin Dynasty also refined elixirs in the mountain. Bao Yuan Temple is one of the sites for Taoist activities. With the introduction of Buddhism to China, Duping Mountain also became a sacred Buddhist destination. In the Tang Dynasty, nine temples and thirteen observatories were built here at considerable scale. Lingjing Temple was a renowned monastery in ancient times. Later, in the Song Dynasty, halls were constructed in Baoyan Rock to enshrine and worship Confucius and his disciples, making Duping Mountain a place where Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism flourished together. Additionally, countless poets and scholars throughout history have praised Duping Mountain in their writings. For instance, the great Song poet Su Dongpo wrote a poem for Shao Yanfu, who was cultivating Dao in the mountain, during his visit to Rongzhou. Song Dynasty general Li Gang and Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake stayed at Lingjing Temple during their visits and left behind poems and travel records. Duping Mountain is also a treasure trove of folk literature, with many of its peculiar peaks and rocks associated with ancient and captivating legends, such as Bell and Drum Stones, Immortal’s Footprints, Tiger Head Pass, and Lampstand Illuminating the Study Terrace—all of which are fascinating. These cultural and literary resources, alongside the scenic beauty, greatly enrich the cultural essence of this famous mountain.

The development of tourism resources on Duping Mountain is currently limited to its western area, spanning approximately 4 square kilometers, which accounts for only a quarter of the entire scenic zone. This is a newly developed tourist area integrating natural landscapes with religious culture. Attractions already built include the Underground River Buddha Source Drift, a mountain-climbing sightseeing cable car, the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats, Qingshouyan Zen Temple, Monkey Mountain and Monkey Viewing Corridor, the World’s Largest Golden Buddha Character, Nanshan Pavilion, Fushou Bridge, Lotus Pond, Zigzag Bridge, and a botanical garden. The eastern and central zones—including Xianglu Peak, Danzao Peak, Xianren Peak, Douzi Peak, and Zhongfeng—are even more rugged, featuring not only some characteristics of the western area but also excelling in danger and seclusion. It is expected that after medium- to long-term development, Duping Mountain will become even more enchanting.