Qianjiang Bamianshan

Qianjiang Bamianshan

Just hearing the name Bamianshan evokes a poetic inspiration. In fact, it is an exceptionally picturesque scenic spot in Qianjiang.

Situated to the northwest of Qianjiang City, Bamianshan spans from Huoshaoyan Meiguan Pass in the south to Fengchishan in the west and Ban Dengyan in the north, covering an area of 30 square kilometers. It is accessible from all four directions—the east, west, south, and north—and climbable from all eight sides. The area connects to Nanhai and Shihui and is now under the jurisdiction of Chengxi Subdistrict. Its highest peak, Zhongding Mountain, rises 1,720 meters above sea level, covered with lush natural vegetation and abundant rare flowers and plants. It produces valuable medicinal herbs such as gastrodia and coptis. It has long been a dream destination for travelers, attracting many who gather friends to explore and relax there throughout the year.

Historical records in the book "Fangyu Jiyao" describe it as follows: “Bamianshan is located twenty li north of the county. The mountain has eight faces, and atop it lies a pool spanning hundreds of acres that remains undried throughout the four seasons. The Damu Stream originates here.” “The mountain has eight faces, stretching for dozens of li, rising more than ten li high. Its highest point is called Zhongding Mountain. Looking around, you see vast clouds and mountains stretching endlessly. The initial ascent is steep and treacherous, but once you reach the summit, you’re greeted by open wilderness, deep valleys, sprawling wild grass, and dense forests beyond sight. There is a sheer cliff halfway up the mountain, standing over ten ren high. During the Ming Hongwu era, General Lan Yu of the Liangguo Marquisate camped here while campaigning against ethnic minorities. During the Xianfeng year of Xin You, locals sought refuge from bandits here, and the robbers repeatedly attacked but failed. Nearby are the Ziyang Cave and attractions like the Stone Drum and Stone Bell, often shrouded in clouds. When the sky clears, golden rays shine brilliantly, dazzling to the eye.”

This might be how Bamianshan got its name. Among Qianjiang’s tourist attractions, Bamianshan is definitely a place worth visiting.

In the past, vast expanses of pristine and secondary forests could be found all over Bamianshan, but most have now disappeared. The first wave of destruction came during the “Great Leap Forward” in 1958 when countless century-old and even millennium-old trees were felled and chopped up as fuel for steel production, quickly turning to ash. Then came the 1970s “Learn from Dazhai in Agriculture” campaign, where even tung and tea oil forests were not spared in the push to create “Dazhai-style fields.” Coupled with timber exports transported via rail, road, and waterways, nearly all remaining forest was cleared. Aside from a few remote and hard-to-reach areas, this immense natural wealth bestowed upon Qianjiang was squandered and auctioned off in one fell swoop. Dangerous beasts and venomous snakes have long vanished, and the pristine, mystical beauty of nature has also disappeared. It is as if a stunningly beautiful fairy had her radiant, multicolored divine robes torn off, her sparkling jewelry and ornaments stripped away, and her magical transforming treasures seized—leaving her lying bare on the ground. However, after decades of cultivation and replanting, the freshness of the mountains, the green of the trees, and the beauty of poetry are gradually returning.

You can drive to many routes and experience the alpine charm and poetic ambiance within just half an hour.

As an ancient saying goes: “A mountain need not be high; it is famous if it has an immortal. A body of water need not be deep; it is spiritual if it has a dragon.” In addition to its breathtaking scenery, Bamianshan has since ancient times been a place yearned for by poets and scholars, and it is also home to numerous historical relics, scenic spots, and legendary tales.

On the western cliffs of Bamianshan is a place called Huaya Zi, also known as the White Alum Factory. Historical records state: “During the Song Dynasty, the poet Huang Tingjian, also known as Huang Shangu, was demoted in the early Shaosheng era for the charge of ‘recording history inaccurately.’ He was appointed as the Deputy Prefect of Fuzhou and exiled to Qianzhou (present-day Pengshui County), residing at Kaiyuan Temple (now in Yushan Town, Pengshui Autonomous County). In his leisure time, Huang often dug wells with local monks and villagers for drinking water and grew vegetables together. During this time, Huang heard that there were stones in the area suitable for refining alum, so he went to investigate but left upon finding the stone quality too immature…” Today, the white sails are nowhere to be seen, but the Flower Cliff still smiles in the spring breeze. If you’re in the mood, you too can explore the area like the great Master Huang did.

Historical texts also record: “During the Ming Hongwu era, General Lan Yu of the Liangguo Marquisate was dispatched here and set up camp.” Hence, the area later became known as Guogong Cliff. In the 11th year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Taiping Army advanced from Pengshui to Qianjiang and fought a major battle at Meiguan Pass against Du Si Tan Jian. Dozens of Tan’s surviving soldiers hid near Guogong Cliff. Therefore, in the 15th year of the Guangxu reign, Zhang Jiu Zhang, then Magistrate of Qianjiang, wrote in his poem “Visiting Guogong Cliff”: “The locals all speak of this refuge from war; the cliffs of Bamianshan are high and defensible. I gaze with longing but can only sigh, for the county moves on and I cannot stay. … Seeking serenity, I fear neither tiger nor jackal; dangers and thorny thickets lie everywhere. The Ming dynasty’s land holds not an inch, yet the glorious name still points to Guogong Cliff.”

Bamianshan borders Fengchishan to the northwest. Speaking of Fengchishan, it is not only a Buddhist sacred site but also the birthplace of the shocking armed uprising led by Wen Chaozhong of the Qianjiang Tujia Tongmenghui during the Gengxu and Xinhai years, which sent shockwaves through the Qing Dynasty. “At the top of Fengchishan stands the ancient Guanyin Temple, built in the 43rd year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty. The temple has three levels, is grand in scale, houses solemn Buddha statues with majestic golden visages, and is a place of worship and pilgrimage for monks and locals from Qianjiang, Pengshui, Shizhu, and Lichuan counties. At its peak, especially during the Guanyin Temple fairs held on the 2nd, 6th, and 9th months of the lunar calendar, the paths are bustling, with thousands of visitors. At the foot of the mountain lies a large pool called Fengchi Pond, named for its deep, clear waters. Fengchishan’s terrain is steep and rugged, rising several thousand feet above the ground. In spring, mist and clouds linger for days; in winter, snow accumulates over a foot deep and lingers for months, offering exceptionally beautiful scenery.”

Because of its elevation, Bamianshan has historically been a strategic military location, and to this day, remnants of ancient battlefields remain atop the mountain.