Panxian Danxia Mountain

Panxian Danxia Mountain

Located in Shuitang Town, 20 km south of Panxian County’s Chengguan Town, this mountain stands at an elevation of 1,888 meters. Its solitary peak rises majestically, exuding a grand and awe-inspiring atmosphere. At the summit lies a temple known as Huguo Temple, which was initially built during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli era. After several renovations during the Qing Dynasty, it has grown into a sizable complex. To this day, Danxia Mountain remains a place of thriving religious activity. Every March, during the "Dan Shan" pilgrimage, devotees from Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and various countries in Southeast Asia come here to worship, making it an important center for Buddhist activities in the province.

A special viewing pavilion, the Guanri Tower, was built specifically for tourists to watch the sunrise. The sight is extraordinarily unique and spectacular, giving the impression that Danxia Mountain embodies the very essence of nature’s spirit to create such a marvelous wonder. Visiting Guizhou without entering Fengcheng or climbing Danxia Mountain would truly be a great regret in life.

Scenic Features

At the mountaintop sits Huguo Temple. Originally constructed during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli period as a Taoist “Xuandian Palace,” it was destroyed in warfare in the fourth year of the Tianqi era (1624), and the Taoist priests who built it vanished without a trace. In the fourth year of the Tianqi era, Haiyu (also known as "Bumei," originally named Jin, a native of Anhui), a former Ming Dynasty general, devoted over a decade of hard work to rebuild the site. Under his efforts, the temple began to take shape, and he is regarded as the founding patriarch of Danxia Mountain. In the eleventh year of the Chongzhen era (1638), the famed geographer and travel explorer Xu Xiake personally visited Danxia Mountain for research. Accompanied by Monk Yingxiu, Xu Xiake studied the area’s mountains, rivers, culture, and transportation, documenting these findings in detail in his book, “The Travels of Xu Xiake,” greatly increasing Danxia Mountain’s fame throughout China.

Customs and Traditions

Danxia Mountain continues to attract throngs of worshippers. Every March during the “Dan Shan” pilgrimage, devotees from Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and various Southeast Asian countries come to pay homage, making it an important center for Buddhist events in Guizhou Province.

Local Specialties

Kiwifruit, ginger tea, mutton noodles, grilled potato hotpot, rice tofu, buckwheat jelly, “Shuicheng Chun” natural selenium-rich tea, siwawa (folded snacks), mutton noodles, Panxian handmade noodles, Panxian lotus leaf glutinous rice chicken, Kangjia crispy pork noodle soup, chestnuts, vein-leaved oak, oak acorns, ferns, firethorn berries, wild tea trees, bitter tea, star anise, Sichuan pepper, palm leaves, and more.