Puneng Mountain

Puneng Mountain

Puneng Mountain is a national scenic area and a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

The Puneng Mountain Scenic Area is the largest pristine secondary forest scenic zone closest to a city in China. Located 22 kilometers northwest of Duyun City, it is the source of the Qingtang River, the main tributary of the Jian River. Covering a total area of 80 square kilometers, the main peak of Puneng Mountain stands at an elevation of 1,961 meters, towering majestically among the Miaoling mountain range. As it has the highest elevation in Qiannan Prefecture, it is honored as the “No. 1 Mountain in Qiannan.” With its majestic mountains, serene valleys, beautiful forests, and pristine waters, the area’s excellent ecological environment forms a vast wildlife gene pool. Based on its scenic features and aesthetic value, the Puneng Mountain Scenic Area is divided into the main peak landscape, the Huguang River Canyon landscape, the Mayao River Canyon landscape, and the Gujiang landscape. The scenic resources of Puneng Mountain are of extremely high ornamental, tourism, and scientific research value, making it the most magnificent component of the Duyun–Jian River Scenic Area in Guizhou. It was awarded the title of AAA-level scenic spot by the National Tourism Administration on December 19, 2007.

The main peak of Puneng Mountain resembles a bird's head, rising boldly into the sky and looking like an eagle soaring through the air. Most of the mountain above 1,600 meters is often shrouded in clouds, which hover about 200–300 meters above the ridgeline, resembling an old man wearing a straw hat—hence the name “Puneng Mountain,” meaning “cloak mountain,” derived from the phrase “the cloak rises straight out of the floating clouds.” To the west of Puneng Mountain lies Luohan Mountain, with an elevation of about 1,700 meters; to the east, it is flanked by Jian Mountain and Raochongpo, forming the gateway to the main peak.

Puneng Mountain features a geological structure of a gently sloping, east–west oriented syncline basin, characterized by a tableland-style mountain terrain. The winding mountain ridges are lined with nine tableland peaks over 1,700 meters in elevation, including Bian Dan Mountain and Qitoupo. The surrounding cliffs are steep and layered, with some precipices reaching 600–700 meters high on the side facing Guiding’s Tiesuoyan. The sight of “precarious cliffs on the verge of collapse and jagged rock pillars reaching into the sky” captures the rugged grandeur of the mountains.

The central area of Puneng Mountain is a well-preserved high-altitude basin, oval-shaped and stretching east–west, covering approximately 40 square kilometers. It boasts tens of thousands of acres of dense, continuous natural broadleaf forests, making it a rare destination for both scientific exploration and sightseeing. Whether hiking through ancient woods, bamboo seas, viewing alpine lakes, admiring azaleas, or reaching the summit for panoramic views, visitors are always left in awe.

Puneng Mountain is rich in flora and fauna. The mountain is home to over 5,000 species of plants and animals, resembling a natural wildlife specimen library. There are 124 families of seed plants, including 75 species of woody plants, and 12 types of nationally protected trees (Classes I and II). A total of 140 bird species and 39 mammal species have been identified, including 16 Class I and II protected animals such as clouded leopards and serows. Due to minimal human interference, Puneng Mountain retains its pristine natural scenery and ecological environment, making it an ideal choice for biological research, plateau expeditions, and eco-tourism.

Address: Chayuan Road, Duyun City, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province

Opening Hours:

7:00-18:00

Ticket:

Ticket: 40 RMB

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Scenic Areas