Wufeng Mountain

Wufeng Mountain

Wufeng Mountain is located 3 kilometers south of Jiantang Town in Zhongdian, with its summit at an altitude of 3,695 meters. Revered as a "sacred mountain" by the Tibetan people, Wufeng Mountain has been well-preserved in terms of its ecology and vegetation. The mountain is home to tall and majestic fir, spruce, and Yunnan pine trees, as well as gracefully shaped rhododendrons. Every year in May and June, Wufeng Mountain is at its most beautiful—lush grass and singing birds thrive at the foot of the mountain, while a myriad of flowers bloom, and the rhododendrons on the mountain shine in dazzling splendor. The annual Plateau Herders' Festival is held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The area around Wufeng Mountain bustles with excitement, as brightly dressed youths and maidens stroll gracefully across the grasslands, and elders with silver hair joyfully dance the Guozhuang.

The ecology and vegetation on Wufeng Mountain are remarkably well-preserved. Towering spruce, fir, and Yunnan pine trees stand proudly, while rhododendrons display their graceful forms. Under the shrubs, a variety of grasses flourish, and delicate white birch trees grow vigorously. Not a single blade of grass or tree on the mountain has ever been disturbed. Each year, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the best horse riders from the plateau Tibetan communities are selected to compete here, making it the liveliest and most beautiful time of the year on Wufeng Mountain. The grasslands burst into a riot of colors as youths and maidens in festive attire wander through the sea of flowers, colorful tents dot the mountain hollows, and elderly Tibetans gather around bonfires to dance the Guozhuang. The sounds of song and dance continue late into the night. The entire Dragon Boat Festival Horse Racing Festival lasts for three days, completely engulfing the Zhongdian grasslands in a vast ocean of joy. The county town empties out as everyone heads to the shaded woods and rhododendron groves of Wufeng Mountain, gathering around the natural grandstands to admire the riders’ spectacular performances. The area around the racecourse is packed with cheering crowds, and the joyful people seem like a thousand phoenixes playing and dancing here.

There is a legend behind the origin of Wufeng Mountain. It is said that long ago, the Tibetan King would hold a horse racing event in Lhasa every year. Riders from Jiantang (Zhongdian) failed several times and were mocked by the Tibetan King, who even declared that if they lost again, they would have to pay double taxes. At that time, a young man named Nazhududan from Jiantang was determined to bring honor to his hometown. He set up a tent at the foot of Wufeng Mountain and spent day and night training and taming horses. After years of hard work, he finally mastered the skills and went on to win first place in the Lhasa competition. When the Tibetan King asked Nazhududan what he wanted as a reward, he replied that he only wished for the exemption of Jiantang from the heavy tax burden. The Tibetan King agreed. To commemorate Nazhududan’s achievement, the people of Jiantang built a pavilion on Wufeng Mountain, erected a statue of him galloping on horseback, and decided to hold the horse racing festival annually on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month at the foot of Wufeng Mountain.

Today, the Dragon Boat Festival is no longer just a horse racing event but has evolved into a cultural and arts festival on the grasslands of Shangri-La. During the festival, various cultural and economic activities are held, including theatrical performances, folk singing competitions, ethnic costume exhibitions, and trade fairs. The May festival is playing an irreplaceable role in the opening-up of Diqing.