Urumqi Hongshan Park

Urumqi Hongshan Park

Urumqi Hongshan Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Hongshan is situated in the heart of Urumqi, on the east bank of the Urumqi River, lying east to west like a giant dragon. Its proud dragon head extends toward the river, with steep cliffs that create a majestic atmosphere. At an elevation of 910.6 meters, the mountain is imposing and spectacular. Because the western cliff face is dark reddish-brown, it is called Hongshan. With its prominent location and extraordinary mountain form, it was regarded as a "sacred mountain" by ancient people.

At the mountaintop stands an over 8-meter-high nine-story solid gray brick pagoda. Facing the pagoda on Yama Mountain (Yamalik Mountain) across the way, the two are collectively known as the "Dragon-Suppressing Pagodas." Historical records say that in 1785 and 1786, the Urumqi River flooded for two consecutive years. Superstitious people at the time believed this was caused by two evil dragons that flew down from Yaochi (the Jade Pool) and turned into Hongshan and Yaomo Mountain (Yamalik Mountain), creating havoc. They also claimed the two mountains were about to merge, turning Urumqi into a vast ocean. In the 53rd year of the Qianlong reign (1788), the Urumqi Commander-in-Chief Shang’an built a pagoda on each mountain to suppress the evil dragons. The Hongshan Pagoda has withstood over 200 years of wind and rain erosion and still stands intact atop the cliff.

In the past, Hongshan was a barren, treeless hill. Starting in 1958, soldiers and civilians of all ethnic groups in Urumqi chiseled rocks to replace soil, built water channels, planted trees, constructed bridges and roads, and developed garden landscapes. Year after year, they transformed Hongshan into a beautiful park. It officially opened in May 1985. Today, it is covered with lush trees, fragrant flowers, birds singing, with smooth paths, babbling streams, and well-placed scenic spots, offering visitors the feeling of “enjoying mountain and water views without leaving the city, and experiencing forest and spring ambiance while staying in the urban area.” The park covers an area of 870 mu. Within the park are more than ten scenic spots with classical legends and modern charm, such as "Pagoda Silhouetted Against Setting Sun," "Tiger Head Red Cliff," "Ancient Tower Stargazing," "Dragon Fountain," "Monument to Martyrs," "Double Welcoming Guests," "Buddhist Temple Mist," "Distant Sacrifice Altar," "Hongshan Waterfall," "Forest Boardwalk," "Amazing Zodiac," "Taibai Cliff Cave," and "Thousand Trees Soaring."

Stepping through the innovatively designed park gate, the first thing you see is a powerful stone sculpture with lifelike figures. The inscription on it bears the words of Comrade Wang Enmao: “The afforestation by our predecessors brings happiness to future generations.” It commemorates the immortal achievements of Urumqi’s multi-ethnic soldiers and civilians who united and struggled for decades to green Hongshan. Further ahead lies the rippling clear waters of Qingshui Lake. Bridges and pavilions in the lake complement each other beautifully. Willow and peach trees along the shore sway and are reflected in the water, resembling the scenery of southern China. Amid gentle ripples, little boats drift with couples gently rowing, creating a uniquely charming scene. On the north shore of the lake, the steep red cliff sees the Hongshan Waterfall cascade straight down, as if breaking through the vast misty waves. The waterfall is 9 meters wide, drops 18 meters, and has a flow rate of 12 cubic meters per second. Inside the water curtain are several caves of various shapes, with stone monkeys inside that appear vividly lifelike with gleaming eyes, forming a remarkably realistic water curtain cave.

Going upward along the path, a wide, straight staircase leads directly to the mountaintop viewing platform, the Yuan-Tiao Tower. The over 330 steps, each more than four meters wide, are paved with red sandstone slabs. Tall elms provide shade on both sides, while slopes are filled with fragrant lilacs, elm-leaf roses, and roses. The pagoda, resting pavilions, and music pavilions are tucked among the green trees, as if floating on waves of green, evoking the feeling of a forest boardwalk. Upon reaching the viewing tower, you enter another world. A couplet on the red pillars of the south gate reads: “Soaring high into the clouds, the panoramic view of the border city unfolds before your eyes; gazing upward, the heavenly lake and snow-capped mountains remain etched in your heart.” This truly reflects the experience of ascending the tower. Looking into the distance, the Tianshan Mountains stretch continuously, with undulating peaks, and the Bogda Peak shrouded in mist rises into the sky. Looking down at the city, streets are lined with lush greenery and vibrant flowers, bustling with people and vehicles in a lively scene. “Tiger Head Red Cliff” is a cliff formed by crustal movements in the Middle Ages, resembling a roaring tiger raising its head forward. Qing Dynasty scholar Ji Xiaolan wrote: “The ethereal sacred mountain is beyond reach; every year I only worship the Tiger Head Peak.” The Tiger Head Peak is the Hongshan Mouth. On a clear day, when the setting sun shines from the west, the entire peak glows red, as if a mythical divine light appears or a heavenly paradise has shifted to Hongshan. This is one of Urumqi’s Eight Scenic Spots — “Pagoda Silhouetted Against Setting Sun.”

Descending from the Hongshan Pagoda, you’ll come across a full-body white marble statue of Lin Zexu. Lin Zexu was a great patriot and an outstanding hero in modern Chinese history who resisted foreign aggression. The sound of cannon fire in 1840 marked the beginning of modern Chinese history. The great patriot Lin Zexu led the struggle against this aggression. “If it benefits the nation, I will risk life and death; why avoid misfortune or seek fortune?” At a time when the nation faced crisis, Lin Zexu disregarded personal gains and losses, launched the anti-opium movement, called on the people to resist foreign invaders, and made immortal contributions to the country and the nation. In 1842, Lin Zexu was dismissed and exiled to Xinjiang, but he remained unshaken in his resolve to resist humiliation and uphold national unity. During his time in Xinjiang, he contributed significantly to promoting frontier development and ethnic unity. Gazing at the statue, Lin appears with furrowed brows, deep in contemplation, solemnly standing as if recounting the hardships of a nation and earnestly advising us to remember historical lessons and strive for the rejuvenation of China. On the side of the statue is inscribed one of Lin Zexu’s poems: “Let me sing wildly, and lie drunk on the Hongshan Mouth; where the wind blows strong, wine splashes like scales.”

Walking along the mountain path, you’ll see trees in all kinds of forms, lush green shades, and flowers everywhere. The green space in the park covers 58 hectares, with a green coverage rate of 97.46%. What was once a barren, treeless hill is now a beautiful scene with flowers in spring, shade in summer, fruit in autumn, and greenery in winter. The era described in the poem by poet Xiao Xiong, “Flowers transplanted from inland, half too fearful of the cold to bloom,” has become history.

The ancient temple complex on Hongshan was first built around the 44th year of the Qianlong reign (1799), originally consisting of the Great Buddha Temple, Jade Emperor Temple, and Kṣitigarbha Temple. During temple fairs, all temples were open, staging operas and holding grand sacrificial ceremonies, with endless streams of worshippers. Unfortunately, these historic sites were burned down before liberation. To protect cultural relics and enhance the landscape, the “Great Buddha Temple” was later restored on Hongshan. The temple’s Mahavira Hall and Scripture Depository are grand and magnificent, resplendent and full of life-like Buddha statues. Lush greenery surrounds the left and right wing rooms in front of the hall, with blooming flowers and a tranquil environment. When you need a rest, the “Dragon Spring Pavilion” nestled in the green trees welcomes you. It is a reception room blending Chinese and Western styles with elegant decor. Outside, peculiar Taihu rocks line the pool edge, with a raised platform supporting a Flying Pavilion. A green stone dragon carved by the pond’s edge spouts clear water from its mouth, churning in the winding pool. A white marble statue of a young woman drawing water looks delightful. The pool overflows, and water cascades down in a three-tiered waterfall for dozens of meters, making a splashing sound with silver droplets flying, resembling blooming snow lotuses from afar — a truly beautiful sight. Resting in the pavilion, sipping fragrant tea, tasting sweet and crisp fruits, and enjoying the mountain-water scenery is truly refreshing.

If you truly can’t bear to leave, then beneath the Dragon Spring Pavilion, hidden in the greenery, the refined and elegant Luxiyuan Garden Hotel, which integrates dining, lodging, and sightseeing, awaits your visit. Hongshan has witnessed the tremendous changes in Urumqi and greets countless visitors with its unique scenery and beautiful environment. It will embrace domestic and international guests with an even more beautiful and enchanting presence. Scenic Views of Hongshan Park

Hongshan Pagoda

The shape of Hongshan resembles a giant dragon lying east to west, with its proud dragon head stretching toward the Urumqi River. Built atop Hongshan, Hongshan Park is a rare mountain park in China.

Hongshan Park is a true testament to the decades of unity and hard work by Urumqi’s multi-ethnic soldiers and civilians in greening the barren mountain. In the past, Hongshan was a barren, treeless hill. Starting in 1958, the Urumqi municipal government called on all ethnic groups and soldiers to chisel rocks, replace soil, build water channels, plant trees, construct roads and bridges, and develop garden landscapes, transforming Hongshan Park into a beautiful park. Comrade Wang Enmao once inscribed the words: “The afforestation by our predecessors brings happiness to future generations.”

To commemorate the achievements of people of all ethnicities in greening Hongshan, the municipal government specially built the “Greening Hongshan” stone sculpture. The fame of Hongshan Park also stems from its profound cultural heritage. There are three versions of the legend about the Hongshan Pagoda: The first says that in ancient times, Urumqi was an ocean, and two evil dragons flew from the Heavenly Lake to stir up trouble. After the sea receded, the two dragons turned into Hongshan and Yaomo Mountain (Yamalik Mountain). The then Commander-in-Chief Shang’an petitioned to build pagodas, so one “Dragon-Suppressing Pagoda” was built on each mountain to suppress the mountains and waters, protect the city, and ensure peace for the people. The second legend says that in the 18th century, the Urumqi River at the foot of Hongshan suffered from consecutive years of flooding...

The people believed the two evil dragons from Yaochi that turned into Hongshan and Yaomo Mountain were causing the disasters, so pagodas were built on each mountain to suppress them. The third legend says that during the Zhou Dynasty, the Queen Mother of the West held a Peach Banquet at Yaochi. During the banquet, the Queen Mother raced her cloud-scented chariot, drawn by the Green Flame Dragon and the Red Scale Dragon, against the Bronze Chariot driven by King Mu of Zhou, pulled by divine horses. When the Queen Mother lost, she angrily banished the two dragons to the bottom of Yaochi Lake. After a thousand years of practice, the two dragons turned into today’s Hongshan and Yaomo Mountain. In the 53rd year of Qianlong’s reign, during a severe drought, the two dragons attempted to merge and block the Urumqi River. The then Commander-in-Chief of Urumqi, Shang’an, learned of this and asked Taoist priests to build pagodas on the two mountaintops to suppress the demons.

A unique highlight of Hongshan Park is the “Pagoda Silhouetted Against Setting Sun.” The Hongshan Pagoda was built in 1788, stands 10.6 meters tall, and is a hexagonal nine-story solid blue brick pagoda. Having withstood over 200 years of weathering, it remains intact atop the cliff, making it a unique sight in Urumqi. “Pagoda Silhouetted Against Setting Sun” is the first of the old Eight Scenic Spots of Urumqi. When the setting sun shines on the Tiger Head Cliff, the entire cliff glows red, as if a mythical divine light appears or a heavenly paradise has shifted to Hongshan. Under the afterglow of the sunset, the pagoda casts a long, slanting shadow, presenting a captivating charm — hence the name “Pagoda Silhouetted Against Setting Sun.”

Address: No. 40, North 1st Alley, Hongshan Road, Urumqi City

Phone: 0991-8855671