Nanshan in Yingde

Nanshan in Yingde

Hike up East Ridge along a winding path, with a sheer cliff hundreds of meters high on the left and “Nanshan Pool” at the foot of the cliff, while the right side is dotted with oddly shaped rocks. Nanshan is located by the Beijiang River in Yingde, with a nine-story Wenbi Pagoda from the Ming Dynasty standing on the opposite bank, together forming one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Yingde — “Pagoda Reflections over Nanshan.” The main attractions are on the riverside section of East Ridge, where you’ll find sites such as the Powa Hall and the Reading the Book of Changes Pavilion. This area boasts abundant cliff inscriptions, with over 70 stone carvings preserved from the Tang to the Qing dynasties, among which the inscriptions by Su Dongpo and Mi Fu are the most precious and have been listed as provincial-level key cultural relics under protection. Along the winding path up East Ridge, with a sheer cliff hundreds of meters high on the left and “Nanshan Pool” at the foot of the cliff, while the right side is dotted with oddly shaped rocks, you’ll pass by the Zhongle Pavilion and Feixia Ridge. At the mountaintop overlooking the river stands a two-story pavilion called “Xunfeng Pavilion.” Legend has it that Emperor Shun once played the zither and performed the melody “Looking at the Goose” here, while reciting the poem “Xunfeng.” A mountain path below the pavilion leads to the main peak, Mingxian Peak, where you can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Yingzhou. Locals especially favor ascending this peak during the Chongyang Festival, not only to take in the beautiful scenery but also to invoke the auspicious phrase “May your life be as enduring as Nanshan.” The terrain here is rugged, so it’s best to go with a guide.