Liaoyang Dahei Mountain

Liaoyang Dahei Mountain

Dahei Mountain is located 2.3 kilometers northeast of Jizhaoshan Village, Tianshui Manchu Township, Liaoyang County, in the southeastern part of Liaoyang City. It borders Benxi City to the north, Fengcheng City of Dandong to the east, Xiuyan County of Anshan City to the south, and lies over 70 kilometers from Anshan. The main peak, Tianqiao Peak, has an elevation of 1,181.2 meters and is the highest point within Liaoyang City, standing opposite Baiyun Mountain, which rises 1,177 meters above sea level in Fengcheng City, Dandong. It was hailed by ancient people as “a scenic wonder in the southeast corner of Liaodong,” and one poem praised Dahei Mountain, saying: “Adorned with rosy clouds and dressed in jade, the mountain range looms heavy near Liaoyang.”

Dahei Mountain was formed over the long geological ages through multiple tectonic movements. The surrounding mountain ranges connect to the Changbai Mountains and stretch over a hundred li from the northeast to the southwest, forming overlapping peaks and hidden ridges that make up the backbone of the Liaodong Peninsula.

The mountain runs from north to south, covering an area of approximately 28 square kilometers, with a vegetation coverage rate of over 90%. It is one of the most well-preserved areas of pristine secondary forest in Liaoning Province. From below, the towering peaks, misty clouds, dense shrubs, and lush undergrowth create a verdant and picturesque landscape that remains beautiful all year round.

There is a myth about these overlapping mountains—legend has it that long ago, Yang Erlang’s mother was falsely accused by the Dragon King of the East Sea and was crushed under a great mountain. To avenge her, Yang Erlang used his magical whip to drive the mountains toward the East Sea to fill it up, leaving the Dragon King nowhere to hide. The Dragon King then used his powers to submerge the mountains beneath Yang Erlang’s feet. In response, Yang Erlang chopped off the top of a mountain with his axe and placed it under his feet—that is the present-day Dahei Mountain. The Dragon King transformed into a small snake and stole the tip of Yang Erlang’s whip while he slept at night. With his divine power gone, Yang Erlang could no longer drive the mountains any further, so those he had moved remained forever in the eastern part of Liaoyang, forming the mountain range seen today.