Honey Mountain Scenic Area

　　Honey Mountain Scenic Area. Located in the southeastern part of Mishan City (county-level) in Jixi, Heilongjiang Province. Accessible via the Fangzheng–Hulin and Jixi–Tumen highways, as well as National Highway 201. It is 130 kilometers from downtown Jixi. This is a natural scenic area dominated by forests and wetlands. The formation of Honey Mountain can be traced back to the initial stages of the Xingkai Lake basin, having undergone multiple cycles of expansion and contraction. The central uplift zone eventually emerged above water, and during the Quaternary period, primarily shaped by tectonic movements, mountains ultimately formed in the northern part of the basin. The main peak of Honey Mountain stands at an elevation of 574 meters, rising prominently above the surrounding hills, with steep slopes and dense forests extending for dozens of kilometers.

　　Honey Mountain is covered with dense forests and dotted with uniquely shaped rocks on its summit, displaying naturally exquisite craftsmanship and breathtaking landscapes. Notable sights include Camel Peak, Axe-Cleft Valley, Immortal’s Bed, Arhat Rocks, Lake-Viewing Pine, Ancient Plank Path, and Cross-Shaped Cliff.

　　Camel Peak is the main peak of Honey Mountain. From a distance, it resembles a towering camel lying atop the summit. Upon closer inspection, the camel’s eyes and mouth are clearly visible, strikingly lifelike. Legend has it that among the celestial gods under the Jade Emperor was a water deity who originally rode a divine camel. This magical camel could absorb water during floods and summon rain during droughts, ensuring favorable weather for the land. Learning that the people living at the foot of Honey Mountain, despite their hard work in farming, suffered poor harvests nearly every year due to frequent flooding from Xingkai Lake, the water deity sacrificed his beloved mount to guard the shores of Xingkai Lake. When lake levels rose, the camel would continuously drink and store the water in its large humps. In times of drought, it would release the water to nourish the crops. Since then, the people by Xingkai Lake and at the foot of Honey Mountain have enjoyed a prosperous life blessed with favorable weather.

　　“Axe-Cleft Valley” is another natural wonder on Honey Mountain. It is a perilous rock fissure about a meter wide and several meters high, resembling a split made by a divine axe. According to folklore, this fissure was left behind by the sword marks from a battle between the Stone Dragon Slayer and the Black Dragon of Xingkai Lake.

　　“Immortal’s Bed” is a unique landscape located on the sunny side of Honey Mountain’s main peak. It is a large, flat, massive rock. Legend says this stone was once a fragment cut by Nüwa while mending the heavens and was discarded here. Absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, it became spiritually charged—warm in winter and cool in summer. Lying on it is extraordinarily comfortable, giving one a sensation of floating like an immortal. It is said that celestial beings often come here to rest and restore their vitality.

　　“Arhat Rocks” are human-shaped rock hollows on the summit of Honey Mountain. Legend has it that a wandering monk once arrived at the lush-green Honey Mountain, where he built a small temple dedicated to Samantabhadra. As the temple was very small—with barely any space beyond the shrine and Buddha statue—the monk chose to meditate facing the Big Dipper to absorb the spiritual energy of the mountain. Over time, the constant sitting in one spot formed a human-shaped hollow in the rock, which people now call Arhat Rocks.