Bauhinia Mountain Scenic Area

　　    Bauhinia Mountain is an extension of the Dayaoshan Mountain Range, located at the northern end of the county. It connects to the Penghua Mountainous Area of Pingnan County in the east and borders Wuxuan, Xiangzhou, and Jinxiu counties to the northwest. The area is vast, covering 270 square kilometers. The terrain features overlapping peaks and vast forests, with three major waterways—Daping, Tianxin, and Hualei—flowing from north to south. These converge at the old Sanjiang Market before breaking through the Fengmen Gorge and rushing toward the Jintian Plain.

　　    Bauhinia Mountain is known for its majestic peaks and unique waters, with Hongshui Peak standing at an elevation of 1,313 meters. Due to its remote location, it served as a stronghold during the Dachengxi Yao People’s Uprising during the Ming Dynasty (as recorded in historical county annals). In 1851, the Taiping Rebellion originated in Jintian Village, and Bauhinia Mountain became the cradle of this peasant uprising.

　　    To this day, remnants of these two major uprisings can still be found throughout the area. Bauhinia Mountain is home to the Zhuang, Han, and Yao ethnic groups living in close proximity. The villages of these ethnic communities offer uniquely scenic views.

　　    Located at the junction of several counties, Bauhinia Mountain became a vital overland transportation route connecting the ancient prefectures of Xunzhou, Liuzhou, and Wuzhou after the mid-Qing Dynasty. An old map in the Wuxuan County Annals labeled a narrow mountain path—Dongxiang Jie—from Dongxiang Township in Wuxuan to Bauhinia Mountain as a “major thoroughfare.” After liberation, scholars researching economic history flocked here, following this so-called “major thoroughfare” to trace…

　　    the development of modern capitalist commerce in Guangxi.

　　    Another such “major thoroughfare” ran from the northern part of Bauhinia Mountain through Hongshui Jie into Xiangzhou County. Historical records and oral traditions among elders in the region indicate that, starting from the late Daoguang era (late 1840s), large numbers of “mountain traders” used this rugged path through Bauhinia Mountain, then southward through the Jintian Plain, carrying various mountain products and local specialties to Dahengjiangkou on the Xun River. From there, goods were transported by waterway to Wuzhou and Guangzhou. Others crossed westward or northward over Dongxiang Jie and Hongshui Jie, carrying imported goods such as “eastern salt,” “foreign yarn,” and “kerosene” from Dahengjiangkou into Wuxuan and Xiangzhou, which were then distributed to Liuzhou and Guizhou. These mountain traders numbered only dozens daily at their least, but could reach up to two or three hundred at their busiest.

　　    Villages such as Jiejiao and Shen shui under Hongshui Jie and Hualei under Dongxiang Jie were key routes for these traders. In those days, villagers opened many roadhouses to accommodate traveling merchants. To this day, elderly locals can still point out the exact spots where these roadhouses once stood, recalling them as vividly as if they were yesterday.

　　    Bauhinia Mountain gave birth to both the Dachengxi Yao People’s Uprising and the Taiping Rebellion. Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yushan carried out anti-Qing activities here for years in secrecy, leaving behind numerous historical sites that continue to attract visitors from around the world.

　　    Charcoal Kilns and Indigo Vats On the eve of the Taiping Rebellion, frequent natural disasters drove many landless peasants into Bauhinia Mountain, where they made a living by making charcoal or growing indigo (a plant used for blue dye). Many charcoal workers joined the God Worshipping Society and later became core members of the Taiping Army. Today, hundreds of old charcoal kilns from that time can still be found in the mountains. Back then, many people cultivated indigo, leading to the presence of “indigo valleys” (entire valleys dedicated to indigo farming). Near the Fengmen Gorge at the entrance of Bauhinia Mountain, three large indigo fermentation vats—made of rammed earth—still remain. These circular vats are 1.5 meters in diameter and 1.2 meters deep, each capable of holding about 100 dan (approximately 6 metric tons) of indigo dye.

　　    The Dachong Zeng Family Study Hall is located in Mengchong Village, 4 kilometers west of present-day Jintian Market. In 1846, Feng Yushan entered Bauhinia Mountain via Gulin She and worked as a tutor at the Dachong Zeng Family Study Hall. During the day, he taught students; at night, he traveled from village to village to rally poor peasants to join the God Worshipping Society. Yang Xiuqing and Xiao Chaogui were among his earliest followers and became key members of the society. In 1847, when Hong Xiuquan arrived in Bauhinia Mountain, he stayed with Feng Yushan at the study hall. Behind the hall stood the Tian tou Bogong (a local earth god shrine). Upon discovering it, Hong Xiuquan had it dug up and discarded overnight. The next day, villagers re-erected it, only for Hong Xiuquan to remove it again that night. After several such incidents, fewer villagers worshipped the shrine. In the winter of 1848, Feng Yushan posted a couplet at the study hall entrance: “Temporarily borrowing this mountain for a phoenix's roost; using these purple waters to nourish a dragon.” This couplet later stirred significant controversy.

　　    Military Camps In 1974, cultural heritage workers from the autonomous region and the county jointly conducted surveys and discovered 22 military camps near Sanjiang Village in Bauhinia Mountain, all built and used by the Taiping Army. The size of these camps varied, but their construction was largely similar to those in Jintian Village. A larger camp, situated behind the current Bauhinia Township Grain Bureau, was originally constructed by the Yao rebels led by Hou Dagou during the Dachengxi Uprising in the Ming Dynasty and later repaired and used by the Taiping Army.

　　    Tea Fields Site of the Taiping Army Headquarters Located by the Jintian Reservoir in Tea Fields Village, the village once housed the grand Zhao family residence. In July 1851, when the Taiping Army returned from Xiangzhou to Bauhinia and Jintian, they established their headquarters here, and Hong Xiuquan stayed on the premises.

　　    Shuangjian Mountain Located at the western edge of Bauhinia Mountain, bordering Wuxuan County, Shuangjian Mountain stands at an elevation of 1,016 meters. Beneath it lies the “major thoroughfare” of Dongxiang Jie. In July 1851, as the Taiping Army retreated from Xiangzhou to Bauhinia and Jintian, they headquartered at Tea Fields Village and used Shuangjian Mountain as a strategic stronghold, stationing heavy troops there. Qing forces repeatedly attacked but suffered heavy casualties without success. Later, the Qing army took advantage of thick fog and attacked via a detour through Zhuzai Gorge. When Shuangjian Mountain fell, Bauhinia Mountain lost its defensible position. Hong Xiuquan then ordered a full retreat to Jintian.

　　    Bauhinia Mountain is home to the Zhuang, Han, and Yao ethnic groups. The Zhuang villages and Yao hamlets offer uniquely beautiful scenery, with Yao culture being particularly distinctive. In recent years, the area has attracted an increasing number of tourists.

　　Hong Xiuquan (1814~1864)　　    Hong Xiuquan (1814–1864), nicknamed Huoxiu, had the family name Renkun. He later changed his name to Xiutian to avoid the naming taboo of the Heavenly Father, Ye Huohua. Born into a farming family in Guanlu Village, Huaxian County (some sources say he was born in Fuyuanshui Village before the family moved to Guanlu), his ancestor Hong Yunsan migrated from Shikeng Village, Jiaying Prefecture, to Huaxian during the Kangxi era. Hong Xiuquan was the sixth-generation descendant. His father, Jingyang, was hardworking, honest, and fair, having served as the “Baotong” (village leader) of Guanlu, earning high respect for managing village affairs and mediating clan disputes. Hong Xiuquan began attending the village study hall at the age of seven... Read More +

　　Feng Yushan (1815~1852)　　    Feng Yushan (1815–1852), also known as Yilong and styled Shaoguang, was a native of Huaxian, Guangdong (now part of Guangzhou). From a young age, he enjoyed studying classics, history, astronomy, and geography. He once took the imperial examinations but later made a living as a private tutor, running a village school. In 1843, the year Hong Xiuquan founded the God Worshipping Society in his hometown, Feng Yushan became a devoted follower. To promote the society, he destroyed all the Buddhist and Confucian statues and plaques in his home, including those of Confucius and Mencius. His bold actions and the new faith he preached drew opposition from some villagers, resulting in him losing his teaching position. In the 23rd year of the Daoguang era (1843)... Read More +