Longzui Mountain

　　It gets its name from its winding ridgeline and the main peak that resembles a dragon raising its head, while the surrounding peaks stand tall like a giant dragon swinging its elbows.

　　As a branch of Luoji Mountain, Longzui Mountain is the third highest peak in the county. With its steep and majestic terrain and breathtaking natural scenery, it has been extensively documented in historical records from the Ming and Qing dynasties to modern times.

　　The mountain’s steep cliffs, perilous peaks, mountain streams and springs, dense forests and bamboo groves, ancient trees and rare flowers, misty clouds and snow, as well as singing birds and wildlife, have long been celebrated as wondrous sights. Historical records have included “Jade Screen Dawn Glow” and “Yuxu Spring Scene” among Huili’s “Eight Scenic Spots.”

　　Longzui Mountain Forest Park has been designated as a nature reserve in Huili County. With the development of tourism in Huili, the Longzui Mountain – Immortal Lake Resort has been approved by the provincial government as a provincial-level scenic area and officially incorporated into the sixth tourist route of Liangshan Prefecture. The tourism prospects of Longzui Mountain are very promising.

　　Scenic Features

　　Longzui Mountain stretches from north to south like a giant dragon undulating through the land. The mountain is covered with tens of thousands of acres of primeval forest, including over 10,000 acres of primeval azalea woods. In spring and summer, the azaleas bloom in sea-like profusion. Below the mountain, the Baima River winds along the terrain with crystal-clear waters. Immortal Lake sparkles under the sunlight, complemented by the surrounding mountains and beautiful scenery. The mysterious and deep Immortal Cave by the lake remains unexplored to this day. The ancient town of Huili is one of Sichuan Province’s historical and cultural cities. When the Red Army passed through during the Long March, they left behind many historical relics and cultural sites.

　　Regarding the natural scenery of Longzui Mountain, past scholars have provided vivid descriptions, especially praising its steep cliffs and perilous peaks, mountain streams and springs, dense forests and bamboo groves, ancient trees and rare flowers, misty clouds and snow, as well as singing birds and wildlife.

　　Ancient poems and essays that extol the natural beauty of Longzui Mountain include “Yuxu Spring Scene” by Yang Yu, a literati from Huili during the Ming Dynasty; “A Tour of Yuxu Mountain” by Deng Yi, a Ming Dynasty imperial examination graduate and official of the Yunnan Provincial Surveillance Commission; and “Ode to Yuxu” by Yan Er…, a Qing Dynasty scholar and compiler of the Huili Prefecture Annals.

　　According to the Sichuan General Annals, the peaks of Longzui Mountain are “towering and majestic, covered with snow all year round, resembling a jade screen.”

　　The most spectacular views lie atop the most perilous peaks. Standing atop Longzui Mountain at an altitude of 3,585 meters and looking out as far as the eye can see, you’ll find rolling mountain ranges, with all other peaks appearing small, and vast fertile plains, villages, farmhouses, and the town of Huili all coming into view. The mountaintop is also an excellent spot to watch the sunrise, sea of clouds, and Buddha’s Halo.

　　Longzui Mountain is also an ideal place to observe the sunrise, sea of clouds, and Buddha’s Halo. Standing before the Liuyisi Microwave Station perched atop the summit, you can gaze out as far as the eye can see to take in the fertile plains and farmhouses of the Miyi River Valley and Huili Basin to the east and west, river courses, towns, distant and nearby mountains and waters, all unfolding like an ink painting. At dawn, the distant sky glows with radiant light, clouds surge, and the distant blue is dyed golden-red as the sun begins to rise. At this moment, the surrounding area is wrapped in endless wisps of clouds, and the mountaintop you stand on seems to float above the sea of clouds, giving you a transcendent, ethereal feeling. On clear autumn afternoons after rain, you may even catch a glimpse of the legendary Buddha’s Halo: facing the cliff, a bright ring of light will appear on the sea of clouds, with a faint human silhouette in the center, as if a solemnly seated Buddha is present, rivaling the Buddha’s Halo phenomenon at Emei Mountain’s Sacrificial Cliff.

　　Major Attractions

　　Mountain Entrance Archway

　　The two sides of the archway are engraved with two pairs of profound couplets. The first couplet was composed by Mr. Yang Yanzong: “When you reach the highest peak, your vision penetrates a thousand mountains to see the world; to grasp reason, one must cultivate great ability, with a heart encompassing myriad valleys to gain nature.” The first characters of the upper and lower couplets spell out “Huili,” a clever design. The second couplet was written by Mr. Yu Kaizhi: “The mountain is known through the dragon; miles of mist and clouds are within arm’s reach; people are enchanted by the flowers; emerald waves surround life’s conversations on all sides.”

　　Yuling Flower Sea

　　The most captivating natural attraction of Longzui Mountain is the “Yuling Flower Sea,” known as the ten-thousand-acre azalea forest. Every April and May, as various types of azaleas on Longzui Mountain bloom in succession, visitors flock here, marking the golden season for tourism. Along the way, lush green trees and shrubs are covered with fresh leaves. Below an altitude of 2,000 meters, azaleas can be seen everywhere. As the road extends and the altitude increases, you enter the misty depths of the mountains.

　　Looking around, you’ll see an increasing variety and density of azaleas. They grow from sparse to dense, short to tall, forming forests and thickets with almost no gaps. From near to far, high and low, everywhere are stunning, dazzling azalea forests in vibrant colors, a breathtaking sight.

　　On sunny days, the flowers shine in a riot of colors, glorious as a brocade of rosy clouds; in the rain, they appear hazy and elusive amid the mist, creating ever-changing scenes that delight the heart and captivate the viewer. Azaleas growing so densely at altitudes above 3,000 meters are truly rare. While wild azaleas are not uncommon in mountainous areas, few places preserve such a pristine ecological phenomenon as Longzui Mountain.

　　First is its vast coverage and dense growth. The Longzui azalea forest spans over 11,000 acres, hence the name “ten-thousand-acre azaleas,” with the largest single area covering 3,000 to 4,000 acres. Secondly, the density, tree form, and ground cover are unique. The azalea woods grow densely with almost no space between plants, all branches stretching upward to capture sunlight, forming a mysterious landscape of towering canopies, crisscrossing branches, and a space densely filled with foliage. Thirdly, there is a rich variety with vertical distribution. Longzui azaleas are large and brightly colored, with over 50 species, including the elegant and noble yellow Rhododendron fortunei, the graceful and colorful Rhododendron rex, the pure and holy Rhododendron punctatum, as well as precious varieties like Rhododendron stamineum, Rhododendron orbiculare, and Rhododendron calophytum. The azalea blossoms range in size from as small as 1 cm in diameter to as large as 15 cm.

　　Microwave Station

　　The 614 Microwave Station, towering at the summit of Longzui Mountain, covers an area of approximately 11,000 square meters, with a building area of nearly 800 square meters. The microwave tower stands 52 meters tall atop the over 3,580-meter-high mountain peak, piercing the sky. Truly: a towering tower sits at the summit above the clouds, while microwave signals pierce the fog to reach thousands of homes.

　　The station was completed in September 1992 and officially incorporated into the operational management of the Southwest Microwave Trunk Line of the Sichuan Broadcasting and Television Department in March 1993, tasked with television transmission and news relay for the Panxi region.

　　Tourism Resources

　　Longzui Mountain is covered with dense forests, highlighted by the “ten-thousand-acre azalea sea.” Over 30 types of azaleas spanning over 10,000 acres bloom successively from early spring to midsummer, vying in beauty with their colorful blossoms, turning the entire mountain into an ocean of flowers. This attracts visitors from surrounding counties, cities, and locals who come to admire the flowers and take photos.

　　To visit Longzui Mountain, you can get off at Yimen Town on National Highway 108 between Xichang and Huili, which is about 180 kilometers from Xichang. There are also buses from Huili County to Longzui Mountain. Visitors starting from Chengdu can get off at Yonglang Town on the Chengkun Railway and then transfer to a bus to Yimen to enter the scenic area. To reach Longzui Mountain, you can also get off at Baiguo Wan and travel from Shuanghe Village. The third day of the third lunar month each year is the traditional day for climbing Longzui Mountain.

　　Longzui Mountain serves as a natural barrier to the north of the Huili Basin. Its western slope is steep with many cliffs, bordering Miyi County, while the northeastern slope is gentler with more valleys and has a road leading directly to the summit, which is the main route for visiting Longzui Mountain.

　　Besides taking a bus along the Liuyisi-Tai Highway to Longzhou Mountain, travelers who enjoy outdoor activities can choose to hike up the mountain on foot to get an up-close and intimate view of the beautiful scenery along the way. Take a bus from the county town northward to Dawanying Village in Waibei Township, get off at Dading Bridge, and then follow the Bailong River — which originates from Longzhou Mountain — upstream into the lush and tranquil Hetaogou Valley. Then, hike up along the mountain ridges, enjoying the deep ancient trees, dense azaleas, camellias, wild grasses, and wild bamboos along the way. It takes about four hours to reach the mountaintop.