Yufeng Mountain Park

　　Yufeng Park is one of the most prominent famous mountains in Liuzhou. It is situated in the bustling downtown area on the southern bank of the Liujiang River, facing Ma'anshan to the east and Liuzhou Workers’ Hospital to the south. Covering an area of 34,000 square meters, including a water surface of 3,600 square meters, it is a comprehensive urban park known for its natural landscape and rich cultural heritage centered around the folk legend of Liu Sanjie, the Goddess of Song of the Zhuang ethnic group. The park's main attractions include Liyufeng (Standing Fish Peak) and Xiaolongtan (Little Dragon Pool). Liyufeng rises abruptly from the flat land, standing majestically at a total height of 68 meters and an elevation of 156.3 meters. It stretches 145 meters from east to west and has a base circumference of 500 meters. The Tang Dynasty literary figure Liu Zongyuan described it as “a small yet tall mountain, shaped like a standing fish,” hence its name Liyufeng, also known as Shiyu Mountain, but commonly referred to as Yufeng Mountain. The park takes its name from this peak and has retained it to this day.

　　Since the Tang and Song dynasties, Liyufeng has been a popular tourist destination. By the Ming Dynasty, the religious activity center of Liuzhou had shifted from the western foothills of Ma'anshan to Liyufeng. In the seventh year of the Zhengde era (1512) during the Ming Dynasty, Dai Qin, one of the “Eight Sages of Liuzhou,” wrote in his poem “Climbing Liyufeng”: “The golden stirrups divide the road to the sky.” In the sixth year of the Longqing era (1572), Cao Dong wrote in “Inscription on Yueyu Rock”: “Within lies the Taoist palace of Laozi, and there is also the Buddha’s cave,” indicating that by the mid-Ming Dynasty, Liyufeng already had hiking trails for visitors and religious sites for Buddhist and Taoist activities. In the tenth year of the Chongzhen era (1637), the geographer Xu Xiake recorded having “passed through various caves in the peak” and described a cave on the eastern side of Liyufeng as containing “many shrines” and “three colossal statues of the Three Pure Ones.”

　　During the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1796–1820), monks planted trees on Liyufeng, mainly species of blue sandalwood. In the Tongzhi era (1862–1874), Zheng Xiaogu, a talented scholar from Xiangzhou, left an inscription at Liyufeng. The inscription documented existing garden structures such as “Chijing Pavilion,” “Haiyue Hall,” “Zhenxia Veranda,” “Songcui Tower,” and “Moon-Appreciation Terrace.” In the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920), a bluestone sculpture of Liu Sanjie, the Goddess of Song of the Zhuang people, was erected in a cave on Liyufeng. In the 22nd year of the Republic (1933), local authorities developed Yufeng Park at the foot of the mountain, covering an area of 25,600 square meters. Around 1935, the New Guangxi Clique left behind relics such as “Steel Army Pavilion,” “War Horse Tomb,” and “Beauty’s Tomb” on Liyufeng. After the liberation, Liyufeng came under the administration of the Liuzhou Park Management Office. In 1953, steps were tidied up, bunkers removed, and debris cleared, giving the site an early form of a park, then called the “Yufeng Mountain Scenic Area.” In 1959, the Liuzhou Municipal People’s Government funded the construction of a memorial archway, dredging of Xiaolongtan, paving of roads, and building of pavilions and towers. Statues of Ji Gong and the Eighteen Arhats were created inside the “Qingliang Guo” cave. In 1964, the first statue of Liu Sanjie was erected on the duet singing platform at Liyufeng. In August 1966, amid the campaign to “smash the Four Olds,” Red Guards destroyed the Liu Sanjie statue and Buddhist deities in the caves, severely damaging the garden facilities. In 1973, the park was restored with walls rebuilt, an open-air theater, children’s playground, teahouse, and kiosks added, and it was renamed Yufeng Park. Ticket sales began in 1974. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, investment in garden development increased. From 1979 to 1990, 1.18 million yuan was invested in the construction of Yufeng Park. In 1979, the Liu Sanjie statue was restored; between 1980 and 1981, structures such as the Liu Sanjie Sculpture Group, “Lingquan Pavilion,” “Fengying Pavilion,” “Tan’guang Pavilion,” “Jingxian Pavilion,” “Shuxin Pavilion,” and “Moliaping Pavilion” were built. In 1989, the Triple-tiered Spring and Bonsai Garden were completed. In 1990, a series of stone carvings and painted sculptures were finished, and the park walls were renovated. Between 1991 and 1998, the Stone Art Museum, Ancient Style Garden, northern park gate, and annex building were completed. The mountain gained beautifully designed pavilions and architectural features, along with a nighttime illumination system on the mountain and a tourist cableway connecting it to nearby Ma'anshan. The cable car spans 470.76 meters with a height difference of 132.19 meters between stations, featuring 54 double-seat cabins. It was China’s first cableway straddling two mountains in an urban center. Liyufeng, a famous mountain with a history as a tourist attraction since the Tang and Song dynasties, now infused with modern garden elements, offers even greater appeal to domestic and international visitors.

　　The Yufeng Mountain scenic area also boasts unique cultural landscapes. Not only are its landscapes, caves, and architecture exquisite, but it is also widely renowned for its vibrant mountain song culture. Legend has it that the Zhuang singer Liu Sanjie sang here, resisted authority, leapt into the pool on a carp’s back, and ascended to heaven to become a goddess. Today, remnants such as Sange Rock, Basket Stone, and Duet Singing Platform still exist. The tradition of mountain songs lives on, with men and women gathering to sing in antiphonal style, creating joyful and charming interactions that enrich the mountain’s ethnic flavor. The Song Festival (on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month) attracts massive crowds and is an unparalleled celebration of song. In March 1963, the famous writer Guo Moruo wrote a poem commemorating the event: “Songs rise halfway up Liyufeng, as if Liu Sanjie has returned. Riding dragons and fish, she soars across the land, turning all of China into a stage for song.”

　　The mountain is lush with trees and dotted with pavilions and towers, such as Cuisong Pavilion, Guanshan Pavilion, and Guanmei Pavilion. Midway up the mountain is a cliff carving of four large characters: “Liujian Dizhu” (Pillar of the Liu River). Inside the mountain, seven interconnected caves—Qingliang Cave, Yu Cave, Pangu Cave, Chunyang Cave, Yingfeng Cave, Zhongsi Cave, and Sange Rock—are collectively known as the “Seven Connected Spiritual Orifices.” The Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake praised the caves for their wondrous scenery: “This mountain penetrates and twists inside out, hollow yet open, exquisitely crafted in all directions—a rarity even among Guilin’s caves.” At the northeastern foot of the mountain lies the tomb of Dai Qin, one of the “Eight Sages of Liuzhou” from the Ming Dynasty. Later generations built Jingxian Pavilion beside the tomb to commemorate this Liuzhou notable who fearlessly opposed corruption and possessed exceptional poetic talent. Ascending along the northern foot and entering the mountain gate, a cave can be found to the right, with an opening three feet wide. Inside is a seated statue of ancient Zhuang songstress Liu Sanjie weaving shoes, known as Sange Rock. Exiting the cave and turning right, beneath a crimson plaque inscribed with “Qianwan Qiou” (A Myriad of Scenes), lies another cave. Tall, bright, and cool, its walls bear the inscription “Qingliang Guo” (Land of Coolness). To its right is Zhongsi Cave, and to its left, Yu Cave. A thousand-ton stalactite hangs dramatically, with crystalline jade-like walls and the inscription “West Jade Cave Heaven” atop. In the left corner of the cave hall is a group sculpture of Liu Sanjie singing duets. Further up the winding mountain path of 392 steps leads to the summit. From here, the Liujiang River resembles a ribbon, and the entire cityscape unfolds below. The caves preserve over 40 cliff inscriptions from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. On August 25, 1981, the stone carvings of Yufeng Mountain were designated as a key cultural relic protection unit of the autonomous region.

　　Suggested Duration

　　2 hours

　　Transportation

　　Take city buses No. 10, 19, 21, 16, or 4 directly to Yufeng Mountain Park Station. If exiting the bus terminal, walk about 150 meters to the right, cross the street, and you will arrive.

　　Admission Fee

　　Free

　　Opening Hours

　　All day

　　Location

　　No. 59 Yufeng Road, Yufeng District, Liuzhou City