Luohan Rock

　　   Luohan Rock is situated to the north of Ruijin City and falls under the administration of Rentian Town. The scenic area is approximately 20 kilometers from the city center, boasting convenient transport with a direct tourist road leading to the mountain's base. Covering an area of over 10 square kilometers and sitting at an elevation of more than 500 meters, it features Danxia landform.

　　   Luohan Rock boasts uniquely beautiful scenery where mountains and waters coexist in harmony—crystal-clear pools mirror the surroundings, while steep cliffs and oddly-shaped rocks create a stunning landscape. Especially during spring and summer, the hills burst into vibrant blooms, butterflies flutter about, and after the rain, rainbows reflect on the shimmering lake surface, merging sky and water as if one has stepped into a naturally formed traditional Chinese painting. This exceptional natural beauty has drawn countless renowned figures throughout history. Su Dongpo, a prominent scholar-official of the Song Dynasty, visited the area during his exile to the south and greatly praised its scenery. Wang Mingyang, a talented poet of the Ming Dynasty, was equally captivated and left behind many verses in admiration. One of his poems reads: “Since ancient times, the eight great sights of the Mian River have been famed far and wide. But none compare to the landscape of Chen Stone—after seeing it, even Huangshan loses its charm.” In the poem, “Chen Stone” is another name for Luohan Rock.

　　   The miraculous forces of nature have created countless famous mountains and rivers. Luohan Rock Scenic Area, located about 30 kilometers east of Ruijin City, stands as a masterpiece meticulously sculpted by nature over tens of thousands of years.

　　   Although not among China’s Five Great Mountains, Luohan Rock displays different wonders in each season: In spring, tender grass greets the sunlight, flowers begin to bloom, branches sprout green, and trees vie in beauty. Birds chirp, bees buzz, butterflies dance, and petals dot the verdant hills—a scene that feels like returning home in spring. In summer, blossoms of all kinds compete in brilliance, forests are lush and dripping with moisture, silver springs are scattered everywhere, sparkling and glistening. Creeks splash joyfully, leaves provide cool shade, and the summer mountain appears jade-like in its vibrancy. In autumn, though the peaks are sparsely foliaged, the endless greenery and boundless blue sky leave the mountains looking freshly washed. In winter, howling mountain winds ripple through the forests, sometimes accompanied by thick clouds and snowfall. Peaks stand like jade stalks, woods are cloaked in silver, and the winter mountain seems to be asleep.

　　   Ranked as one of Jiangxi Province’s top ten famous mountains, Luohan Rock not only blends Buddhism and Confucianism but also encompasses grandeur, wonder, and beauty. It is celebrated across China for its mystical morning mists, precipitous and striking mountain forms, majestic waterfalls, crystal-clear and charming springs, and its poetic, picturesque ecological environment.

　　   The mystical morning mists of Luohan Rock take the mountain as their canvas and the mountain adorns itself with the mist. The clouds and fog here take on a thousand forms and are ever-changing. Each morning when the dawn bell of Haiyun Temple awakens the mountain range from its slumber, a veil of light fog begins to drift and merge into a vast sea of mist, dreamlike and surreal. Standing atop the summit, the fog partially shrouds the landscape, making the forest hazy and indistinct, giving one the feeling of being amid the clouds or the clouds within the mountains—a sensation of riding the mist, floating as if immortal. When the sun rises, everything suddenly becomes bright and clear: thousands of trees shine like brocades, myriad woods are bathed in rosy hues, and layers upon layers of green—deep and light—stretch across near and distant peaks. Delving into China’s literary treasury, generations of poets and writers have composed numerous verses in praise of Luohan Rock’s morning mists. A Qing Dynasty literary figure once spent ten days watching the mist here without tiring and described it as “white as snow, soft as cotton, bright as silver, vast as the sea, thin as purple, moving like smoke, still as silk.” Legend has it that the famous writer and then Ruijin County Magistrate Yun Jing even claimed to have heard the “sound of the mist” during his morning observations. Throughout the ages, Luohan Rock’s morning mists have enchanted and captivated countless visitors, leaving them spellbound and reluctant to leave.

　　   Luohan Rock isn’t particularly high in elevation, but it enjoys a typical subtropical monsoon humid climate with abundant rainfall. Coupled with the lush greenery and well-preserved vegetation, many ancient trees have survived to this day. Two major reservoirs built in the mid-20th century—the Ridong and Chenshi Reservoirs—are connected and resemble two gourds hanging from the main course of the Mian River, providing ample water resources for the scenic area. In recent years, additional man-made lakes have further enhanced its beauty. Hence, the abundance and density of fog is one of its defining characteristics.

　　   The uniquely shaped and steep mountain peaks of Luohan Rock are widely renowned for their peculiar forms. Candle Peak is a prime example of such uniqueness. With a diameter of just over 20 meters and a height of about 90 meters, it stands surrounded by cliffs and is not connected to any other peaks—it’s hard to imagine how nature “molded” it. Even more astonishing is that the peak is perfectly rounded, smooth-surfaced, larger at the top and narrower at the base. At its summit grows a thousand-year-old maple tree that thrives against all odds, seemingly defying drought, wind, rain, and lightning. When the breeze blows, the maple sways gently, resembling a flickering candle flame. Bees flit around its branches, busily making honey. In golden autumn, the fiery red leaves glow like a lit candlewick. A Qing Dynasty literati, Zou Yuanlin, even composed a famous couplet for Candle Peak that remains unmatched to this day: “Candle Peak, on its summit grows a maple; bees build nests within; wind blows the leaves to shut the bees’ gate.” As a result, the iconic Candle Peak at the entrance has become the symbol of Luohan Rock. If you climb to the highest peak—Luohan Summit—you can admire even more peculiar peaks and rocks: some look like embracing couples, others like hunched elders, monks in meditation, or airborne pen holders… a breathtaking spectacle.

　　   The graceful and powerful waterfalls weave past the Sword-Testing Stone and through the Waist-Supporting Rock, where the sound of rushing water can be faintly heard. Upon reaching the top of the stone steps beneath Candle Peak, you’ll suddenly be greeted by a curtain of waterfall cascading down before you—this is the famed Horse-Tail Waterfall of Luohan Rock. Looking up at the waterfall, the silvery rush of water plunges from above, its form strikingly similar to the flying tail of a galloping horse—graceful and forceful.

　　   To the right of Horse-Tail Waterfall lies the Luohan Rock Cave, which can accommodate several thousand people. Just ahead and above the cave entrance is another waterfall, equally famous as Horse-Tail—“Rice-Sieve Water”—positioned in a complementary angle to it. This waterfall is soft, elegant, delicate, and uniform, resembling the white rice sifted through a traditional southern “rice sieve,” hence its name. When a gentle breeze passes, the Rice-Sieve Water sprinkles softly, sending up countless droplets that bring waves of refreshing coolness. If you view these two nearly 100-meter-high waterfalls from across the cliff—one swift, one gentle; one strong, one soft—you’ll marvel at the wonders crafted by nature.

　　   The crystal-clear and charming springs are another highlight of Luohan Rock. According to geologists, there is an underground river here that connects directly to Fujian Province, and the area holds abundant high-quality groundwater.

　　   Location: Rentian Town, Ruijin City, Ganzhou

　　   Type: Mountain

　　   Opening Hours:

　　   8:00–17:30