Mount Heng
2022-06-07
Endowed with better climate conditions than the other four great mountains in China, Mount Heng boasts luxuriant vegetation all year long. In consequence, the mountain has been dubbed the most beautiful of the five great mountains in China. Wei Yuan, a poet in the Qing Dynasty wrote in Ode to Mount Heng that “Mount Heng (in Shanxi Province) is like a man walking, Mount Dai a man sitting, Mount Hua a man standing and Mount Song a man lying. Whereas Mount Heng (in Hunan Province) looks like a man flying”.
Mount Heng stretches 38 kilometers from the northeast to the southwest with the widest part reaching 17 kilometers. It covers a total area of 640 square kilometers. The main peaks of Mount Heng include Huiyan Peak, Zhurong Peak, and Mt. Yuelu, with Zhurong Peak as the highest of all at an altitude of 1,300.2-meter-tall. There are 26 lakes and rivers on the northeastern, eastern and southeastern sides of Mount Heng, flowing into the Xiangjiang River after passing through Hengyang County, Xiangtan County and Hengshan County.
In 1982, Mount Heng was listed as one of the first batch of national scenic areas. In February 2006, Mount Heng was listed as one of the natural and cultural heritage on the national level. On May 22nd, 2007, it was chosen to be one of the first national 5A scenic areas. On August 1st, 2007, Mount Heng was listed as a national nature reserve. And in 2008, it was rated as one of the ten most popular scenic areas in China.
Nanyue Temple
Dubbed the Southern Palace, Nanyue Temple is the largest complex in the region south of the Yangtze River. It was built in the Tang Dynasty. Up to 1882, the temple’s total area had reached 98,500 square meters after extensions. Surrounded by red walls, the temple contains nine rows of houses. There are also tall buildings and mountain springs flowing around the walls, reminiscent of the Palace Museum in Beijing.
In history, the temple has been destroyed by fires, reconstructed, and extended several times. It is fair to say that its history is one of sacrifice and one of man’s struggle with disasters. Apart from artisans, ordinary people, government officials, and businessmen have all contributed to the construction, reconstruction, and management, offering their suggestions, money, and effort to keep the magnificence of the temple, attracting a considerable number of visitors year after year.
Shangfeng Temple
Located at the foot of Zhurong Peak, Shangfeng Temple is one of the most important Buddhist temples of the Han people in China, boasting a long history of more than 1,300 years.
South Heaven Gate
The memorial gate is made of stone with an inscription of its name. It is located at the foot of Zhurong Peak. The South Heaven Gate is also called a gate to the sky, which means that whoever gets through the gate enters the fairyland.
Martyrs Shrine
The Martyrs Shrine in Mount Heng is a large cemetery built for the martyrs in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. The shrine is located at the foot of Xianglu Peak of Mount Heng. It was initiated to be built in 1938 and was finished in 1943. With a total area of more than 230 mu (about 15.33 hectares), its construction area is 890 square meters. The complex was built in the shape of Zhongshan Cemetery in Nanjing.
The memorial gate, tower, hall, and monument are all lined up on the central axis and are connected by a granite road and stairs. With its total length of 320 meters and breadth of 70 meters, the grand cemetery is neatly-constructed against mountains. The stone walls, green tiles, pines, and cypresses in the temple are solemn and severe.
Mojing Terrace
The Mojing Terrace is located in Banshan Pavilion Scenic Spot in Mount Heng. The terrace is so named because of the story about a monk in the Tang Dynasty grinding a mirror to practice magic. There are heritage sites like Longshu Bridge, Guanyin Bridge, and Magu Bridge nearby. On the terrace tourists can overlook Mount Heng. Erected in front of a deep valley, the terrace is surrounded by age-old pines. It is a great place for tourists to take a rest in summer.
Chuanyanshilin
Chuanyanshilin Scenic Spot is located at the mountainsides of Xianglu Peak. There are dozens of natural holes on the crags and the holes are connected by flagstones.
Sarira Tower
At an altitude of over 600 meters, the Sarira Tower is located in Ruiying Peak of Mount Heng. With a height of 48 meters and an area of 233 square meters, it is the largest of its kind in the region south of the Yangtze River. The 9-story tower has eight sides. Inside the tower there are 256 staircases. Two Buddhist relics are enshrined at the top of the tower. The relics are authenticated by the National Relic Bureau and China Buddhism Association. Because they are holy, the relics are not open to tourists. However, tourists are free to climb to the eighth floor of the tower to enjoy the picturesque view of the countryside and Nanyue District.
Shenzhou Ancestral Temple
Located in Baoxin Hill, the gate to Mount Heng, Shenzhou Ancestral Temple is a large temple rich in the combined culture of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and the local belief. It was extended from Guanyin Temple, an old temple with a long history of around 1,000 years.
