Wednesday, September 16, 2015

GUANZHAI MOUNTAIN [GUANZHAI SHAN], LONGYAN, FUJIAN CHINA

The Brief Introduction of Mt. Guanzhai Scenic Spot
Guanzhai Mountain is located on the eastern suburb of Liancheng County, Longyan, Fujian Province. It is about 270 Km from Xiamen. 
Guanzhai Mountain, is one of the top national key scenic spot in Fujian and the Chinese 4A Grade tourism area in China.
Guanzhai Mountain is renowned for its majestic, attractive scenic sight as well as the unique Danxia landscape, spectacular mountain, strange rocks, beautiful lakes, rivers, caves and temples.

The shape of the mountain is like the crown of Xiezhi that is a strange beast in Chinese ancient legend, hence the mountain’s name “Guanzhai”. Looks like the cap of a Chinese official. 
It consists of 5 major scenic spots which covers a total area of 123 sq kilometers:
Guanzhai Mountain
Shimen Lake
Zhu’an Fort
Jiulong Lake
Yunxiao Rock 
It is part of the typical Danxia landform – the stage of youthful evolvement.
The scenic spots of Zhu’an Fort and Jiulong Lake are the important parts of Mt Guanzhai. Zhu’an Fort towers majestically used to be defence stronghold in ancient times. 
The dark blue waters of Jiulong Lake looks as clear as a mirror with dingles around.

The Rock of Longevity God is the famous vivid landscape which is so grand that just the head is about 200 meters high. With changing seasons, the kind God continues smiling at mountain visitors.
There are so many landscapes such as the Heavenly Gate, Water Gate Wall, Blank tablet, Xiezhai Seal, Pearl in Clam, Cliff of Heavenly Engraving that is impossible for the eye to see in one look.
Every mountain here is a marvellous Chinese painting and every lake here is an eternal melodious song.
It is considered as the Holy Mountain of Hakkas. Guanzhai Mountain is rich in various strange stones and rocks. Some are like cars, some are like monkeys, etc.  Among all the rocks, the most famous and interesting one is a pair of rocks called Shengming Zhigen and Shengming Zhimen. The shapes of these two rocks are just like the genitals of a male and female and the name of the rock means the beginning of the life.
When climbing up to the highest point of the mountain, you begin to reach down the road until you get to Shimen Lake. Boating on Shimen Lake can be a good experience. The banks are covered with thick woods and the water of the lake is clean.
The lake is more than 20 metres deep and the International Cliff Diving Competition was held here.
Lingzhi Peak, shaped like a fungi, is the main peak, measuring 2,168 feet in height. Stand upon its flat topped summit, you will see a panoramic vista of villages amongst green field toward the west.
 To the east, high cliffs stand majestically, stacked one upon another.  Wulao Peak to the southwest, rises close to Lingzhi Peak.  There is a crevasse between the two peaks, called “Yi Xian Tian” (a gleam of sky).
Guanzhai Mountain is also blessed with notable manmade landscapes, among which are the academies of classical learning built during the Song [960-1279, Ming [1368-1644] and Qing [1644-1911] dynasties in the majority with Yangzhi Pavilion, Qiushi Academy, Xiuzhu Academy and Dongshan Cottage being the more famous ones. 
Look at how big is the size of the Lingzhi
There are two temples: Fayun Temple built in the late Song Dynasty and Lingzhi Temple mainly offer sacrifices to Kwan-yin, the Goddess of Mercy. 
Due to its striking beauty, Guanzhai Mountain attracted countless men of letters to leave a great many precious calligraphies and paintings at these sites.
Today, more and more visitors come here for activities such as mountain hiking, sightseeing or just to relax.   There is also acrobatic performance on ropes up in one of cliffs.
Main Peak of Guanzhai Mountain
Qingqi Pavilion
The Best Upstream Cave Sight
Imperial Edict Memorial Gateway
‘Poem Tablet’ in Memory of Xiang Nan
Longevity Pavilion
A Gleam of The Sky [Yi Xian Tian]

A tour of this spot takes about 3-4 hours walk and for first time visitors, it is advisable to engage a local guide to lead the way.  Admission fee is RMB 60/person and RMB200 for the guide.

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