Eight most beautiful Danxia Landscapes of China

Source:Global Times Published: 2010-8-3 15:56:00



Langshan Mountain (Hunan Province)

In the heart of Yuecheng Mountain, where Hunan and Guangxi meet, there is a long, narrow basin of red conglomerate and sand stone, which tool shape in the early Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era, about 100 million years ago. Here, in the scenic area from Langshan Mountain, where Zijiang River (a tributary of the Yangtze River) originates, to Bajiaozhai, you can find the Danxia Landform, which straddles Xinning county in Hunan, where it covers an area of 77.5 square kilometers and Ziyuan county in Guangxi, where it covers an area of 125 square kilometers.

Admission fee: 130 yuan

Transportation: take the shuttle bus from Changsha South Bus Station to Xinning, then take one of the buses to Shitian or Yaoshi from Xinning Yunshu Bus Station to Langshan. Hire a local mini-bus to the scenic area.

 



Wanfo Mountain (Hunan Province)

The 168 square kilometer-long Danxia Landforms of Mount Wanfo Scenic Spot contains five big scenic areas, including the Mount Wanfo, Immortal Cave, Seven-star Hill, General Hill, Ziyun Hill. Inside the area, there are "ten wonderful sceneries": Duyan Hill, Seven-star Ancient Temple, Luck Cave, Lion watching Moon, One Pillar Supporting the Sky, Lady Waiting for Her Husband, Whelk, Tortoise Looking for Food, Inborn Magpie Bridge and Thirty-six Curve Forest Maze. Famous expert on Danxia Landscape Professor Huang Jin has visited Mount Wanfo for many times and wrote a poem about it, "There are five hundred Danxia Landscapes in China, while this mountain is in the top ten".

Admission fee: 35 yuan

Transportation: take a train from Changsha to Huaihua, and take a train from Huaihua to Tongdao, then take a local bus to Wanfo Mountain.

 



Danxiashan (Guangdong Province)

Danxiashan (Danxia Mountain) is a famous scenic area near Shaoguan in the northern part of Guangdong Province. The Danxia Mountain is formed by reddish sandstone which has been eroded over time into a series of mountains surrounded by curvaceous cliffs and many unusual rock formations (Danxia Landform). It is described in local signage as a "world famous UNESCO geopark of China". There are a number of temples located throughout the mountains and many scenic walks can be undertaken. There is also a river winding through the mountains on which boat trips can be taken.

There are two particularly famous formations: the stone pillar called "Yangyuan" ("male/father stone") that bears a remarkable resemblance to a phallus, and the Yinyuan hole, which (especially to people who visited the Yangyuan pillar before) somewhat resembles labia.

Admission fee: 100 yuan (ordinary days); 120 yuan (on holidays)
Cable car: 60 yuan (round trip); 40 yuan (single trip) (ordinary days);
70 yuan (round trip); 45 yuan (single trip) (on holidays)

Transportation: take a minibus from Shaohua Hotel in Shaoguan to Renhua. The bus ticket is 10 yuan and the journey takes over one hour. The bus stops at the entrance of Danxia Mountain Scenic Area.

 



Guanzhoushan (Fujian Province)

Guanzhoushan Mountain, located in Liancheng county, Longyan, is about 270 kilometres from Xiamen. With an area of 123 square kilometres, Guanzhoushan Mountain is one of the top ten scenic spots in Fujian.

When travelling to Guanzhoushan Mountain scenic spot, you can not only appreciate the spectacular mountain and its strange rocks and stones, but also relax by boating on the clean and calm Shimen Lake.

The so called Guanzhoushan Mountain is named due to its shape is like an official's hat in the ancient times when looked from afar. It is considered as the Holy Mountain of Hakka. The whole scenic spot is composed by 9 parts. As a scenic spot of Danxia Landform, Guanzhoushan Mountain is rich in various strange stones and rocks. Some are like cars, some are like monkeys, etc.

Admission fee: 60 yuan
Boat trip for Shimen Lake: 30 yuan
Boat trip for Jiulong Lake: 80 yuan
Admission fee for Tianzhai: 65 yuan
Transportation in the scenic area: 10 yuan

Transportation: take a local bus from Longyan Bus Station to Liancheng county, and take the special bus

line from Liancheng Bus Station to Guanzhoushan Mountain.

 



Longhu Mountain (Jiangxi Province)

Sixteen kilometers away from the city of Yingtan to the southwest, Longhu Mountain can be classified as a typical Danxia Landform in China. There are 99 peaks, 24 cliffs, 108 natural and cultural scenic spots, and over 20 legendary wells and pools, among which springs and falls are scattered, adding enchanting beauty to the resort. Like a jade ribbon, Luxi River stretches itself from south to north, linking Shangqing Palace, Heavenly Master's Residence, Longhu Mountain, Fairy Water Cliff and other spots. Surrounded by scenic hills and springs, the ten major beauties in the core area indeed seem more refreshing and exciting.

Built in the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC–476BC) and the Warring States Period (475BC–221BC), the Cliff Tombs here can date back to 2,600 years ago. Known as a natural archeological museum which is very rare in China even in the world, the Tombs have attained a worldwide fame for their long history, large scale, rich antiques, and unique shapes.

Admission fee: 225 yuan (includes Xiangbi Hill, Wuwen village, Zhengyi Taoist Temple etc.)

Transportation: take a train from Nanchang to Yingtan, and take Longhu Mountain Special Line at Yingtan Railway Station to Longhu Mountain.

 



Guifeng Mountain (Jiangxi Province)

Situated in Xinhui district in Jiangmen, Guifeng Mountain National Forest Park is ranked as one of the most famous mountains in Guangdong Province. The scenic spots worth visiting include Yutai Temple, Jade Lake, and Palm Art Garden. The red autumn leaves of Guifeng Mountain are comparable to those of Fragrant Hills Park of Beijing because there are extensive areas of maple trees. Every fall, the mountain is covered with scarlet leaves and the magnificent view attracts numerous visitors.

Admission fee: 5 yuan

Transportation:

1. Take bus No.3 in Xinhui district in Jiangmen to Guifeng Mountain.
2. Take the Jiangmen-Xinhui Special Line to Guifeng Mountain.

 



Fangyan (Zhejiang Province)

Twenty kilometers east of Yongkang lies Fangyan, a scenic zone distinguished for its landscape in Danxia Landform. As early as in 1985, Fangyan was approved by Zhejiang Provincial Government as a key provincial scenic resort. Fangyan abounds with breath-taking peaks and cliffs, naturally carved stone formations, caves, and lakes and waterfalls.

The 92-square-kilometer zone includes eight sub scenic spots such as Mount Fangyan, Five Peaks, the Southern Rock, the Rocky Drum, Lake Lingshan, Martyrs Mausoleum, and Number One Scholar Lake.

Fangyan boasts the typical Danxia Landform, presenting rugged peaks and unique rocks, waterfalls and caves. The area is known not only for its landscape, but also for numerous spots of historical interests and cultural heritage.

Many tourists visit Fangyan for its unique landscape. More come to say their prayers at the Lord Hu's Temple, believing the immortal answers prayers more obligingly. For this reason, for hundreds of years, the temple has been the preferred venue for pilgrims. In front of the temple, red candles flame and joss sticks send fragrance skywards while pilgrims troop into the temple and murmur their prayers. Temple fairs in Fangyan are big annual attractions with its folk celebration activities such as Arhats and 18 Butterflies.

Admission fee: 50 yuan

Transportation:
Take the local bus from East Bus Station in Yongkang to Fangyan.

 



Jianglangshan (Zhejiang Province)

Located in Quzhou in Zhejiang Province, Jianglangshan scenic spot is famous for its grand stones with the shape "爿", the unique Danxia Peak, the Jianglang College, as well as Yanxia Pavilion, etc.

Jianglangshan Mountain has other names, like Jinchunshan Mountain, Yuliangshan Mountain in ancient times. It also has a vulgar name "the three 爿stones", because the most famous spot is the stones with the shape of "爿". The "爿" stones stand forcefully on the middle of the mountain, which can been seen even several kilometers afar. The three stones line to the southeast with the shape of "川".

Among those, Liangfeng Peak is in the southeast. It is as big as a castle. The middle one is called Yafei Peak. It looks like a horrent sword. The Lingfeng Peak stands in the northwest. Its peak is up to the sky directly and stands firmly because of its huge posture. Those three stones are 260 meters high, which are 100 meters higher than Dinghufeng Peak in Jinyun county.

Admission fee: 60 yuan

Transportation: Take a local bus from Jiangshan Bus Station. The ticket costs 4.5 yuan and the bus journey takes less than one hour. Take a local minibus to enter the mountain and the ticket price is 2 yuan.



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