Fanjing Mountain,Tongren

With an elevation of 2572 meters above sea level and a long history of 1 billion ~1.4 billion years, Fanjing Mountain is not only the highest mountain of Wuling Range, but also 'the first mountain' in Guizhou Province, a giant towering over the slope of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Its lofty and imposing ridges and peaks as well as its bulk mountain massif are the wonders of nature. 

Mountain: Fanjing Mountain is characterized by grandness, steepness, and unique beauty. Interestingly, nature has cut the mountaintop into two halves, on the top of which Sakyamuni (the founder of Buddhism) Temple and Mile (a Buddhist god) Temple have been built respectively and connected by a bridge, drawing numerous worshippers. The 'Buddhist light' appearing occasionally over the mountaintop may somehow add a feeling of mystery to worshippers and tourists. What is most enchanting is Xinjinding (New Golden Peak), which is a 100-meter-high stone peak projecting at an elevation of 2200 meters, shaped like a giant bamboo shoot coming out of the land or a dragon soaring to the sky. In addition, such scenic spots as the Giant Mushroom Stone, Prince Stone, and Books-Like Rocks are so true to life that they may take your breath away.

Water: The limpid waters in Fanjing Mountain, either trickling, dropping, pouring, or roaring, all join to form 99 brooks and streams. Some flow east to converge to be Jijiang River and Songjiang River, which finally flow into Dongting Lake. Others flow west to converge to be Yinjiang River, which finally flows into Changjiang River.

Tree: Verdant trees, colorful flowers, harmonious coexistence of birds and animalsall constitute a beautiful landscape. With fog and white clouds drifting by, the green mountain peak appears in one moment and disappears in the next, adding to the mysterious color of Fanjing Mountain. What a scenic wonderland!

History:

In 1618, Wanli, emperor of the Ming Dynasty, gave an edict to rebuild Jinding Temple on Fanjing Mountain to show his respect to Buddhism. And according to his edict, a stele was erected near Water Dropping Cave on Fanjing Mountain, saying: 'Ancient Buddhist sites are on Fanjing Mountain, the father of other famous mountains.' The stele also mentioned that since Buddhism was first practiced on Fanjing Mountain, countless Buddhist believers including those of high ranks and nobility had swarmed to worship the mountain.

Ecological value

The magic power of nature has made Fanjing Mountain an ecologically primeval kingdom. Thanks to its huge mountain massif and great variation in vertical height, a primeval base characterized by biological diversity has formed. Here live all species of plants and animals of high scientific research and protection value. The rare and precious plants include 'Guizhou crape myrtle'  and Chinese dove tree, etc, while the rare and precious animals include Qian golden monkey, giant salamander, white-neckCand-longCtail pheasant, and clouded leopard, etc.

Human culture

At the foot of Fanjing Mountain, there live some Chinese ethnic groups including Tujia, Miao, Dong, Han and Qiang, who pride themselves on their colorful folk customs and cultures.

What is most noticeable is their calligraphy art. Yinjiang County is only a small county of a backwater. However, in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, many famous calligraphers had come forth in Yinjiang County, which made the county known as 'the home for calligraphy'. Yan Yinliang, who was famous home and abroad for his writing the plaque 'Yi He Yuan' (the name of a famous park in Beijing), was an outstanding representative. If you visit the two stele forests at the foot of Fanjing Mountain, you can appreciate the beautiful calligraphy of some famous writers such as Zhao Puchu, Qi Gong, and Shen Peng, etc.

Fanjing Mountain is also full of revolutionary tradition. In the 1930s, General Helong set up the first Guizhou revolutionary base for Red Army right at the foot of Fanjing Mountain.