Fanjingshan

The Earth's Emerald and a Spiritual Highland

Rising majestically from the mist at the intersection of Yinjiang, Jiangkou, and Songtao counties in Tongren City, Guizhou Province, Fanjingshan (Mount Fanjing) stands as a solitary peak piercing the clouds. Located approximately 50 kilometers from downtown Tongren, this sacred mountain is widely revered as the "Gene Treasure Trove" of the subtropics and the "Earth's Emerald" due to its lush ecosystem. As the main peak of the Wuling Mountain range, Fanjingshan is not only a geological wonder but also a spiritual sanctuary. In 2018, it was officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, recognized for its unique biodiversity and geological significance, making it China’s 53rd World Heritage site,.

A Sacred Maitreya Bodhimandala

Fanjingshan is celebrated as the "Fifth Great Buddhist Mountain" of China and is specifically the Bodhimandala (place of enlightenment) for Maitreya Buddha. Its history is ancient, tracing back to the Han Dynasty when it was known as "San Gu Shan" (Three Valleys Mountain). By the Song Dynasty, it was renamed "Fanjingshan," meaning "Buddhist Pure Land". The mountain reached its spiritual zenith during the Ming Dynasty, particularly when the Empress Dowager Cisheng (mother of Emperor Wanli) funded the reconstruction of the temples, bestowing the name "Huguo Temple" (Nation Protecting Temple) and cementing its status as a center for Maitreya worship. Today, the "Red Cloud Golden Summit" (New Golden Summit) and the "Old Golden Summit" offer pilgrims and travelers a connection to centuries of faith, where it is said that the sincere can witness the "Buddha's Light" or "Red Clouds" haloing the peaks.

1.Geological Wonders: The Mushroom Stone and Golden Summits

2.The landscape of: Fanjingshan is a surreal display of metamorphic rock formations that differ significantly from the surrounding karst landscapes.

• 3.Mushroom Stone (Mogu Shi): Standing about 10 meters high on the mountain crest, this precarious rock formation resembles a giant mushroom. It has withstood wind and rain for a billion years and is the iconic symbol of Fanjingshan. Legend says the upper stone represents Maitreya and the lower stone represents Samantabhadra,.
• 4.Red Cloud Golden Summit (New Golden Summit): Rising to an altitude of 2,493 meters, this vertical thumb-like peak is split into two by the "Golden Knife Gorge." Two temples sit atop the twin peaks—one for Buddha and one for Maitreya—connected by a stone bridge floating in the sky. The climb involves navigating the steep "First Line Sky" crevice, where it is believed only the sincere can pass,.
• 5.Old Golden Summit: Standing at 2,336 meters, this peak offers a broader platform for viewing the sea of clouds and the rolling Wuling mountains,.

A Sanctuary for Rare Life

Beyond its stones, Fanjingshan is a biological ark. With a forest coverage rate of 95%, it is one of the few remaining subtropical primary forests at this latitude. It is the only habitat in the world for the Guizhou Golden Monkey (Qian Golden Snub-nosed Monkey), a species so rare it is considered the "elf" or "child" of the mountain,. The mountain is also home to the Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata), a living fossil from the tertiary period. When these trees bloom, their white bracts flutter like doves, a sight local folklore attributes to Bodhisattvas spreading the dharma,.

The Visitor Experience

Visiting Fanjingshan is a journey through "Earth and Heaven." Visitors usually take a cable car up the mountainside to save energy before hiking the forest boardwalks to the Mushroom Stone and the summits. The climb to the Red Cloud Golden Summit is steep and thrilling, requiring hands and feet, but the panoramic view from the top is unmatched. Along the way, stops at the Chengen Temple offer a chance to burn incense and admire the ancient architecture and murals.