Located south of Wuyishan City, Fujian Province, with an area of 70 square kilometers, the Mt. Wuyishan area has what is probably the largest, most typical and best-preserved humid subtropical native forest in the world. It was nominated as a biosphere reserve of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program in 1987. The fragrant Wuyi Rock Tea is one of China's ten most famous teas, and was regularly offered as a tribute to the imperial court from as far back as the Song Dynasty.
Name of the Mountain
An ancient legend says that in prehistoric period, there was an eight hundred-year-old man named Peng Zu who came to live in Chong'an, where the people suffered because of serious flooding. Peng Zu had two sons, Wu and Yi, who offered to dredge the waterways and finally conquered the floods. To commemorate the Peng brothers, the mountain was named Mt. Wuyishan, and a palace was built in their memory. The river they dredged now called Jiuquxi River (Nine-Bend River) winds for several miles in the mountain.
Stories about Zhuxi
It is said that when the noted scholar Zhu Xi (1130 - 1200) of the Song Dynasty came to the Jiuquxi River, he was so attracted by its beautiful scenery that he wrote a poem in praise of the place and ordered a school built by the river-the Ziyang Academy of Classic Learning. Many Buddhist and Taoist temples, palaces, and pavilions were also built on the mountainsides during the Tang and Song dynasties, and inscriptions by celebrated scholars were left on the stone cliffs.
Paradise for animals and plants
Abundant rainfall and warm, humid weather give it a typical moderate sub-tropical climate, this is one of the five key nature reserves in China.
Forests cover 92% of the area. Bamboo groves number more than 80 and include one-third of the Chinese bamboo species. Among the 3, 000 to 4,000 plants growing here, 149 families and 1,899 species have been identified. This plant diversity led to the nickname "natural plant farm."
More than 400 kinds of larger wild animals, including more than 100 species of mammals, live in the reserve. Birds also thrive here, some 300 species being found in this wildlife paradise.
Highlights
With a pleasant climate, fascinating scenery, abundant products, time-honored history and rich tourism resources, Mt. Wuyishan is well-known for its places of scenic and historical interests. The special Danxia landform features include the Stream with Nine Turnings, 36 peaks, 72 caves and 99 rocks. The distinctive views of monoliths of red sandstone surrounded by emerald green water inspire the imagination.
Jiuquxi River (Nine-Bend River)
With a total length of 9.5 kilometers, the snaky Jiuquxi River (Nine-Bend River) separates group hills from each others, so scenery of the hills encircled by the stream comes into being. It is an exciting experience for tourists to cruise on a bamboo raft to enjoy the enchanting sight along the river.
The stream water is so clear that you can see the stones at the bottom. Along the winding stream, there are both shoals and deep pools. Floating on a bamboo raft along the stream, you may raise your head to appreciate the towering mountains, and lower it to listen to the flowing water, and touch it with your hands.
Great King Peak & Jade maiden Peak
Mt. Wuyishan-Great King Peak (Dawangfeng), so named because of its stately majesty. In the opposite direction is Jade maiden Peak (Yunvfeng), which is another scenic attraction of the mountain. With its smooth rock cliffs and luxuriant vegetation, it looks like a slender maiden.
Beautiful story
There is a beautiful story connected with the Jade Maiden Peak. It is said that the Jade Maiden in Heaven admired the beauty of Earth and decided to live on Mt. Wuyishan. Her love, the Great King, also came down and joined her there. But their whereabouts were found out and reported to the Jade Emperor by the Iron Slab Demon, who was then ordered to spy on them.
The Jade Maiden and the Great King loved each other so much that they decided never to return to Heaven. With his magic powers, the Iron Slab Demon turned them into stone mountains. The demon himself also became a mountain because of his evil doings. Today, Iron Slab Peak (Tiebanfeng) stands between the Great King and the Jade Maiden peaks.
Tianyou Peak
Tianyou Peak is located in the center of the Mt. Wuyishan Scenic Area. It is much taller than the other peaks. From the summit you can see an array of green peaks and the Jiuquxi River winding among the mountains.
This peak stands near the middle part of the stream. Made up of three huge rocks, it can be seen from the third, fifth, and sixth twists. You can reach the summit along the path from Tea Plantation Cave (Chadong), if you can go up the 800 steps past the Clothes-Drying Rock (Saibuyan), you will finally reach the top, arriving at Bird's Eye Lookout (Yilantai).
Standing here, you enjoy a panoramic view of the whole peace. The Tianyouguan Hotel, a graceful traditional- style building, has rooms for those guests who want to see the stars of the Milky Way and the sun rise. This peak provides the grandest view of Wuyishan mountain area.
The Red Robe Scenic Spot
With an area of 4.5 square kilometers, this scenic spot includes Nine Dragon Cave, Red Robe Tea Tree and Tianxin Yongle Buddhist Temple. It is a place sacred to Buddhism.
The Red Tea Tree
The fragrant Wuyi Rock Tea is one of China's ten most famous teas, and was regularly offered as a tribute to the imperial court from as far back as the Song Dynasty. It is warmly welcomed by the western countries.
The Red Robe Tea Tree, known as the "King of Tea Trees," stands at the foot of Nine Dragon Rock, There is water dripping down all the year round from a long and narrow crack in the rocks on both sides of the tree. The adequate sunshine and small temperature changes year round enable the tree to produce high quality tea with a unique flavor.
Other scenic spots
Other scenic spots on Mt. Wuyishan include the Little Peach Blossoms Garden (Xiaotaoyuan), Water Screen Cave (Shuiliandong), Floating Fragrance Valley (Liuxiangjian), and A Shot of Sky (Yixiantian).