Hengshan Mountain is the Southern Mountain among the Five Great Mountains in China, famous for its magnificent natural scenery and profound cultural heritage. There are many unique peaks here, including the height of Zhurong Peak, the beauty of the Scripture Repository Hall, the depth of Fangguang Temple, and the wonder of the Water Curtain Cave, known as the “Four Wonders of Hengshan Mountain.”
Recommended tour route: Start from the Nanyue Grand Temple, take the scenic area environmental protection vehicle to Banshan Pavilion, and then you can choose to hike or take the cable car to ascend Zhurong Peak to enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery and sunrise and sunset.
Tickets: 110 yuan per person in the peak season (May October), 80 yuan per person in the off-season (November April); environmental protection vehicles and cable cars need to be purchased separately.
Cailun Bamboo Sea
It is the largest bamboo sea in Asia, with dense bamboo covering the mountains. You can stroll along the bamboo paths, breathe the fresh air, and visit the Cai Lun papermaking workshop to learn about ancient papermaking techniques.
Ticket: 50 yuan per person
Cultural Landscapes
Nanyue Grand Temple
It is the largest ancient architectural complex in the south of the Yangtze River, where Buddhism and Taoism coexist. The architectural style is unique, with carved beams and painted rafters, and has great artistic value.
Tickets: 60 yuan per person in the peak season, 40 yuan per person in the off-season
Shigu Academy
Founded in the fifth year of Yuanhe in the Tang Dynasty, it is one of the four great ancient academies in China. It is located on Shigu Mountain where the three waters of Zheng, Xiang, and Lei converge. The environment is quiet and the cultural atmosphere is strong.
Tickets: 20 yuan per person
Food Guide
Special Dishes
Hengyang Fish Rice Noodles
Using fresh fish and rice noodles as the main raw materials, the fish is fresh and tender, and the fish soup is rich and delicious. There are various choices such as fish head noodles, fish offal noodles, and fish meat noodles. It is one of the favorite breakfasts of Hengyang people. Recommended shops: Zizhulin Fish Rice Noodles, Peng Haijun Fish Rice Noodles.
Hengdong Local Cuisine
Using local ingredients, the taste is rich. The representative dish is Hengdong Crispy Tripe. The tip of the pork tripe is specially processed and has a crispy and tender taste. It is stir-fried with pickled peppers, etc., and is spicy and appetizing. Another is Yangqiao Bran Meat, where the streaky pork is wrapped in flour and fried, fat but not greasy, and full of aroma. Recommended restaurant: Hengdong Weimeisi Restaurant.
Nanyue Vegetarian Food
It is popular in the Nanyue Hengshan area. Using vegetarian ingredients, it imitates the appearance and taste of various meat dishes, such as vegetarian chicken, vegetarian fish, and vegetarian elbow. The taste is light and delicious, and rich in nutrition. You can taste it in the restaurants near the Nanyue Grand Temple.
Snacks and Refreshments
Suo Luo (Spicy Snail)
A special snack in Hengyang. Local snails are selected and stir-fried with seasonings such as chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns. When eating, you need to “suck” the snail meat out of the shell, which has a unique flavor. You can find it at street night market stalls or night snack shops.
Dengxincao Cake (Rice Cake Shaped like a Lampwick)
It looks like a lampwick, is white and soft, and has a sweet taste without being too greasy, with a strong fragrance of osmanthus oil. You can buy it in local specialty stores as a souvenir.
Travel Tips
Best Travel Time
Spring (March May) and autumn (September November) are the best seasons, with pleasant weather, suitable for mountain climbing and sightseeing.
Transportation
External Transportation
Airplane: Hengyang Nanyue Airport has opened many domestic routes. You can choose flights according to your departure place. There are special line buses or taxis from the airport to the urban area and various scenic spots.
Train: There are Hengyang Station and Hengyang East Station in Hengyang. The former mainly stops ordinary trains, and the latter is a high-speed railway station. You can reasonably choose according to your itinerary.
Internal Transportation
You can take buses or taxis to various scenic spots in the city; there are environmental protection vehicles and cable cars in the Hengshan Mountain scenic area for the convenience of tourists.
Accommodation Arrangement
In the urban area of Hengyang, you can choose to stay near Jiefang Road or Zhengxiang Road, which is convenient for shopping; in the Nanyue District, most of the accommodations are concentrated near the Hengshan Mountain scenic area, which is convenient for climbing and playing. There are hotels and homestays of various grades to choose from.
