This Mountain in Guangdong Can Compete with Huangshan and Wutai, Though Smaller, It Is Remarkably Beautiful
China's history is long and profound, and its mountains and rivers are unparalleled. When it comes to the world-renowned Three Mountains and Five Peaks – Huangshan (famous for its wonders), Wutai (known for its danger), Lushan (renowned for its beauty) – each of these mountains possesses its own culture and image. These eight mountains, today, are all tourism hotspots, bringing in massive revenue for the local tourism industry each year, making them among China’s most profitable mountains. To maximize their tourism value, the former region of Hugizhou was renamed Huangshan, demonstrating their influence. But beyond the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, mountains like Wuyi Mountain in Fujian and Yuanmingyuan (originally Wulingyuan) in Hunan, as well as the Guangzhou Danxia Mountain, are also worthy of being ranked alongside them.
Danxia Mountain occupies a significant place in China’s geography, with County’s Danxia Mountain standing as the world’s best. Huangshan in Anhui features peak formations, with individual peaks rising dramatically, but County’s Danxia Mountain is formed through layers of compression, resembling a book yet to be opened. As you delve deeper, it’s like uncovering a corner of an open book, with every area captivating your attention.
Unlike the mountains with altitudes exceeding 1,000 meters, Danxia Mountain reaches a maximum height of 618 meters. While lower in altitude, it doesn't offer the dreamlike experience of towering mountains, but it presents far fewer physical challenges, allowing visitors to easily ascend to the summit and enjoy panoramic views of the Danxia Mountain landscape.
Danxia Mountain is centered around the Shaoshitou Mountain, a collection of uniquely shaped peaks, replete with mythological stories and the origin of the Guangfu culture. This was also the basis for the naming of Shaoguan City. Originally named Dongheng County, Shaoguan City was renamed Shaoshou and retained this name for a thousand years.
At this time, the area of Shaoshou was not yet vast, and as the Southern Han Dynasty migrated to Shaoshou, this hilly and mountainous region away from the Central Plains gradually gained attention. Travelers from afar established themselves in Shaoshou, viewing Shaoshitou Mountain as a ‘Mother Mountain’ – this forms the foundation of Guangfu culture and is one of the origins of the culture in some parts of Guangdong.
The phenomenon of cities being renamed due to mountains is countless, spanning across ancient and modern history. It’s difficult to count exactly, but ancient people renamed cities based on their respect for the mountains and their co-existence within them, and this was developed over millennia, creating a rich cultural heritage. The renaming of Shaoshou to Shaoguan exemplifies a sense of rooting and not forgetting one’s origins. After calling this name for thousands of years, they still felt it had cultural significance and depth. Therefore, renaming Hugizhou to Huangshan to develop tourism is like discarding a valuable watermelon to pick up a small pumpkin – it's a regrettable loss of Huangizhou's deep historical heritage.
Photography: Xiquinho Silva, Global Travel Photographer | Source: GoHiking
