Hengshan (衡山), also known as Nanyue (Southern Mountain, 南岳), is located primarily in Nanyue District, Hengyang City, Hunan Province. According to the Eastern Han dynasty scholar Zheng Xuan, its name comes from celestial constellations that govern life and death. On Earth, Hengshan symbolizes growth and balance, much like a scale, which is why it is called “Heng,” meaning balance. It corresponds to the celestial mansion of the 28 constellations, believed to weigh and balance the forces of heaven and Earth, promoting virtues and punishing falsehoods and evil.
Hengshan is a famous sacred site for both Taoism and Buddhism, surrounded by over 200 temples, monasteries, and shrines. In ancient times, Chinese rulers such as Tang Yao and Yu Shun performed rituals and hunted here, while Xia Yu offered sacrifices to heaven, seeking methods to control floods. The mountain god of Hengshan is Zhu Rong, revered as the fire god. He was appointed by the Yellow Emperor to guard Hengshan, teaching people how to use fire and cultivate the land. After his death, he was buried on the mountain’s Chi Emperor Peak, and local people honor him as the “Sacred Emperor of Nanyue.”
Hengshan also features four of the Taoist “36 Heavenly Caves and 72 Blessed Lands,” and the South Terrace Temple on the mountain houses two sacred relics of the Buddha, Shakyamuni, within the Vajra Stupa.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Hengshan Mountain
- Vlog about Hengshan Mountain
- Other Notable Attractions in Hengyang
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1- 2 days |
| Ticket Price | 1st May – 31st October: Central Area: 80 RMB Grand Temple Area: 58 RMB Shuttle Bus: 78 RMB 1st November – 30th April: Central Area: 80 RMB Grand Temple Area: 40 RMB Shuttle Bus: 78 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day throughout the year |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0734-5673377 |
Location and Transportation
Hengshan Mountain, also known as Nanyue, is located at 38 Jinsha Road, Nanyue District, Hengyang City, Hunan Province. To reach Hengshan, visitors can take a high-speed train to Hengyang East Station. From there, transfer to the Nanyue Tourist Bus Line, which covers a 32-kilometer journey to the mountain. The bus fare is 18 RMB.
Highlights of Hengshan Mountain
Zhurong Peak
Zhurong Peak is the highest peak of Hengshan Mountain, with an elevation of 1,300.2 meters. It is named in honor of the ancient fire god, Zhurong, one of China’s cultural ancestors. The peak’s imposing presence is heightened by its location in the relatively low-lying Xiangnan Basin, often surrounded by mist and clouds. The name “Zhurong” combines the meanings of “eternal” and “light,” signifying “everlasting brightness.”
At the top of Zhurong Peak, visitors can reach the Zhurong Temple by climbing the “Heavenly Steps.” The temple was built to honor Zhurong’s contributions as the fire god. Originally constructed as the Huo Wang Temple during the Sui Dynasty, it later became the Tianchi Monastery and then the Kaiyun Shrine in the Ming Dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty, it was renamed Zhurong Temple. The granite temple consists of two halls, with the roof covered by heavy tin-iron tiles, some of which date back to the Song Dynasty and remain shiny and rust-free after a thousand years.
Tianzhu Peak
Tianzhu Peak is one of Hengshan’s 72 peaks, standing at 1,061 meters in elevation, located near Yanshou Village in Nanyue Town. The peak’s distinct shape, resembling twin pillars rising to the sky, gives it its name, which means “Heavenly Pillar Peak.” At the summit is a small circular platform with an octagonal pavilion that serves as a fire-watch tower. The tower is 4 meters tall, with two stories and four doors, constructed from granite. Engraved in calligraphy on the cliff face below are the words “Southern Heavenly Pillar Stone.”
Huiyan Peak
Huiyan Peak, known as the “First Peak of Nanyue,” is the southernmost of Hengshan’s 72 peaks, standing at 96.8 meters with an area of 6.32 hectares. It is located along the banks of the Xiang River in Yanfeng District, Hengyang City. The peak’s name comes from two legends: one claims that wild geese flying south would stop here to winter, only to return north in spring; another states that the mountain resembles a goose stretching its neck and wings, ready to take flight. This is why Hengyang is also called “Goose City.”
Huiyan Peak has historical significance as the starting point for incense offerings in Nanyue, symbolizing its spiritual importance. The thousand-year-old Yan Feng Temple sits atop the peak, having been a place for Buddhist teaching and scripture for over 1,500 years. A legend says that the “Longevity Buddha” left a robe here, and the temple now houses a Longevity Buddha Hall in his honor.
Wanshou Great Ding
The Wanshou Great Ding, also known as the “China Longevity Ding,” holds the Guinness World Record as the largest and heaviest bronze vessel, featuring the most characters for “longevity” (寿) in the world. It is the central attraction of the Nanyue Longevity Altar Scenic Area, located on Jiahe Peak of Hengshan Mountain. The monumental bronze vessel symbolizes longevity and is a significant cultural and artistic landmark, representing the strength and unity of the Chinese people.
Nanyue Grand Temple
The Nanyue Grand Temple, located at the northern end of North Street in Nanyue Town, is the largest ancient architectural complex in Hunan Province. Facing south with Chidi Peak behind it and Shoujian Stream in front, the temple spans a rectangular area of 98,500 square meters. The temple’s main gate, called Lingxing Gate, is a stone archway made of granite. Flanking the main entrance are two smaller side gates on the east and west.
Every year, on the first day of the eighth lunar month, the birthday of the “Nanyue Emperor,” tens of thousands of worshippers flock to Hengshan to offer incense and pay tribute to the deity. The Nanyue Grand Temple is a vital cultural and religious site, steeped in history and revered as a center of Taoist and Buddhist worship.
