Guifeng Scenic Area is located in Yiyang County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province. It is a World Natural Heritage site, a World Geopark, and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. It features unique Danxia landform landscapes as its core, combining natural and cultural landscapes. The total area of the scenic area is 136 square kilometers, with the core scenic area covering 48 square kilometers, consisting of the main Guifeng Scenic Area, Nanyan Scenic Area, Qingshui Lake Scenic Area, etc. Its Danxia landform formed in the late Cretaceous period about 135 million years ago, with the prominent feature of "no mountain is not like a turtle, no stone is not like a turtle". It has 36 peaks and 13 rocks of various Danxia peak stones, with peculiar shapes and high degree of imagery, known as the "Danxia specimen" and "natural bonsai". The forest coverage rate of the scenic area is over 80%, with an excellent ecological environment. It integrates peak forests, karst caves, lakes, ancient temples and other landscapes, making it an ideal destination for popular science research, sightseeing, and leisure vacations.
History and Culture
Guifeng has a profound historical and cultural heritage, dating back to the Neolithic Age. Many Neolithic sites have been discovered in the scenic area, and cultural relics such as pottery and stone tools have been unearthed, proving that humans lived here as early as thousands of years ago.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Taoist activities began in the Guifeng area. It is said that Ge Xuan once practiced alchemy here, leaving relics such as the Alchemy Well. After the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism was introduced, and Nanyan Temple (originally named "Nanyan Grottoes") came into being. Built on a natural cave, it is one of the important Buddhist grottoes in southern China. During the Northern Song Dynasty, famous officials such as Wang Anshi and litterateur Su Shi visited Guifeng, leaving excellent poems and adding a cultural touch to the scenic area.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the religious culture of Guifeng further developed, with an increase in the number of temples and Taoist temples, forming a cultural pattern where Buddhism and Taoism coexist. Among them, the cliff statues in Nanyan Temple were carved in the Tang Dynasty, and more than 10 existing statues have high artistic value. Since modern times, Guifeng has become a popular place for literati and scholars to collect inspiration and create works due to its unique natural landscape and cultural connotations, with rich records in relevant poems, travel notes and other documents. Today, the historical relics in the scenic area and the Danxia landform set off each other, forming a unique humanistic and natural composite landscape.
Main Attractions
Sandie Guifeng (Three-stacked Turtle Peak)
Sandie Guifeng is the iconic landscape of Guifeng Scenic Area. It is composed of three turtle-shaped peaks stacked on top of each other, with an altitude of about 418 meters and a relative height of 110 meters. The three "turtle peaks" are arranged from bottom to top in sequence, with lifelike shapes, like three giant turtles raising their heads to the sky, which can be called a classic work of Danxia landform imagery. Tourists can reach the viewing platform via the hiking trail to watch its unique shape up close, or enjoy the panoramic view at the distant viewing point at the entrance of the scenic area, feeling the uncanny craftsmanship of nature.
Nanyan Temple
Nanyan Temple is located in Nanyan Scenic Area. It is a Buddhist temple built on a huge natural cave. It was first built in the Tang Dynasty, and the existing buildings were rebuilt during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, covering an area of about 3,000 square meters. The cave is about 30 meters high, 60 meters wide and 50 meters deep. The temple has halls such as the Mahavira Hall and Guanyin Hall, enshrining various Buddha statues. The cave walls retain cliff statues and inscriptions from the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, among which the Amitabha statue of the Tang Dynasty is the most famous, about 5 meters high, with exquisite carvings. Nanyan Temple is known as the "First Grotto in the South of the Yangtze River" because of its unique pattern of "the mountain is a Buddha, and the Buddha is a mountain".
Qingshui Lake
Qingshui Lake is a natural lake in Guifeng Scenic Area, covering an area of about 300 mu. It is formed by the convergence of mountain streams. The lake water is clear, surrounded by Danxia peaks and forests, with beautiful scenery. There are cruise ships and bamboo rafts available on the lake. Tourists can go boating on the lake to enjoy the artistic conception of "the boat swims in the water, and people sit in the painting". Along the way, they can watch the reflections of Camel Peak, Old Man Peak and other landscapes in the lake, forming a symmetrical beauty. There are hydrophilic plank roads and viewing pavilions by the lake, which are good places for leisure walks and taking photos.
Camel Peak
Camel Peak is one of the representative imagery peaks of Guifeng, with an altitude of 486 meters and a relative height of 200 meters. It is named because the mountain is shaped like a camel. The peak is composed of several huge Danxia rocks, with distinct outlines of the head, hump and body, lifelike. To reach the top of Camel Peak, you need to climb about 1,800 steps. There are viewing platforms along the way, where you can enjoy the scenery of the surrounding peaks competing for beauty. The top of the mountain has a wide view, which is one of the best positions to overlook the panoramic view of Guifeng.
Tianran Sandie (Natural Three-stacked)
Tianran Sandie is located in the middle of the main Guifeng Scenic Area. It is a landscape formed by three huge Danxia rocks naturally stacked. The three rocks are connected up and down, like eggs piled up, but as stable as Mount Tai, which can be called a wonder of nature. The total height of the rocks is about 30 meters, and the diameter of the top rock is about 10 meters. The contact area between the bottom and the rock below is only tens of square centimeters. It seems precarious, but it has stood firm against thousands of years of wind and rain, showing the strange mechanical balance of the Danxia landform.
Food
Yiyang Rice Cake
Yiyang Rice Cake is a traditional specialty of Yiyang County, Jiangxi Province, and is sold in restaurants and specialty stores around Guifeng Scenic Area. It is made from high-quality local late rice through processes such as soaking, grinding, steaming, and pounding. It has a flexible and chewy texture and does not stick to the teeth. Yiyang Rice Cake can be stir-fried, boiled, or steamed. Common methods include stir-fried rice cake with green vegetables, stewed rice cake with spareribs, etc. It is delicious and is an important food in local festivals and daily diet, as well as a good gift for tourists to give to relatives and friends.
Guifeng Braised Pork
Guifeng Braised Pork is a specialty dish around the scenic area. It uses local native pork belly, which is blanched, fried, sliced, and then steamed with preserved vegetables in a bowl. The finished product is fatty but not greasy. The preserved vegetables absorb the fat of the meat, with a rich aroma and a rich taste. This dish is named because it originated from the Guifeng area, reflecting the characteristics of Gan cuisine that emphasizes seasoning and heat control. It is a common dish at local banquets.
Stir-Fried Noodles
Yiyang Stir-Fried Noodles is a common local folk snack, which can be found everywhere in restaurants and breakfast shops in Guifeng Scenic Area. It uses indica rice noodles as raw materials, mixed with ingredients such as eggs, green vegetables, shredded pork, and bean sprouts, and stir-fried over high heat. The noodles are smooth and chewy, with rich ingredients and a fresh and fragrant taste. Stir-fried noodles are quick to make and affordable, making them a convenient choice for tourists to replenish energy during their trip. There is a local saying that "eating stir-fried noodles for breakfast makes you energetic all day".
Scenic Area Restaurants
There are many restaurants in Guifeng Scenic Area, mainly distributed near the tourist center and various scenic spots, offering Gan cuisine, home-cooked dishes and other dishes, such as steamed Qingshui Lake fish, farm tofu, stir-fried wild vegetables, etc. The ingredients in the restaurants are mostly locally sourced, fresh and natural. Among them, Qingshui Lake fish is the most famous, with tender meat and delicious taste. The average consumption is about 60-100 yuan, which can meet the dining needs of tourists.
Tickets
The ticket price is 60 yuan per person, and the combined ticket (including ticket, sightseeing bus, and cruise ship) is 148 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "江西龟峰旅游" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are 8:00-17:00 daily (April 1 - October 31) and 8:30-16:30 daily (November 1 - March 31 of the next year). Ticket sales stop one hour before closing. It is recommended that tourists arrange their time reasonably to avoid missing the visiting hours.
Tour Route
Visitors can enter through the main gate of the scenic area, take a sightseeing bus (about 10 minutes) to reach the entrance of the main scenic area, first enjoy the panoramic view of Sandie Guifeng (Three-stacked Turtle Peak) and take photos as a memento (about 20 minutes); then walk to Tianran Sandie (Natural Three-stacked) to admire the peculiar rock-stacking landscape (about 30 minutes); next, head to Camel Peak and climb to the top to overlook the panoramic view (about 2 hours); after going down the mountain, go to Qingshui Lake and take a cruise to visit the lake surface and surrounding landscapes (about 1 hour); have lunch at the lakeside restaurant at noon (about 1 hour); in the afternoon, proceed to Nanyan Scenic Area to visit Nanyan Temple and the cliff carvings (about 1.5 hours). The total visiting time is approximately 6-7 hours. Visitors can adjust the itinerary according to their physical strength. Those with insufficient strength can reduce mountain-climbing activities and increase the time spent on boat tours.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Nanchang, drive along Shanghai-Kunming Expressway to Yiyang Exit, then drive along National Highway 320 towards Guifeng for about 10 kilometers to reach the scenic area, with a total journey of about 2.5 hours; starting from Shangrao, drive along Shanghai-Kunming Expressway to Yiyang Exit, with a journey of about 1 hour. The charging standard for the scenic area parking lot is 10 yuan/day for small cars and 20 yuan/day for large cars.
- High-speed rail: Take the high-speed rail to Yiyang High-Speed Rail Station. After exiting the station, you can take the scenic area direct bus to Guifeng Scenic Area, with a journey of about 20 minutes and a fare of 10 yuan per person. The departure time is connected with the arrival time of the high-speed rail.
- Bus: Take bus No. 5 in Yiyang County to reach Guifeng Scenic Area directly, with a journey of about 30 minutes and a fare of 2 yuan per person. The operation time is 6:30-18:00, with one bus every 30 minutes.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Sandie Guifeng: The iconic landscape of the scenic area, composed of three stacked turtle-shaped peaks, with an altitude of 418 meters and a high degree of imagery. It is the core representative of Guifeng's Danxia landform and not to be missed.
- Nanyan Temple: The "First Grotto in the South of the Yangtze River" built on a natural cave, with Tang Dynasty cliff statues and Ming and Qing buildings. It integrates natural and cultural landscapes and has a profound cultural heritage.
- Camel Peak: A Danxia peak shaped like a camel, with an altitude of 486 meters. Climbing to the top allows you to overlook the panoramic view. The climbing process is both challenging and ornamental, suitable for tourists who like hiking.
Travel Suggestions
- It is recommended to visit on a sunny day. The Danxia landform has more vivid colors in the sun, with better photo effects; the mountain roads are slippery on rainy days, so be careful when climbing.
- Wear comfortable sports shoes when climbing, carry an appropriate amount of drinking water and dry food. Some sections of the scenic area are steep, and you can prepare a hiking stick for assistance.
- Pay attention to sun protection when traveling in summer, and carry a sun hat and sunscreen; keep warm in winter, as some sections may have frost.
- The guide maps and signposts in the scenic area are clear. You can download an electronic guide APP in advance or rent a scenic area interpreter (30 yuan/unit) to learn more about the geological and cultural stories behind the landscapes.
Notes
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. Protect the Danxia landform and ecological environment, and do not climb undeveloped peaks and rocks at will.
- When climbing, abide by the principle of "don't look at the scenery while walking, don't walk while looking at the scenery", especially in steep sections such as Camel Peak. Pay attention to safety and do not chase or fight.
- When visiting religious places such as Nanyan Temple, abide by etiquette, do not make noise, do not touch Buddha statues and cultural relics, and respect religious beliefs.
- When taking a cruise ship or bamboo raft, wear a life jacket, do not stand or shake on the boat, and follow the instructions of the staff.
- The mobile phone signal in the scenic area is good, but it may be weak in some valley areas. It is recommended to keep in touch with fellow travelers to avoid getting separated; the scenic area has an emergency help phone, which can be dialed in case of emergency.