Langya Mountain Scenic Area is located in Langya District, Chuzhou City, Anhui Province, about 5 kilometers southwest of Chuzhou City, serving as an important ecological barrier in eastern Anhui. It is a National Key Scenic and Historic Area and a National 5A-level Tourist Attraction, featuring "the beauty of mountains and waters, the excellence of forests and springs, and the elegance of historical sites", integrating natural landscapes, cultural history, and religious culture.
The total area of the scenic area is about 115 square kilometers, belonging to the north subtropical humid monsoon climate with distinct four seasons. The forest coverage rate is over 90%, and the negative oxygen ion content is extremely high, known as a "natural oxygen bar". There are more than 10 groups of ancient buildings and nearly 300 cliff inscriptions in the scenic area, including landmark structures such as Langya Temple, Zuiweng Pavilion, and Fengle Pavilion, serving as an important window to display the culture of eastern Anhui and Ouyang Xiu's culture.
History and Culture
Langya Mountain has a long history, named after Sima Zhou, the Prince of Langya in the Western Jin Dynasty, who once stationed troops here. Since the Tang Dynasty, Langya Mountain has gradually become a popular destination for literati and scholars. Famous figures of past dynasties like Wei Yingwu, Ouyang Xiu, and Su Shi have left their footprints and masterpieces here. In the sixth year of the Qingli Period (1046) of the Northern Song Dynasty, Ouyang Xiu was demoted to the Prefect of Chuzhou and often visited here, writing the eternal masterpiece Record of Zuiweng Pavilion, which made Langya Mountain famous worldwide.
Langya Mountain is also a Buddhist holy land. Langya Temple was first built in the sixth year of the Dali Period (771) of the Tang Dynasty, co-constructed by Li Youqing, the Prefect of Chuzhou, and the monk Fachen. Originally named "Baoying Temple", it was renamed several times and became "Langya Temple" during the Northern Song Dynasty. It is one of the famous Buddhist temples in the Jianghuai region. The temple preserves precious cultural relics such as the cliff inscriptions by Li Youqing of the Tang Dynasty and the stone inscriptions of Record of Zuiweng Pavilion written by Su Shi of the Song Dynasty, with extremely high historical and artistic value.
In addition, Langya Mountain is also closely related to Bao Zheng, a famous minister of the Song Dynasty. When Bao Zheng served as the Prefect of Chuzhou, he built "Xingxin Pavilion" in the mountain and wrote Record of Xingxin Pavilion. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the development and construction of Langya Mountain reached its peak, forming a core landscape pattern of "one temple, one pavilion, and one spring", becoming a cultural landmark in eastern Anhui.
Main Attractions
Zuiweng Pavilion
Zuiweng Pavilion is located on the halfway up Langya Mountain, first built in the seventh year of the Qingli Period (1047) of the Northern Song Dynasty, named by Ouyang Xiu himself and described in Record of Zuiweng Pavilion. The current pavilion was rebuilt in the seventh year of the Guangxu Period (1881) of the Qing Dynasty, covering an area of about 500 square meters. It is the first of the Four Famous Pavilions in China. Inside the pavilion, there are stone inscriptions of Record of Zuiweng Pavilion written by Su Shi. Surrounding the pavilion are buildings such as "Erxian Hall", "Baosong Study", and "Yizai Pavilion", forming a group of classical garden architectures with exquisite layout and simple style.
Langya Temple
Langya Temple is the main Buddhist temple in Langya Mountain, first built in the Tang Dynasty, with the existing buildings reconstructed during the Tongzhi Period of the Qing Dynasty. The temple covers an area of about 30,000 square meters, with main buildings including the Mountain Gate, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Scripture Collection Building, built along the mountain with a scattered layout. The "Langya Ancient Temple" archway in the temple is a relic from the Ming Dynasty, and the Mahavira Hall preserves bronze Buddha statues from the Ming Dynasty and wooden Buddha statues from the Qing Dynasty, with high cultural relic value. Behind the temple is "South Tianmen", from where you can climb high to overlook Chuzhou Urban Area.
Fengle Pavilion
Fengle Pavilion is located in the valley of Langya Mountain, about 1 kilometer away from Zuiweng Pavilion. It was built by Ouyang Xiu in the sixth year of the Qingli Period (1046) of the Northern Song Dynasty, taking the meaning of "abundant harvest" and "enjoying happiness with the people". The pavilion is hexagonal, covering an area of about 200 square meters, with stone inscriptions of Record of Fengle Pavilion written by Su Shi inside. Surrounded by green trees and gurgling streams, it is an excellent portrayal of Ouyang Xiu's description: "the wild flowers bloom with delicate fragrance, and the beautiful trees thrive with dense shade".
Shenxiu Lake
Shenxiu Lake is located in the middle of Langya Mountain, named after "looking at it, it is lush and deep" in Record of Zuiweng Pavilion. The lake covers an area of about 15,000 square meters, with clear water and lush forests around, forming a delightful reflection. There is a small island in the lake, on which the "Huxin Pavilion" is built, accessible via a nine-turn bridge. Along the lake are landscapes such as "Xixin Pavilion" and "Lansheng Pavilion", serving as good places for tourists to rest and enjoy the scenery.
Delicacies
Chuzhou Brine Goose
Chuzhou Brine Goose is a characteristic food around Langya Mountain, with a history of more than 200 years. Made from locally free-range geese through pickling and brining, it features tender meat, moderate saltiness, and unique flavor. Goose meat is rich in protein and various trace elements, with the efficacy of replenishing qi and blood and benefiting the spleen and stomach, being the first choice for tourists to taste local cuisine.
Langya Crispy Candy
Langya Crispy Candy is a traditional famous snack in Chuzhou, named after being produced in the Langya Mountain area. Made from main ingredients such as sesame seeds, white sugar, and maltose through multiple processes including frying, boiling, pulling, and cutting, it has a milky white color, crispy and sweet taste, and melts in the mouth. Its production technique is listed in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Anhui Province, making it an excellent gift for relatives and friends.
Leiguan Preserved Duck
Leiguan Preserved Duck is produced in Leiguan Town, Lai'an County, Chuzhou City, about 30 kilometers away from Langya Mountain, and is a famous traditional specialty in Anhui. Made from local Muscovy ducks through pickling, brining, and baking, it has a full shape, golden color, crispy skin, tender meat, and a salty and savory taste. With a unique production process and a history of more than 100 years, Leiguan Preserved Duck is an important choice for tourists to taste the cuisine of eastern Anhui.
Surrounding Delicacies
There are also characteristic foods around the scenic area such as Chuzhou Roast Duck, Dingyuan Braised Beef, and Chihe Meibai Fish. Chuzhou Roast Duck has crispy skin and tender meat, fat but not greasy; Dingyuan Braised Beef is made from high-quality yellow beef braised in old soup, with a rich aroma; Chihe Meibai Fish is named after being produced in Chihe Town, Dingyuan County, with tender meat and delicious taste, and spring is the best season to eat it every year.
Tickets
The ticket price is 60 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "琅琊山景区" on WeChat to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open year-round from 7:30 to 18:00 (entry stops at 17:30). The opening hours may be adjusted during legal holidays and tourist seasons (such as Spring Festival, May Day, National Day, etc.), and the specific time shall be subject to the official notice of the scenic area. Tourists should pay attention to the opening hours when visiting and arrange their itinerary reasonably.
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: Scenic Area Gate → Langya Temple → Shenxiu Lake → Zuiweng Pavilion → Erxian Hall → Baosong Study → Fengle Pavilion → South Tianmen → Langya Pavilion. This route covers the main attractions of the scenic area, allowing you to enjoy both natural scenery and experience historical and cultural atmosphere, taking about 5-6 hours in total. Tourists can also adjust the route according to their own interests and time, such as taking a cable car up the mountain to save energy or taking a boat tour on Shenxiu Lake.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Chuzhou Bus No. 4, No. 11, No. 15, or K1 to "Langya Mountain Scenic Area" Station and get off.
- Taxi: Taking a taxi from the center of Chuzhou City to Langya Mountain Scenic Area takes about 15 minutes, costing about 15-20 yuan.
- Self-driving: The scenic area has a large parking lot. Self-driving vehicles can go along Langya Ancient Road from the center of Chuzhou City, with the whole journey about 5 kilometers. The parking fee is 10 yuan per time for small vehicles and 20 yuan per time for large vehicles.
- Tourist Special Line: There are multiple tourist special lines in Chuzhou City directly reaching Langya Mountain Scenic Area. For details, please consult local travel agencies or check the scenic area's official website.
Must-visit Attractions
- Zuiweng Pavilion: The first of the Four Famous Pavilions in China, famous worldwide for Ouyang Xiu's Record of Zuiweng Pavilion, experiencing thousands of years of cultural heritage.
- Langya Temple: An ancient temple from the Tang Dynasty, a Buddhist holy land in the Jianghuai region, admiring ancient buildings and precious cultural relics.
- Fengle Pavilion: Built by Ouyang Xiu, known as the "sister pavilion" of Zuiweng Pavilion, experiencing the feelings of "enjoying happiness with the people".
- Shenxiu Lake: The lake and mountain scenery set each other off, walking along the lake to feel the artistic conception of "lush and deep".
- South Tianmen: The commanding height of Langya Mountain, climbing high to overlook Chuzhou Urban Area and enjoy the scenery of Jianghuai.
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to enter the park as early as possible after opening at 7:30 in the morning to avoid the tourist peak and enjoy the quiet mountain scenery.
- Wear comfortable sports shoes as there are many steps and mountain roads in the scenic area for convenient sightseeing.
- Pay attention to sun protection and heatstroke prevention in summer; carry a sun hat, sunscreen, and enough drinking water. Keep warm in winter, especially when climbing mountains.
- It is recommended to learn about Ouyang Xiu's Record of Zuiweng Pavilion and other related literary works in advance to better appreciate the cultural connotation of the scenic area.
- Reserve enough time to visit Langya Temple and feel the charm of Buddhist culture and ancient architecture.
- You can take a boat tour on Shenxiu Lake to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery and relax.
Notes
- Abide by the regulations of the scenic area and do not climb dangerous areas such as ancient trees and rocks at will.
- Protect the environment of the scenic area, do not spit or litter, and care for cultural relics, historical sites, and flowers and trees.
- Pay attention to safety during mountain climbing, especially when the road is slippery in rainy days; it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes.
- Some sections in the scenic area are relatively steep, so it is recommended that the elderly and children visit under the company of family members.
- If you need to photograph cultural relics or exhibits, please check whether photography is allowed in the scenic area and abide by relevant regulations.
- In case of bad weather or special circumstances, the scenic area may temporarily close some attractions or adjust opening hours. Please pay attention to the scenic area's notice.