Wanfo Mountain is located in Taipingyan Village, Linkou Town, Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province. It is a National Scenic Area and a 4A-level tourist attraction. Covering a total area of 168 square kilometers, the scenic area consists of five major parts: Wanfo Mountain, Ziyun Mountain, Qixing Mountain, Shenxian Cave, and Jiangjun Mountain. Featuring danxia landforms, it boasts the largest danxia peak forest landscape group in China, with 68 peaks of varying sizes, including 28 peaks above 500 meters above sea level and a maximum altitude of 635 meters. The scenic area is covered with dense vegetation, with a forest coverage rate of over 95% and an extremely high content of negative oxygen ions in the air, making it a natural oxygen bar.
History and Culture
Wanfo Mountain has a profound historical and cultural heritage. Research shows that human activities existed here as early as the Neolithic Age. Shenxian Cave in the scenic area was once a Buddhist sacred site, and the existing stone carvings and inscriptions inside record the spread of Buddhism in the local area. Among them, the grotto statues in Shenxian Cave, carved in the Song Dynasty, consist of 108 Buddha statues, making it one of the largest and best-preserved Buddhist grotto statue groups found in Hunan Province.
In addition, Wanfo Mountain is one of the important birthplaces of Dong culture. The local Dong people have lived and multiplied here, creating a unique Dong culture, such as the Grand Song of the Dong Ethnic Group, Dong brocade, and Dong flute. The Dong village buildings in the scenic area have a distinctive style, with well-preserved wind and rain bridges, drum towers, and other structures, demonstrating the wisdom and creativity of the Dong people.
Main Attractions
Main Peak of Wanfo Mountain
With an altitude of 635 meters, the Main Peak of Wanfo Mountain is the core attraction of the scenic area. Climbing to the top, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding danxia peaks, presenting a spectacular scene of "Ten Thousand Buddhas Worshiping the Ancestor". The top of the mountain also preserves the ruins of a Ming Dynasty temple and cliff carvings, which have high historical and cultural value.
Nanhai Divine Turtle
It is a typical pictographic danxia landscape. The mountain is round and stable in shape, resembling a divine turtle lying prone in the blue sea. The dense vegetation on its back is like moss covering the turtle's body. The raised turtle shell, curved neck, slightly raised head, and a cluster of green in the middle of the head form its blinking eyes.
Money-Grabbing Tree
Centered on Wanfo Mountain, it is surrounded by Wanfu Mountain (Mountain of Ten Thousand Blessings), Wanlu Mountain (Mountain of Ten Thousand Emoluments), Wanshou Mountain (Mountain of Ten Thousand Longevities), and Wanxi Mountain (Mountain of Ten Thousand Joys), making it a place that gathers wealth and treasures. The roots of this plant are basically exposed outside the stone wall, as if trying to absorb more spiritual energy from Wanfo Mountain and use its vines to grasp more wealth and blessings, preventing them from flowing away. It is hoped that all visitors entering Wanfo Mountain can, like this plant, climb to the golden top with a pious heart and bring back blessings, emoluments, longevities, joys, and wealth to their families and friends.
Wanfo Golden Top
With an altitude of 635 meters, it is said that in the past, this place was full of steep cliffs with no roads up or down. However, a monk meditated on Buddhism here, and suddenly golden light emanated from the top of his head, illuminating the entire mountain with brilliant rays. Villagers nearby came to worship one after another, saying that this was the incarnation of the Bodhisattva. Therefore, they gathered the strength of the people to open up a road to the top.
Tour Route
Covered Bridge → Nanhai Divine Turtle Observation Deck → Money-Grabbing Tree → Ten Thousand Buddhas Worshiping the Ancestor Observation Deck → Climb Wanfo Golden Top → Return via the same route.
Tour Suggestions
- It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes and sportswear for mountain climbing and hiking.
- Bring sufficient drinking water and snacks, as there are few shops in the scenic area with relatively high prices.
- When visiting the scenic area in summer, pay attention to sun protection and heatstroke prevention. You can bring sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hats, and other items.
- When visiting the scenic area in winter, keep warm as the temperature on the mountain is relatively low. You can bring down jackets, scarves, gloves, and other items.
- Respect the local customs, traditions, and religious beliefs. Keep quiet when entering temples and do not make loud noises.
Notes
- The mountain roads in the scenic area are steep. Pay attention to safety when climbing and do not climb undeveloped areas.
- The ground inside Shenxian Cave is slippery. Be careful to prevent slipping and falling.
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. Please take good care of the environment and keep the scenic area clean.
- When taking the scenic area sightseeing bus, abide by the boarding order and do not crowd or scramble for seats.
- In case of bad weather or emergencies, follow the arrangements of the scenic area staff and evacuate from dangerous areas in a timely manner.
Transportation
- By Air: Take a flight to Huaihua Zhijiang Airport, then take an airport bus to Huaihua City, transfer to a long-distance bus to Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, and finally take a taxi or scenic area shuttle bus to Wanfo Mountain Scenic Area.
- By Train: Take a train to Huaihua Railway Station, then transfer to a long-distance bus to Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, and finally take a taxi or scenic area shuttle bus to Wanfo Mountain Scenic Area.
- By Self-Driving: Starting from Huaihua City, drive along Baomao Expressway, exit at Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, then drive along National Highway 209 to Wanfo Mountain Scenic Area. The whole journey is about 180 kilometers, with a driving time of about 2.5 hours.
- Scenic Area Shuttle Bus: There are daily shuttle buses between Tongdao Dong Autonomous County Seat and Wanfo Mountain Scenic Area, departing at 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, and 16:00.
Opening Hours
Open all year round, from 8:00 to 17:30. It may be temporarily closed in case of special weather.
Ticket Information
The ticket price is 68 yuan per person.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.
