Fanjing Mountain

Chinese name: 梵净山（Fan Jing Shan ）
Location: Taiping Village, Jiangkou County, Tongren, Guizhou province.
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY100.00, sightseeing bus CNY20.00, Round-trip cable car CNY160.00
Estiamted tour time: 5-6 Hours
Recommended time to visit: Apr to Oct
Nearby attractions: Zhenyuan Ancient Town, Qianhu Miao Village, Nine-Dragon Cave, Miao King City, Nanhushan Nationa Forest Park, etc.

With a history of more than two thousand years, Fanjing Mountain is a famous cultural mountain located in Tongren city, Guizhou province  at an elevation of 2572 meters.. It is China's fifth-largest sacred Buddhist mountain and the main peak of Wuling Mountains, the National Nature Reserve, and a member of Man and Biosphere Reserve of the United Nations, covering an area of 567 square kilometers.

In July 2018, Fanjing Mountain was added to the World Natural Heritage List.

It was identified as the world's most well-preserved primeval forest, With 4,394 kinds of plants and 2,767 kinds of animals, one of the most abundant in the oriental deciduous forest biological areas.with mountains standing majestically, peaks rising one after another, streams crossing and waterfalls overshooting. Its famous attractions include Golden Summit with red clouds, Yuejing Mountain, Sleeping Buddha, Mushroom Stone,Jiulong Pond, Layers of Mountains,Phoenix Mountain, etc.

Mount Fanjing becomes a rare global biodiversity base because of its complex terrain and environment. According to research data, there are about 2000 kinds of existing plant species in the area. 31 of these species have been included to the National Protection List, including 6 species of national first-class and 25 species of national second-class protected plants. There are 44 different types of forests like dove trees, hemlock,beech forest,yellow polar etc. Mount Fanjing is also a habitat for endangered animals,like golden monkeys,Tibetan macaque,clouded leopard,serow and black bears. And among them golden monkeys which are also called the only children of the earth with only 800 remaining are key animals under direct state protection.

Buddhism on Mount Fanjing dated back to Tang Dynasty and became prosperous in Ming Dynasty. Ceci Stele established during the reign of Emperor Wanli describes Mount Fanjing which stands without being destroyed and stays famous and unique from ancient to modern times as the ancestor of all the mountains. Mount Fanjing called as the residence for Maitreya by Buddhists since ancient times makes the golden summit with rising moon and sun its center and 4 royal temples and 48 Buddhist convents scattered like stars the base to greet all people.The main hall, Chengen Palace and four or five other small palaces between Golden Summit and Yuejing Mountain protect the two Buddha from two sides.

Golden summit is the center of the mountains. The construction of two palaces on the summit facing each other, two Buddha waiting beside the emperor’s honor guard, boundless field, and the blissful heavenly palace is the striking masterpiece made by White Lotus Community in the Southern Song Dynasty, a miracle in the history development of famous Buddhism mountains and an exotic flower blooming above Golden Summit.

The miraculous natural phenomena and sacred human remains on Mount Fanjing are regarded as "the treasure of the earth and human beings"by the field of science and “the reflection of the merciful Bodhisattva’s spirit” by Buddhist.

Master Yicheng, the chairman of Chinese Buddhist Association inscribed "Maitreya Residence” for Mount Fanjing. Master Xuecheng, the vice chairman and secretary-general of Chinese Buddhist Association once said : "Mount Fanjing is the fifth largest Buddhist mountain in China, which is as famous as the residence of the Manjusri Bodhisattva on Wutai Mountain, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva on Emei Mountain, Earth Store Bodhisattva on Jiuhua Mountain as well as Guanyin Bodhisattva on Putuo Mountain in China.

The light of Buddha is one of the most exotic wonders on Mount Fanjing. People can often see colorful huge holo flying towards them with a picture of sitting Buddha’s shadows in a solemn atmosphere in the clouds the moment when the sun rises from the east and sets from the west. The scene is surprising and the light is so gorgeous.