A brief description of Wuyishan

Mount Wuyi is located in Wuyishan City, Fujian Province, China. Mount Wuyi is the most outstanding area for biodiversity conservation in south-east China and a refuge for a large number of ancient, relic species, many of them endemic to China. The serene beauty of the dramatic gorges of the Nine Bend River, with its numerous temples and monasteries, many now in ruins, provided the setting for the development and spread of neo-Confucianism, which has been influential in the cultures of East Asia since the 11th century. In the 1st century B.C. a large administrative capital was built at nearby Chengcun by the Han dynasty rulers. Its massive walls enclose an archaeological site of great significance The river landscape of the Nine Bend River (lower gorge) is also of exceptional scenic quality in its juxtaposition of smooth rock cliffs with clear, deep water. The Mount Wuyi landscape has been protected for more than twelve centuries. It contains a series of exceptional archaeological sites. Mount Wuyi was the cradle of neo-Confucianism, a doctrine that played a dominant role in the countries of Eastern and South-Eastern Asia for many centuries and influenced philosophy and government over much of the world. Mount Wuyi was first a center of Taoism, when many temples and study centers were established, but Buddhism also developed alongside, and by the 17th century had largely superseded Taoism.and inscriptions in this area. Also of interest is evidence of the tea culture: in the 11th to 16th centuries there was an imperial tea farm here, which produced tea for the imperial court.
Da Wang Feng & Yu Nu Feng
A very beautiful love story

Once upon a time there was a handsome and hardworking young man by the name of Da Wang who lived in Wuyishan. At that time, the people living in the mountains were poor and their livelihood depended very much on the produce from the land they tilled. Due to frequent floods, the harvests were meager and many farmers were hungry and sick.
Da Wang was aware of the dire situation and started to mobilize the farmers to improve the drainage by cutting through the mountain and digging a river to discharge the flood water. They worked hard and soon the Jiuqu (nine-turn) stream was formed. The stream vastly improved the harvests from the land and the people were happy and contented.
A young and beautiful god-daughter called Yu Nu from heaven was drifting in the sky in one clear day and saw below a vast stretch of green fields beside the beautiful meandering Jiuqu stream and the people were all happy and smiling. It was the most beautiful and peaceful place she had ever seen on earth.
She descended from the sky and met Da Wang who showed her around and explained to her what he had done to transform this place into a wonderland. Yu Nu was deeply impressed and was pleased to stay in the scenic mountain.
Soon Yu Nu fell in love with Da Wang and decided to marry him and settle down in this wonderland.
In the mean time Yu Nu’s father up in heaven was concerned that his daughter had not returned for a long while and decided to send a messenger to earth to look for her. The messenger found her but could not persuade her to return to heaven because she was very happy to live on earth with Da Wang. The father was angry and decided to terminate the lives of Da Wang and Yu Nu. He gave his permission and power to the messenger to petrify them. They were soon transformed together into a massive peak.
But the father was still not satisfied and wanted to separate the peak into two. To do that the messenger had to devise a means. A wicked man in the mountain knew about the god’s intention and volunteered to be used as a tool to separate the peak on condition that his soul would go to heaven.
The god agreed and turned the wicked man into an iron plate to split the peak into two. The wicked man was turned into another peak separating the two so that Da Wang and Yu Nu could not see each other.
So that was how Da Wang Peak and Yu Nu Peak were separated, one on each side of the Jiuqu stream with another peak called Tie Pan (iron plate) Peak in between the two.
Though Da Wang and Yu Nu could not see each other directly they can still do from the reflection in Jiuqu stream!

Cloud Nest-Tianyou Scenic Area
is an area of 4.5 sq km, this scenic area includes Tianyou Peak; Tea Cave, Cloud Nest, Snowflake Spring, Immortal Bathing Pond, Huma Ravine and Yilan Pavilion.
Heavenly Tour Peak is one of the most popular sights on the Wuyi Mountain. It is the heart of Mount Wuyi. With an altitude of 408m and relative height of 215m, it runs from north to south.. there are dozens of caves in the area. In the mornings and evenings in spring and autumn, clouds and mist often come out of the caves, then moving among the peaks, then gathering together, and then scattering. hence the name Cloud Nest.
It can be divided into two parts: Left of Birds’ Eye View Pavilion belongs to Upper Heavenly Tour Peak, and the area along Flax Brooklet belongs to Lower Heavenly Tour Peak. At the south end of Lower Heavenly Tour Peak, there is a Heavenly Tour Daoist Temple. It’s a nice place for a rest.  You can have a rest there enjoying some tea and take some picturesque photos. You might also notice the there is a rare tree there, which will drop red beans onto the ground once matured Take note that though the mountain is not high, it is steep.

Nine Bend Stream (Jiuqu Xi) 九曲溪
Rafting down the Jiuqu River is a favorite with visitors. The nine bends are in a section of nine kilometers, and the visitor can board a raft and drift all the way down from the uppermost bend to the lowest, all the while enjoying the scenery on both banks and listening to the raftsman tell stories. The scenery along the Jiuqu River makes the visitor reluctant to leave.
The stream originates from the southwest foot of Huang Gang Peak, which is the main peak of the Wuyi Mountain, passing the Xingcun Town and running from west to east through the Wuyi Spot. It has nine twists, hence its name. The total length of the stream is 9.5 kilometers running through an area of 8.5 square kilometers. Short as it is, the stream has picturesque scenery and every twist has a different landscape view.
The stream water is so clear that you can see the stone at the bottom .The clear stream forms a delightful contrast with the red mountains, with each bend having its own unique landscapes. O-n both sides of the Nine Twists Stream stand grotesque rocks. Along the winding stream, there are both shallow and deep pools. Visitors can enjoy a tour in the Wuyi Mountain Scene Area by taking a boat, appreciating the mountains in the distance and visiting caves.
It is an exciting experience for tourists to cruise o-n a bamboo raft o-n the Nine Twists Stream. Over 9 kilometers passengers enjoy a vista of exotic peaks and many historical sites and relics along the bank while listening to the rafters tell of their beautiful legends and songs.
Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) Tea---Tea King DaHongPao Story

There lived high in Wuyishan a poor family with a son who excelled in his study. To further his studies he had to sit for an entrance examination in the city, a long distance from his village. He had to travel by foot and with little food to eat on his way he soon became exhausted and was completely spent and ill when he reached a temple in another village half way through his journey. The monk took pity on him and nursed him back to health with good tea and food.
After his recovery, he resumed his journey and took with him three packs of tea and food given by the monk who advised him to drink the tea if he were ill. He reached the city just in time to sit for the entrance examination which he passed with flying colors. He later graduated from the university and became a renowned scholar.
As he was also a handsome young man, the daughter of the Emperor fell in love with him and subsequently they got married and he became a nobleman. He lived a luxurious life in the palace but had not forgotten the people who had contributed to his success, particularly the monk.
Then one day the Empress fell ill. After all the available herbs could not cure her, He fed her with the tea given by the monk many years ago. Very soon the Empress recovered and enquired from her son-in-law the source of the tea. The son-in-law told her the story how he obtained the tea. The Empress told him to return to the village and obtain more of the tea to help the sick.
The request by the Empress gave him the opportunity to return to the village to pay respect to the monk.
He gathered sufficient food and with some of his subjects, journeyed his way to the village. He was glad to meet the monk but was sad to note that the temple was in a very run-down state. He decided to stay in the temple and help to renovate it. To help, he had to disrobe, put on the ordinary workers’ clothing and soil his hand.
As a nobleman, his official attire was a big red robe. After disrobed, he spread it over three tea plants beside the temple. The leaves of these three plants had good therapeutic values which had helped to cure his illness and that of the Empress. And that was how the tea obtained from those plants derived its name.
These three tea plants are said to be still growing today.
Yu Nu Feng (Jade Maiden Peak) 玉女峰
Yu Nu Feng symbolizes the beauty of Wuyi scenery. It looks different depending on the direction it is viewed. On the left it shows a traditional girl standing gracefully deep in thought. The rock surface appears skin-smooth while the shrubs on top represent a girl’s hair. On the right, the same peak looks completely different. It represents three girls standing close to each other. According to the local legend, the girl on the right loves flowers, the middle one loves to make-up whereas the one on the left is pregnant.
Tea King Dahongpao (Big Red Robe), 茶王大红袍
known as the Emperor of Tea, is a lightly fermented oolong. It o-nly grows around the Wuyi mountain rocks. It originated from wild rare tea plants that were found growing o-n the cliff of Wuyi Mountain. Dahongpao yields a golden yellow liquid that produces a pleasant long lasting aftertaste. This tea is also renowned for its nourishing medicinal properties.
The main component of Wuyi Tea is middle-sized or small-sized leaves and tea made of these leaves is called Wuyi rock-essence tea, which is the earliest Oolong Tea and the treasure of Oolong Tea. It grows in the area governed by Wuyishan City. Wuyi Rock Tea enjoys a long history. Being o-ne of the top tea in China, it is also the forefather of Oolong tea. It played an important role in the tea development in China. During the North and South Dynasty (about 479 A.D) the tea had already been well-known. Later in Song and Yuan Dynasty it was paid as a tribute to the royal family. In the sixth year of Dade Reign in Yuan Dynasty (about 1302 A.D), a Royal Tea Garden was set up by the bank of the Fourth-bend of the river. In Ming Dynasty tea makers improved the tea-processing techniques, thus producing the oolong tea, which is the present Rock tea. In the 17th century, Wuyi tea was even sold abroad and enjoyed an even greater reputation.Wuyi Rock Tea, with its "special rock charm and fragrance" is well-known at home and abroad. The most famous is the Big Rode Tea for it is the King of Tea.
The Wuyi Rock Tea is especially noted for its high quality, due to its natural environment of green mountains and clear waters, as well as its unique techniques. Therefore when you drink the tea, you'll feel an everlasting fragrance in your mouth. The "rock charm" of the tea has always been a delight and a desire.
Walking along in a picturesque narrow valley with a flowing creek to see the planet’s sole source of Da Hong Pao tea plants is most pleasant. The valley is grown with Da Hong Pao tea all supposedly derived from the three plants half way up the mountain, claimed to have been there for centuries
The three Da Hong Pao tea plants can produce only a pound of tea each year. And in year 2004, 20gm of it was auctioned for over RMB200,000! In olden days the tea leaves were reserved for the Emperors but now the political leaders in Beijing are the beneficiaries. The plants have never been watered and they have thrived on the soil’s rich nutrients all these years
The Water Curtain Cave 水帘洞
The Water Curtain Cave-Bishi Pock Scenic Area covering 17 sq km, the area embraces the following scenic spots: Water Curtain Cave, Eagle Beak Rock, Pavilions Hanging in The Air, Liuxiang Ravine, Green Lion Rock, Lotus Flower Peak and Bishi Rock. This ravine is just like a landscape corridor where everything is pure and fresh.
It is the biggest rock cave in the Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area. Located on the north side of Zhangtang Brook, the cave is formed due to the subsidence of the relatively soft horizontal rock strata as a result of water erosion.
Thus, unlike limestone caves, the Water Curtain Cave is spacious and can accommodate about one thousand people. There is a cascading spring on top of the cave, forming a waterfall of over 80 meters. When there’s plenty of water flowing down, it’s like a water spewing pipe, surging forward in a torrential tide; when there’s less water, the flow is like a white jade belt swaying in the wind. There are ruins of three stone buildings of the Hall of Three Sages, the Hall of Three Religions and the Pure Tenuousness Taoist Temple, as well as lots of ancient cliff engravings and inscriptions inside the cave.
the One Line Sky-Huxiao Rock Scenic Area 虎啸岩一线天
Over 17 sq. km, the One Line Sky-Huxiao Rock Scenic Area includes the following scenic spots: One Line Sky, Sanji Peak, Lounge Rock, Lingxiao Peak, Sancai Peak and Huxiao Rock
. Huxiao Rock rises straight from the ground, imposing and powerful. In the middle of the rock there is a huge cave. When the wind blows through it, it makes a sound like a tiger roaring. From the summit there is a panorama of a forest of peaks and floating white clouds. There are the famous Huxiaobajing including Bailiandu, Jiyunguan, Poxiandai, Pumendou, Fayuxianhe,Yuerquan,Bulangzhou,Binxidong,.
It is one of the major scenic spots of Wuyishan City.
A towering crag cuts across the mountain valley. There is a crack in middle of the crag, as if it had been cut by an ax. Looking through the crack, you will only see a thin line of sky. Hence the name One Line Sky. It is the longest, narrowest, and highest view of the sky in China. The rock is like a huge wall lying across a broad gully. Tourists entering the rock through Fuxi Cave can feel their way through the chill, dark, eeriness, and emerge at a spot where the rock opens out neatly to a stretch over 100 meters in length, o-ne meter in breadth, and at a height of dozens of meters. A narrow strip of sky can be seen at the tips of the vertical rocks that tower o-n both sides when looking up from the opening.
Great King Peak Scenic Area (Da Wang Feng) 大王峰
has an area of 3.5 sq km, including the following tourist attractions: Wuyi Palace, King Peak, Manting Peak, Sangu Rock, Three Purity Hall, Zhu Xi's Memorial Hall, Wanchu Garden and Song Dynasty Street. The place in front of the Wuyi Palace and near the outlet of the Nine Bend Stream is where emperors used to offer sacrifices to Lord Wuyi. The Wuyi Palace is one of the six famous Taoist temples in China. Some ancient scholars, such as Xin Qiji, Lu You and Zhu Xi, once served as supervisors here. The King Peak towers like a huge pillar supporting Heaven. The peak is surrounded by sheer precipices and overhanging rocks. There is only one path, from the south, leading to the top of the peak.
The Wuyi Palace-武夷山宫
The Wuyi Palace is the oldest palace in the Wuyi Mountain. Situated at the foot of the Great King Peak, the Wuyi Palace was first built in the Tianbao years (742-755 AD) of the Tang Dynasty and expanded to include more than 300 halls in the Song Dynasty. In mid autumn every year, sacrificial activities would be held in honor of Lord Wuyi and the Venerable Royal Lady. Currently, two dragon wells, the Wannian Palace and the Sanqing Hall are kept intact.
Wanniangong (Palace of Ten Thousand Years)
As one of famous Taoist religious service centers, it consisted of over three hundred halls and rooms in the Song and Ming Dynasties, but declined since mid Qing Dynasty. Today only one temple and two wells have remained.
Xiamei Ancient Village下梅古民居
A half day side trip to the ancient Xiamei Village is highly recommended
As an important part of the World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site in Mount Wuyi, Xiamei Village was also listed as one of China’s Famous Villages with Historical and Cultural Significance on September 16, 2005.
During the reign of Xianping in Northern Song Dynasty (998AD), Xiamei Village became an administrative district, a village in Chong’an County.
In the later Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Xiamei Village had been developed into a tea marketing hub, a starting point of the Ancient Tea Road. The Ancient Tea Road extended from northern Fujian to Moscow. In Ming and Qing dynasties, many merchants coming from the Shanxi Province travelled here to buy tea leaves and transfer them to the north, finally reaching Europe.
Today Xiamei Village is well known for its vernacular Ming and Qing Dwellings featuring exquisite brick, stone and wood carvings. A 900 meters long man made river winds cross the village from west to east, making a landscape of water and village in southern China.

Impression Dahongpao 印象大红袍:
It is the fifth and the latest production of Zhang Yimou's Impression features. After the "Liu Sanjie" in Guilin, "Lijiang" in Yunnan, "West Lake" in Hangzhou and Hainan Island, this time, China's tea King Dahongpao of Wuyi Mountain is given the 'Impression' treatment.
The show, which is scheduled to officially open on March 2nd, highlights the splendid scenery of Wuyi Mountain and its rich tea culture.
"Impression Dahongpao's" stage covers nearly one hectare. With a budget of 200 million yuan, or more than 29 million US dollars, the 70-minute show boasts a 360-degree angle setting and seating capacity of two thousand.
Elements of traditional stone and woodcarvings, residential housing, and the architectural style of Wuyi Mountain have been combined in the stage design.
The show, set in a tea park, projects the appearance of a giant teahouse, with waitresses dressed in traditional folk costumes serving Dahongpao, or Red Robe Tea, a Wuyi Mountain specialty with the reputation as China's "tea king".
Wang Chaoge, one of the general directors, said, "Tea is the essential aspect of the spectacle. What we are willing to tell people is that the quality of tea and the way we drink it is not important at all. What it matters is the mood we have when we drink. If you have the appropriate feeling, you are able to enter the space of zen and dispel the hustle and bustle urban life. Through the performance, we ask people to pursue peace and enjoy life."
The idea is split into five chapters, and most of the performers are Wuyi Mountain locals.
The Ancient Minyue Royal City 城村闽粤王城
Ancient Chengcun City Of The Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty Royal City of Minyue Kingdom in present-day Chengcun village is another important evidence of Wuyishan extraordinary past. Being the most well preserved Han Dynasty city in China, it's been under the intense national level protection. This city is a mirror for the Minyue Kingdom's history, culture, economy and politics, as well as a masterpiece of architecture. As shown by its ruins, this was a sizeable city consisting for splendid royal palaces alongside with extensive civilian settlements surrounding it, claiming sophisticated technique in civil planning, construction and artisanship that were part of Minyue people's highly advance civilization
The Qinglong waterfall 青龙瀑布
The Qinglong waterfall is located o-n the west of the Grand Canyon ecology park in Mount Wuyi. The 40-meter-wide Qinglong Waterfall at Tianzidi that cascades downhill from a height of 120 meters. It is known as the No. 1 Waterfall in East China. The forests are luxuriant around the waterfall .There are also plenty of wide animals and plants, including 1,017 varieties of higher plants, 93 species of beasts in vertebrates like taxus, tulip tree, emmenopterys henryi, white neck king pheasant, yellow belly tragopan, pangolin and so o-n. Fresh air generated by the magic virgin forest in the park is just like a natural oxygen bar where you can breathe the abundant oxygen, have a camping or forest bath, in the meantime taste the freshest foods produced here.
The main scenic spots are o-ne-step bridge, Shiluqinggang, Qingxitangshui, Lingshelianshi, Jingbanyuanfengdie, Luanshiyingbo, Qinglong waterfall, and other scenic spots including Wangtianting, Tongtianzhandao, Tongtian bridge, Wentian stone, Shengkan etc.

Longchuan Grand Canyon

Longchuan Grand Canyon is 21 kilometers away from the Wuyishan tour area and 18 kilometers from the core area of the Wuyishan preserve. The Longchuan Grand Canyon exposes its unique and flowing beauty to makes you feel like a fairy land when you enter
The moment you step into this canyon world, you enter a realm of picturesque landscape. Here, you can see the green ridges and peaks, the blossoming flower, the chirping birds and rare animals, the clear spring and the grand waterfall. The waterfall of United States Meilen Huan hangs down emptily along the rugged massif silver chain with jagged rocks of grotesque shapes. Elegant water fountains runs along the rugged surface of the mountains. Silvery water curtains bounce off the mountain just to reflect the colorful sunshine. Ancient trees with giant vines entwined thrusts into the sky. The Chinese wisteria is twined, collecting efficacious air but shape spirit in millennium. Large canyon floating is one of six major characteristics in Wuyishan. Besides, many other scenic spots, including Melaleuca waterfall, Joy waterfall, Kwun Yam waterfall, Hongyan plunging waterfall. Headstream waterfall.They are all worth visiting.
Huanggang Mountain Valley in DaAnYuan,Wuyishan
Huanggang Mountain Valley is charming during four seasons. In spring, the wild flowers will be in full blossom, the stream will wake up from a long dream and hum a tune to the mountain, trees will adopt the fresh green color and birds will twitter merrily. During summer, you will feel refreshed instantly the moment you step into the forest. If you are thirsty, you can drink directly from the stream. It is pure and unpolluted. You can also take your shoes off and walk on the clean and even stones, meditating or taking nice photos. In autumn, Huanggang Mountain Valley is a wonderland of the most diversified colors: red, yellow, brown, yellowish green. Every beholder of Huanggang Mountain Grand Valley will be astonished by the harmonious coexistence of mountains and streams. With unparallel beauty and most abundant color, it can drive the painters to their end of wits.
The stream,it has unique charm of its own. It comes from the heart of forest and finds it way along the rocks, forming waterfalls and pools before flowing into the Min River. Just like a naughty girl plays happily along the valley, this stream adds much vitality to the stately mountain which in return highlights her charm meanwhile. Go to the remote corner of Mount Wuyi and immerse yourself in a place far away from the exhausting city life, you will find it a rewarding and memorable hiking experience.