Baoshan Scenic Area

Overview

About

Mount Bao lies in Dagan township, Shunchang County, Fujian, part of the Green Triangle tourism circle of north-west Fujian and the greater Wuyi eco-tourism area, 40 km from the Shunchang county seat and 16 km from National Highway 316; the Yingtan–Xiamen railway passes through Dagan. Popularly called “Stone Treasure Mountain”, the scenic area covers about 25 km² with 17 km² under ecological protection. Strange peaks, grotesque rocks, the sea of clouds, sunrise and the Buddha’s halo are its “five wonders”; a grove of thousand-year gingkos, ten thousand mu of bamboo and an ancient temple of sandstone imitating timber are its “three treasures”. The main hall of Baoshan Temple, China’s only Yuan-dynasty building of sandstone wholly imitating timber construction, is a national protected site; the South Heavenly Gate ruins and the Great Sage Temple are material evidence for the novel Journey to the West and for folk animal worship in Fujian. Rare animals such as the bamboo partridge, flying fox and the golden kaiser-i-hind butterfly, a first-class protected species called “the fairy of butterflies”, are seen in the forest; ginseng, coptis, dendrobium, anoectochilus and other medicinal herbs and the red mushroom, purple bamboo and Guanyin bamboo grow here; quartz, crystal, lead, zinc, tungsten, copper, gold and silver give the mountain its “treasure”. A gravel forest road runs from Highway 316 to Shanghu village on the mountain.

It is in the seventh batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 2009.

Travel tips

Getting there: Mount Bao is in Dagan town, Shunchang County, Nanping. Go to Shunchang first, which has a station on the Yingtan-Xiamen railway, then drive about 40 km to Dagan. From Nanping or Sanming you can drive on National Road 316 and turn onto the forest road.

The road: The last stretch is a gravel forest road that gets slippery after rain. Drive slowly, or hire a car in Shunchang.

Main sights: The Hall of Baoshan Temple is a Yuan dynasty sandstone building in the style of a timber hall and is a nationally protected monument. The South Heaven Gate site, the Great Sage Temple, the old ginkgo grove and the bamboo forest are spread over the mountain.

Route: Enter near Shanghu village, visit the temple and the ginkgo trees first, then climb to a high point for the sea of clouds. Routes are on foot, and a loop takes about half a day.

Time: A day trip from Shunchang is possible. To see sunrise and cloud, stay a night on the mountain or in Dagan.

Season: Ginkgo leaves turn yellow in autumn and the air is clear. Summer is cool but wet; winter is cold and damp, with occasional ice.

Where to stay: Facilities on the mountain are basic. Most people stay in Shunchang town, and some in farm lodgings in Dagan.

Caution: Mist is frequent; stay on the paths when visibility is poor. Insects are common in the forest in spring and summer, so wear long trousers.

Nearby

Straight-line distances. Search nearby