Park of China
Overview
| Designation | National Park of China (second batch) |
| Province | Hebei |
| Location | Jingxing, Hebei, in the Taihang Mountains |
| Mountains | Taihang Mountains |
| Latitude, longitude | 37.8, 114.1 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Taihang cliffs, ancient buildings, a temple hung over a gorge |
| Top sights | The Bridge Tower Hall, Fuqing Temple |
| Area | 180 km² |
| Highest point | 1,000 m |
| Nearby cities | Shijiazhuang (Hebei), Jingxing |
| Nearby sites | Zhangshiyan 37km, Xibaipo 55km, Mount Wutai 139km, Ancient City of Pingyao 185km, Yin Xu, Anyang 192km Search nearby |
| Themes | Mountain, Cliff, Ancient Building, Temple, Buddha, Waterfall, Forest |
About
Mount Cangyan lies 30 km south-east of Jingxing County, Hebei, and 70 km from Shijiazhuang, a spur of the Taihang over 1,000 m high; the scenic area covers 180 km² and was in the second batch of national parks.
The hills around are bare, but this mountain is green with ancient trees, hence the name “Green Cliff”; an old poem praises it as gathering the wonders of the Five Sacred Mountains in one hill, unrivalled among the Taihang peaks. Sheer cliffs, towering old trees and layered green ridges, waterfalls above and clear springs below: the “sixteen views of Cangyan” include the Green Ravine’s Sacred Sandalwood, the Shaded Cliff’s Stone Milk and the Pearl Set in the Precipice. The climate is mild, with neither bitter winter nor scorching summer, a resort for sightseeing and escaping the heat.
There are many ancient buildings: Fuqing Temple, the academy, the Hall of Ten Thousand Immortals, the Princess Shrine, the Bridge Tower Hall, the Jade Emperor Summit, the Fenghui Pavilion and the Sutra Library. Between two facing cliffs springs a single-arch stone bridge 15 m long and 9 m wide, and on it, some 70 m above the gorge, stands the Bridge Tower Hall, one of China’s three “hanging” temples and a masterpiece of ancient architecture. North of it is Fuqing Temple, where Princess Nanyang, daughter of the Sui emperor Yang, is said to have become a nun and lived in the Princess Shrine.
The mountain was a location for the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Travel tips
Getting there: from Shijiazhuang, first go to Jingxing County town, then continue by bus or car to Mount Cangyan; the whole trip takes about an hour and a half. Shijiazhuang's airport and high-speed station both serve as starting points.
The climb: from the gate, steps lead up past the Wanxian Hall to the Bridge Pavilion, then north to the Princess Shrine; all of these belong to Fuqing Temple. There are many steps; one way takes about an hour at an easy pace.
Bridge Pavilion: the hall stands on a stone arch bridge between two cliffs. It is worth lingering here, looking up from beneath the bridge and walking through the hall itself.
Time: half a day covers the main old buildings; stay a full day to go deeper into the hills.
Season: the mountain is cooler than the plain in summer, which makes it a summer retreat, and autumn colour is good. In winter the steps may ice over.
Where to stay: there are hotels in the county town and farmhouse lodgings at the foot of the mountain. Most visitors return to Shijiazhuang the same day.
Caution: the steps are steep, so wear non-slip shoes. The temple is a religious site, so keep quiet inside the halls.
Photo credits: The Bridge Tower Hall, Mount Cangyan: Rolf Müller (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| World Heritage | Mount Wutai 139km, Ancient City of Pingyao 185km, Yin Xu, Anyang 192km, Western Qing Tombs 200km |
| National parks | Zhangshiyan 37km, Xibaipo–Mount Tiangui Scenic Area 56km, Taihang Grand Canyon 82km, White Cloud Cave, Mount Kong 88km |
| Detailed guides | Mount Tiangui 59km |
| AAAAA attractions | Xibaipo 55km, Hengshui Lake Tourist Area 130km, Guangfu Ancient City Scenic Area 136km, Jinci Temple and Tianlongshan Scenic Area 150km |
| AAAA attractions | Pingding Niangziguan Scenic Area 27km, Baoduzhai Scenic Area 31km, North China Military Region Martyrs Cemetery 37km, Pingding Hongyanling Scenic Area 39km |
| Historic cities | Zhengding County 52km |
| Cities | Shijiazhuang 37km, Taiyuan 135km |
| Historical sites | Fuqing Temple <1km, Fenglong Mountain Grottoes 17km, Pingding Machiyan Temple 19km, Jingxing Old Town City Wall 21km |
| National geoparks | Lincheng National Geopark 53km, Fuping Tianshengqiao National Geopark 121km, Wu'an National Geopark 126km, Yushe Paleontological Fossil National Geopark 146km |
| Nature reserves | Qingyazhai National Nature Reserve 101km, Tuoliang National Nature Reserve 104km, Hengshui Lake National Nature Reserve 130km |
| Historic towns | Tianchang Town 21km, Niangziguan Town 28km |
| Historic villages | Yujia Village 16km, Waling Village 29km, Shangpanshi Village 32km, Xiadongzhai Village 33km |