Park of ChinaOverview
| Designation | National Park of China (fourth batch) |
| Province | Fujian |
| Location | Eastern outskirts of Fuzhou, Fujian |
| Rivers and lakes | Min River (Fujian) |
| Latitude, longitude | 26.1, 119.4 Google Maps |
| Nearby sites | Haitan Island 75km, Mandarin Duck Creek 111km, Mount Qingyuan 140km, Mount Taimu 141km, Quanzhou 178km Search nearby |
| Area | 19 km² |
| Highest point | 969 m |
| Nearby cities | Fuzhou (eastern outskirts) |
| Themes | City, Hill, Temple, Buddha, Ancient trees, Hiking & climbing |
About
Drum Mountain (Gushan) rises to 969 m on the north bank of the Min River on the eastern outskirts of Fuzhou, Fujian, 19 km², named for a huge drum-shaped rock on its summit. It has streams, waterfalls and springs, and Yongquan Temple.
Yongquan Temple stands at 455 m on the mountainside; its thousand-year cycad, chicken-wing-wood altar table and sutras written in blood are its “three treasures”.
Yongquan Temple began as the Huayan Temple founded in 783 and was rebuilt in 908; most of the present halls are Ming and Qing, keeping the layout of the Jiajing reign.
The Gushan cliff inscriptions, dating from the Song to modern times, became a national key cultural relic in 2001.
It is in the fourth batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 2002.
Travel tips
Getting there: Gu Mountain is in the eastern suburbs of Fuzhou, north of the Min River. Buses and taxis run from the city to the foot of the mountain; Fuzhou South station and Changle Airport both have connections to the city.
Going up: you can climb the old stone-step path, a long walk, or ride up to the Yongquan Temple area; check which transport is running.
Yongquan Temple: on the mid-slope, the centre of the mountain, with a cycad, an altar table of chicken-wing wood and a blood-script sutra among its relics.
Cliff inscriptions: the mountain holds many inscriptions from the Song dynasty onward, seen along the old path and around Lingyuan Cave and Heshui Rock.
Time: half a day to a day; walking up and down takes a full day.
Season: Fuzhou is hot in summer, so climb in the morning; autumn and winter have clearer weather and views.
Where to stay: Fuzhou city is the most convenient.
Nearby: the old quarter of Sanfang Qixiang, Yushan and Pingshan in Fuzhou can be joined with Gu Mountain; Gulangyu and Wuyi Mountain are farther.
Nearby
| World Heritage | Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China 178km, Eryilou 206km, Gulangyu 216km, Mount Wuyi 228km |
| National parks of China | Wuyishan National Park 228km |
| National parks | Shibachong Creek 18km, Mount Qingyun 56km, Haitan Island 75km, Jiulongji Waterfalls 110km |
| AAAAA attractions | Sanfang Qixiang Scenic Area 10km |
| AAAA attractions | Shangxiahang Culture Leisure Tourism Scenic Area 8km, Chuanzheng Culture Scenic Area 9km, Fuzhou National Forest Park (Fuzhou Botanical Garden) 16km, Minyue Water Town 28km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark 106km |
| Historic cities | Putian 80km |
| National key parks | Luoxingta Park 11km |
| Cities | Fuzhou 10km |
| Historical sites | Gushan Cliff Inscriptions <1km, Fuzhou Confucian Temple 9km, Fujian Shipyard Buildings 9km, Cliff Inscriptions and Statues of Wushishan and Yushan 10km |
| National geoparks | Baiyunshan National Geopark 58km, Pingnan Baishuiyang National Geopark 120km |
| Nature reserves | Daiyunshan National Nature Reserve 127km, Mangdangshan National Nature Reserve 146km |
| Historic villages | Linpu Village 5km, Min'an Village 6km, Qinjiang Village 13km |