# Mount Heng (Nanyue Hengshan) travel guide (南岳衡山) Hunan Province · Central China, China · 11 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/hunan/mount-heng-nanyue-hengshan ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Nanyue Grand Temple → Huayan Lake → Zhonglie Shrine → Banshan Pavilion → Xuandu Temple → Xiangnan Temple → Shoubinanshan Rock → Nantianmen Gate → Zhurong Peak (watch the sunset and the sea of clouds) → Gaotai Temple → Zangjing Hall ## The feel of the place - **Pilgrims:** The number of pilgrims who come to Nanyue to burn incense and worship the Buddha is hard to imagine. From the first to the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, the crowds can only be described as a sea of people. What sets pilgrims apart from ordinary visitors is their red: a red sleeveless vest, a red shoulder bag, or a red handkerchief—something red, in any case. During festival fairs, the spectacle of these red-clad processions has become a new sight in Nanyue. ## The feel of the place ### Travel Essentials 1. In local usage, “Hengshan” generally refers to Hengshan County, while “Nanyue” is the name of the Mount Heng scenic area. When asking for directions, buying tickets or taking transport, be sure to say “Nanyue” and not just “Hengshan.” 2. The weather on the mountain changes quickly, so visitors should bring rain gear. 3. The summit is about 10°C cooler than the foot of the mountain, so bring some warm clothing. 4. Apart from daily necessities and valuables, large luggage can be left at hotels near the Grand Temple at the foot of the mountain. You can also leave luggage there even if you do not stay overnight. ### Buddhism and Taoism Side by Side Buddhism and Taoism coexist on Mount Heng, sharing one mountain and even one temple complex, a rare feature among China's famous mountains. ### Preparation and Information ### Language Speaking Mandarin is perfectly adequate for communicating with locals. ### Climate and Best Time to Visit Because of the altitude, the temperature difference between the mountain and the foot is considerable: it is hot at the base and cold at the top. Locals have long described Mount Heng as having “three layers of sky”: from the foot of the mountain to Yuban Bridge, from Yuban Bridge to Banshan Pavilion, and from Banshan Pavilion to Zhurong Peak. The higher you go, the colder it gets. Spring is rainy, summer is not too hot and winter is not too cold, and for much of the year the mountain is shrouded in cloud and mist. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There and Away Hengyang is an important railway transfer hub in southern China, and reaching Mount Heng requires changing trains in Hengyang, so it is also the key transfer point for visiting the mountain. In terms of transport, the train is convenient for visitors from every direction. You can alight at Hengyang, Hengshan or Zhuzhou railway stations, then change to a bus to reach Nanyue District (formerly Nanyue Town), and from there transfer to a bus up to Mount Heng. ### Railway Several major north–south trunk lines, including the Beijing–Guangzhou and Zhejiang–Jiangxi lines, meet at Hengyang, so the train is one of the more convenient ways to reach Mount Heng. From Changsha South, you can also take a high-speed train to Hengshan West Station. The second-class seat fare is ¥64.5 and the journey takes 29 minutes. ### Road From Changsha: Take the Changsha–Nanyue tourist bus from the railway station directly to the Nanyue scenic area. Alternatively, take a city bus from the railway station to Changsha South Long-Distance Bus Station, then board the Changsha–Nanyue tourist bus there. Fare: ¥46. Journey time: about 150 minutes. From Hengyang: Take a city bus from the railway station square to the Central Bus Station and get off there. From here, take a tourist bus to the Nanyue scenic area. Fare: ¥15; journey time: 45–60 minutes. Chartered car: ¥100–150. ### Getting Around the Area Visitors who arrive by train at Hengyang, Hengshan or Zhuzhou railway stations can change to a bus for Nanyue District. There is a road up the mountain, so from the foot of the mountain you can take a tourist shuttle or a tourist taxi to Banshan Pavilion or Mojing Terrace. Hengshan West High-Speed Railway Station has a dedicated tourist line to Nanyue; the fare is ¥18. From the railway station to Nanyue on the tourist line, the fare is ¥10. From Nanyue Bus Station you can take Bus No. 3, which is free. ## Eat & drink As a famous Buddhist mountain, Nanyue naturally specializes in vegetarian cuisine. The main ingredients of its vegetarian feasts include Xiang lotus, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and red and white radishes, all local mountain delicacies. Even without tasting the vegetarian dishes of Mount Heng, the names alone are remarkable: “One Fragrance,” “Twice Plum,” “Three-Fresh Soup,” “Four Seasons Clear,” “Five Lamps Gathering,” “Six Sons Lotus,” “Seven-Storey Tower,” “Eight Great Bowls,” “Nine As You Wish,” and “Ten Scenes.” The presentations are equally refined: “Auspicious as You Wish,” “Pure as Ice and Jade,” and “All Is Empty.” ## Shopping Cloud and Mist Tea is a specialty of Mount Heng. Nanyue yanjun mushrooms are another well-known local product: fresh mushrooms are fried until cooked, then stored in a jar with a little tea oil to make a mushroom oil, which is used in cooking to give dishes a delightful aroma. Gaipai porcelain is another Nanyue specialty worth considering as a souvenir. ## Where to stay The Nanyue district at the foot of the mountain is the main centre for food and lodging. Visitors can eat, rest and buy sightseeing maps here. There are also many hotels and guesthouses on the mountain. Nanyue Hotel at Mojing Terrace and Nanyue Mountain Villa halfway up the slopes are both good places to stay. - **Caihuo Grand Hotel** — (No. 46, Jinpen Street, Jinsha Road, 0734-5674888) ## Things to see - **Nanyue Grand Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥40; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/nanyue-grand-temple - **Zangjing Hall** (★★★): Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zangjing-hall - **Fangguang Temple** (★★★): Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/fangguang-temple - **Zhurong Peak** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zhurong-peak - **Huaguoshan Scenic Area** (★★★): Admission ¥100; Opening hours 8:00–17:30 (Mon–Fri); 7:30–18:00 (Sat–Sun); Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/huaguoshan-scenic-area ## Day trips & beyond - **Jiuyi Mountain** (★★★★): Admission No entrance fee for the scenic area; individual attractions charge separately. Shun Emperor's Mausoleum ¥60; Zixia Rock ¥60; Shunyuan Peak ¥30; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jiuyi-mountain - **Shangangtang Ancient Village** (★★★★): Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shangangtang-ancient-village - **Langshan Mountain** (★★★★): Admission Entrance ¥136; bamboo raft ¥120; entrance + bamboo raft ¥186; Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/langshan-mountain - **Dongjiang Lake Tourist Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥55 (includes Xiaolong River and Longjing Gorge); ¥90 (includes Xiaolong River, Longjing Gorge, Dongjiang Lake, Douli Lingyan Cave and a yacht tour of Douli Island); Dongjiang rafting ¥248; Time needed 0.5–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dongjiang-lake-tourist-area - **Gaoyiling Scenic Area** (★★★): Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/gaoyiling-scenic-area - **Shigu Academy** (★★★): Opening hours 8：30—17：00; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shigu-academy --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1988–1997. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.