Located in Hunan Province, less than 100 miles south of Changsha, Heng Shan is one of China’s Five Sacred Mountains of Taoism. In ancient times, emperors would venture here to enjoy the scenery and offer sacrifices to earth and heaven.
The agenda of today’s visitors isn’t as grand, but there’s still much to see and do here. There are many scenic spots on the mountain including several Taoist temples which can be visited as part of a climb to the summit. A cable car accesses the summit for those who’d rather not hike.
One of the loftiest sites is the Grand Temple, situated at the foot of the mountain in Nanyue. Records indicate that the temple was already standing in the 8th century, but no one knows how old it actually is. It is currently a center of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian thought.
The highest peak on Heng Shan stands more than 6,600 feet tall. Most of the temples are sprinkled across the southern slopes of Heng Shan, making this the best place to enjoy a hike.
Getting There & Away
The long-distance bus station is on Bei Jie in Nanyue. Buses regularly depart for Chansha (2 hours, 30 minutes) where there is a regional airport with connections to cities across China. The fastest avenue in and out of the country is via flight to either Beijing or Shanghai though Chansha Airport offers a few international flights to Asian destinations.