Mount Nan —A Provincial Scenic Area

Mount Nan, located 80 km southwest of Chengbu County, can be reached to the top from the downtown directly.  The scenic region lies in the south part of Mount Xuefeng, stretching for about 80 li, so it is also called 80 li Grand Nanshan. Mount Nan is richly endowed by nature, with an altitude of 1760 meters, like a green jade embedding in the mountains bordering Hunan and Guangxi.  On top of Mount Nan, there are 48 plains covered with green grass and 48 streams filled with fresh water, featuring either the vastness of grasslands in the north or the delicate beauty of landscapes in the south.  The region, 230,000 mu in area, is composed of many grass slopes and grass hills and therefore is called “Southern Hulun Buir”. Annual mean temperature of the area is 10.9 ℃ with max. 28℃ in the summer or autumn. That is why “it is not hot in the scorching summer and not cold in the bitter winter.” The mountain goes gently with a grass area of 230,000 mu, so the largest modern ranch in South China was built here in 1975.  As it is far away from modern industries, soil, air, and water are extraordinarily clean without any pollution and public hazard. Mount Nan is full of green crags and valleys, with plenty of water and grass.  It is such an ideal place for grazing, recuperating, and enjoying summer activities that tourists come in endless streams in the scorching summer.
 
There are many scenic attractions inside Mount Nan, some being so extraordinarily bizarre that very few such wonders can be seen in other parts of the world. It is about 100 li away from Chengbu downtown to the foot of Mount Nan, where one can see a path winds its way up to the top of the mountain, which stands high in the clouds. The path running from the foot to the top is precipitous and dangerous, lingering left and right with innumerable twists and turns.  Along the way all kinds of thoughts rush into your mind. When you come to the first scenic attraction, called Laoshanjie, which is full of steep cliffs and towering trees on the road sides, you will notice that on the trunks of some big trees the slogan “Long live the Red Army” engraved long ago is still dimly legible.
The second scenic attraction is Qingtangao, a divine fog area, where clouds and fogs are mingled together with a variety of shapes changing all the time.  Some times colored clouds come to welcome you，but in an instant, some of them go down to the valley to form a white fog sea, some mount up the hills to form layers of cloud waves, chasing each other, and still the other become hundreds of fog dragons, flying out as far as the eyes are unable to see.
Next scenic attraction is Shenmuqu (Divine Grazing Area), so called because according to legend there had lived two immortals, making a fortune by raising thousands of beef cattle.   In every April or May, azalea and rhododendron boom everywhere in the valley, forming an uncommon colorful world.
Standing at Dayakou, which is located 1760 meters above sea level, one can see colored clouds of red, purple, blue, green and orange, glinting from the fog sea or cloud waves, a scenery more beautiful than that of Mount Nanyue of Hengyang when the sun rises in the early morning.  Especially in the early summer or autumn, when you look into the distance, what you see is rays of light coming towards you like thousands of golden arrows from the horizon and then a big fireball with a variety of colors appearing abruptly from nowhere.  When you look down into the valley, an immense sea of silver-gray fog is rolling with layer upon layer of constantly shifting and changing shapes. 
Jiaozidong, formerly called Diaoshuidong, several kilometers long and wide and 500 meters deep, is a grand canyon surrounded by cliffs from all sides.  When it is clear up after a long rain, a lot of magic white fog columns appear.  Sometimes, they rise slowly from the bottom and then go up directly to the sky; sometimes, they move up and down with varieties of shapes, and dance like white dragons when there is a breeze.  This scenery repeats itself without stopping.  At the bottom runs a river called Thirty-six Pass River, zigzagging  its way with murmuring water inside and various wild life on the banks.
Parallel to Jiaozidong is Lujiahao, with altitude of 1200-1400 meters, composed of dark green forests, connected mountains, mist clouds, just like a fairy land.  Here and there, one can see ravines, mountain waterfalls, valleys, cliffside springs, and especially at sunset, the spectacular scene. 
Shentongshan (Child Prodigy Mount) is well known as the source of high quality natural spring water “Nanshan Magic Spring”.  The story was told that once upon a time there had lived two immortals who dug a giant well for drinking, and since then clear and transparent water had come out continuously in all seasons.  The spring water contains more than ten microelements which are required by human body, especially with zinc content being better than the standard set by the national authorities.
Nanshan Lake, just like a mirror embedded in Mount Nan, reflects its beautiful landscape day and night and uses its tender water to wash away the weariness of the travelers when they relax themselves by taking a boat on the lake.    
The top of Mount Nan is 1940 meters above sea level, just like a watchtower soaring into the clouds.  Here, you can enjoy the afterglow of the setting sun and also the full view of Mount Nan with the bordering area 100 li around between Hunan and Guangxi.
Hongdong，well known for flying waterfalls,  is composed of hundreds of brooks and groups of cascades.  Other scenic spots include Baishidong Gorge, Xianrenjiao, Maoziyan and Fengshendian (Immortals Temple).
At the proposal of former Vice Chairman Wang Zhen， Nanshan Ranch was established in 1975 together with hotels, a cinema and a theatre and other service facilities.  Ever since then a lot of products have been developed.  Non-polluted full-fat milk powder, spring water containing zinc of 5.9% and milk drink containing zinc inside are well known all over the country. Now, inside the beautiful “Gongqing Town”, composed of row upon row of buildings decorated with granites, there are newly-built gardens, fountains, hotels as well as newly developed green foods and drinks such as Nanshan Magic Spring, Fresh Milk Cream, Milk Tea with Malus toringo, and DHA Milk Powder.  Many tourist facilities have also been set on the scenic spots, such as Ziyan Kiosk, Tianhu Kiosk, Mongolian yurts as well as pleasure boats, leisure vehicles and even an airport for helicopters. Besides, in cooperation with other organizations, a few new tourist routes have been opened, one from Mount Nan to Guilin, another from Mount Nan to Longsheng, and still another from Mount Nan to Ziyuan for enjoying grassland scenery, spending summer days and hunting, photographing.  Now graceful Mount Nan is stretching its arms to welcome you.