Shaoyang Mount Lang Scenic Area

 
    According to Xinhua Dictionary, the Chinese character “崀” is pronounced “lang” and Cihai (a giant Chinese dictionary) also says: “Lang, a geographical name, located in Xinning of Hunan.” It is said that in ancient times, during Shun’s southern tour, he found the place so elegant and graceful that he could not help blurting out: “Lang, Lang, better than other mountains.”  Shun not only gave the name to Mount Lang, but also created for the Chinese people a new character “lang” which is used specially for this place.  Geologic information shows that Mount Lang was a     boundless ocean some four hundred million years ago. Later it was raised from the sea by the magnificent “orogenic movement in Guangxi” and immerged in the sea again together with the areas along Changsha and Guilin. Several times Mount Lang appeared and disappeared during scores of earth movements until the last one which happened two hundred million years ago and made the region what it is today: typical Danxia landform combined with clear water of Fuyi River.
 
    Mount Lang is located at the border area in the south west of Hunan, 142 kilometers away to Guilin on the south, 250 kilometers to Nanyue on the east, with Shaoshan and Wulingyuan echoing in the north. Mount Lang, seated 8,000 meters southeast of Xinning County, occupies a scenic area of 108 square kilometers, including 3 natural bridges, 10 thin strips of sky, more than 10 special Karst caves, 8 streams passing through the whole area, more than 20 grand valleys, as well as exotic flowers and rare herbs and a variety of birds and animals.  This Danxia landform, with an area of more than 100 square kilometers, is composed of five large scenic zones: Bajiaozhai (Octagonal Castle), Niubizhai, (Ox Nose Castle), Luotuofeng (Camel Peak), Zixiadong (Purple Light Cave) and Fuyi River, including 18 scenic spots, more than 400 scenic attractions.  Discovered after Danxia Mount in Guangdong and Mount Wuyi in Fujian and honored as a jade or a bright peal hidden in the south and unknown to the outside world, this massive Danxia landform, the largest in China and very rare in the world, combines red cliffs, green hills, rare peaks, deep valleys, magic caves and graceful streams. Its red cliffs are like hot rosy
    clouds; bamboo woods on the whole slope are like spouting notes; and green bamboos, green forests, picturesque peaks and rocks, valleys and caves, Fuyi water, singing birds and fragrant flowers, all are so poetic that the famous poet Aiqing chanted in the thirties when he was a teacher in Xinning: “Guilin’s scenery is the finest under heaven, but Mt. Lang is better than Guilin in scenery.”
 
    Experts from both at home and abroad all agree that both natural landscape and human landscape in Mount Lang are rich and beautiful, geographical structure in the region is very peculiar with obvious individuality and high taste, so it is of great value for ornamental culture and scientific research.  What we can enjoy in the region are: a magnificent overline natural bridge, 64 meters long, 6.5 meters wide, 7 meters thick and 20 meters high, the largest in Asia; Jiangjunshi (General Rock), 70 meters high, 40 meter in circumference, having the unity of form and spirit and standing high up in the sky, being located at the bank of Fuyi River, which is not Li River but better than Li river;  lifelike Luoyuofeng (Camel Peak), 273 meters long, 187.5 meters high; First Lane under Heaven, 238.8 meters long, 0.5 meter wide, 120 meters high; Danxia Peak Forest, occupying more than 40 square kilometers in radius, surrounded by clouds and mist all the year round which form a spectacular wonder under the heaven, like ten thousand horses galloping on the land and whales playing in the sea when the sun is shining. Besides, we can also enjoy Pepper Peak, standing for Hunan people’s love for peppers, Fuyi River, featuring drifting, Feiniandong, Yuquanshan, Zixia Fairy Land, Bayinyan, Gengshendong, Xunhuangshan Forest Garden, Hot spring, etc. You can expect everything here, including mountains, waters, forests, caves. The landscape of Mount Lang is odd and strange, with a lot of steep precipices and cliffs, densely covered caves, picturesque peaks and rocks as well as well-protected ancient human relics and special biological resources which are of great value to the study of ecological environment.