National Parks of China
Overview
| Designation | National Park of China (first batch) AAAAA tourist attraction |
| Province | Zhejiang |
| Location | Yueqing, Wenzhou, Zhejiang |
| Latitude, longitude | 28.4, 121.1 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Strange peaks, waterfalls |
| Top sights | Lingfeng, Lingyan, the Great Dragon Waterfall |
| Area | 450 km² |
| Highest point | 1,108 m |
| Nearby cities | Hangzhou |
| Nearby sites | Nanxi River, Xiandu, Mount Tiantai, West Lake, Hangzhou, Mount Putuo, Fangshan and Changyu Dongtian, Taozhu |
| Themes | Mountain, Famous Mountain, Waterfall, Peak, Cliff, Stamp, Ocean |
About
Mount Yandang in Zhejiang has southern, central and northern ranges, the northern being the most famous; the name, “wild goose marsh”, comes from a lake on the summit ridge where reeds grow and autumn geese roost. The scenic area is the northern range, in Yueqing north of Wenzhou, 450 km² with a highest point of 1,108 m, famed for strange peaks and waterfalls; its three wonders are Lingfeng, Lingyan and the Great Dragon Waterfall. It has eight areas: Lingfeng, the Three-Fold Waterfall, Lingyan, the Great Dragon Waterfall, Goose Lake, Xiansheng Gate, the Immortals’ Bridge and Yangjiao Cave.
Close to the East China Sea, it rewards viewing by day and by night: “one view, many changes; a new form at every step”.
It is in the first batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 1982.
Travel tips
Getting there: Yandangshan station on the Ningbo–Taizhou–Wenzhou railway is served by D trains. A bus or taxi goes on to the Xianglingtou area of Yandang town. Wenzhou airport is also within reach.
Lingfeng: by day see Guanyin Cave and the other sights; after dusk the separate Lingfeng night tour shows the peaks in silhouette.
Lingyan: Tianzhu Peak and Zhanqi Peak face each other in front of Lingyan Temple, with the Little Dragon Falls behind it. A high-wire show is often performed between the two peaks.
Dalongqiu Falls: the flow varies greatly with rainfall, strong in the rainy season and only a thread after a dry spell.
Other areas: Three-Fold Falls, Xianshengmen and Yanhu Ridge involve longer walks; choose by time and fitness. Yanhu Ridge has views of the sunrise and the East China Sea.
Time: a day and a half to two days for the three main areas, Lingfeng, Lingyan and Dalongqiu.
Season: the falls are strongest in the spring and summer rains; autumn weather is steadier. Typhoons come in summer and autumn, and the park closes during them.
Where to stay: most visitors stay around Xianglingtou, close to Lingfeng for the night tour.
Main sights
Lingfeng is the eastern gateway, with the great rock called the Monk Greeting Guests and the nine-storey Guanyin Cave.
The Great Dragon Waterfall, 4 km west of Ma’an Ridge, drops more than 190 m.
Lingyan is the “bright hall” of the mountain, ringed by peaks and secluded; behind Lingyan Temple is the screen-like Pingxia Cliff, and before it the 260 m Heavenly Pillar and Unfurled Banner peaks face each other as the South Heavenly Gate. To the left are the Skylight and Lotus caves, behind it the Dragon Nose Cave and the Little Dragon Waterfall.
The Immortals’ Bridge area at the northern end has a bridge spanning the ridge of Xianting Hill and the Beishiliang Cave.
Goose Lake, also Flat Lake, lies on the summit; once thick with reeds where autumn geese roosted, it has silted up, leaving a single pond. From the ridge above it the East China Sea stretches to the horizon, a fine place for sunrise and the sea of clouds.
Stamps
In 2002 China Post issued “Mount Yandang”, four stamps: Xiansheng Gate, the Great Dragon Waterfall, Beidou Cave and Guanyin Peak.
Map
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