Hengyang

Hengyang

Hengyang is a central city in South Hunan, richly endowed by nature with its tourism resources. With a history of several thousand years, Hengyang boats of many historic sites, which make Hengyang filled with a strong cultural atmosphere. Hengyang contains the Shigu Academy, one of the four largest ancient academies, the tomb of Du Fu, a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty known as Sage of Poetry, the Temple of Cai Lun who created the papermaking technology, and the ancient town of Nanyue.

Hengshan Mountain

Hengshan Mountain，known as South Mountain，ranks the first among the five sacred mountains in China. It consists of 72 peaks，of which the most famous are Zhurong，Tianzhu Furong，Zigai，and Shiping. Zhurong peak，1290 meters above sea level, commands a panoramic view of the mountain range and is a wonderful vantage point for viewing the sunrise. Many cultural relics and historic sites，and steles of different dynasties have been left on the peak. Buildings include Grand Temple，Zhusheng Temple, Zhangjing Hall, Fangguang Temple，Zhurong Hall, Nantai Temple, Fuguangyan City. Major scenic areas are Shigu，Yueping, Dongzhou, Guazhang Park and Yumu Mountain etc. Situated in the ancient town of Nanyue at the foot of Nanyue Mountain, Nanyue Grand Temple is the largest and the best-preserved ancient palace-like temple in the five major mountains in China. The temple was first constructed in the 13th year of the Kaiyuan reign (725) of Tang Dynasty. The Grand Hall of the temple was rebuilt in line with the layout of the Imperial Palace in Beijing, and a statue of the Sacred Emperor of Nanyue is enshrined in the hall.

Temple of Cai Lun

Cai Lun (63-121), the inventor of the first sheet of plant fiber paper in the world. The invention made by Cai Lun in 105 A.D. is one of “The Four Great Inventions” made by the ancient Chinese people.

On the bank of Caizi Pond in the north of Leiyang City, this temple was built in memory of Cai Lun, the inventor of papermaking techniques. It is composed of three wood-brick flat houses, with an enclosing wall, ancient, unadorned and graceful. The temple holds a bust of Cai Lun and some cultural relics on papermaking, which are of high historical and research values.