Changde Jiashan Mountain Scenic Area
 2016-12-21 11:08:07   Zhangjiajie Tourism Information Website  

The Jiashan Mountain Scenic Area stands in Jinshi County located in the Northwest of Hunan Province. It consists of 4 sections, namely, Jiashan Mountain, Xujia Lake, Shiling-Qingshan Scenic Area and Gucheng Scenic Tourism Town, covering an area of 17.35 km2. As the core scenic spot, Jiashan Mountain is located at the edge of the Wuling Range, with the Dongting Lake to the East, Li River to the West and an idyllic countryside area to the South. Jiashan Mountain occupies an area of 2 km2 with a height of 147.07m. About 0.5 km South of Jiashan Mountain lies the birthplace of Mengjiangnv. According to accounts in the “Story of Mengjiang Mountian” written by Quo Qing in 1867 (the sixth year of Emperor Tongzhi’s reign), Jiashan Mountain was called Cuilu before the Qin Dynasty. After a long trek searching for her husband (Fan Xi), Mengjiangnv failed and cried at the Great Wall. The Great Wall collapsed before her and Meng recognised her husband’s skeleton by shedding her blood. She decided to return to their hometown with the bones but died at Tongguan, Shanxi. The local residents were so moved by her story that they decided to rename their town Mengjiang Mountain, commonly known as Mengjia Mountain. During the period of Emperor Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty (1488-1505), Li Rugui, the minister of two major departments at that time, was a Lizhou local. Mengjia Mountain was renamed Jiashan Mountain (the Chinese character Jia means “to praise”) by Li Rugui to honour Mengjiangnv. Jiangnv Temple, or Jiangnv Shrine, was built there by other people. It consists of more than 30 houses, with an Entrance Hall, Main Hall, Back Hall and Temple Hall. The Temple experienced destruction and underwent reconstruction many times. In January, 1954, it was laid in ruin after a fierce fire. In the front of the Temple, there was ‘Wangfu Platform’ (a platform used to long for Meng’s husband) and a ‘Mirror Stone’. The well on the Southern slope of Jiashan Mountain is also famed to be a spectacular scene, having existed for a thousand years with constant fresh water. It is said to be the place where Mengjiangnv was bathing as Fan Xi hid behind a tree and peeked at her, after which they became married. This well was thus named the ‘Bathing Well’. Legend has it that lovers can be blessed and have children if they drink water from it.

Jiashan lies between Changsha and Wuhan and thus enjoys a unique advantage in terms of transportation links. The Xiangbei Expressway and Taiyuan-Macau Expressway (to be constructed) pass through Jinshi County. It connects the Shimen-Changsha Railway and Zhicheng-Liuzhou Railway. Taohuayuan Airport is also only 80 km away from Jinshi City. Near the city is the Li River, which runs eastward to the Dongting Lake and boasts one of the six major ports of Hunan Province. It is navigable for 500-ton vessels all year round to places as far as Changsha, Wuhan, and Shanghai.