Dawei Mountain National Forest Park
| Dawei Mountain National Forest Park | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 大围山国家森林公园 | |||||||
| Type | Public park, state park | ||||||
| Location | Daweishan, Liuyang of Changsha, Hunan, China | ||||||
| Coordinates | 28°25′N 114°07′E / 28.42°N 114.12°E | ||||||
| Area | 46.67-square-kilometre (18.02 sq mi) | ||||||
| Elevation | 1,607.9-metre (5,275 ft) | ||||||
| Created | 1992 | ||||||
| Status | Open all year | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 大围山国家森林公园 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 大圍山國家森林公園 | ||||||
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Dawei Mountain National Forest Park (Chinese: 大围山国家森林公园) is a National Forest Park, AAAA-level tourist attraction, and National Geological Park located in Liuyang of Changsha, Hunan, at the Hunan-Jiangxi border.[1] It covers a total area of approximately 46.67-square-kilometre (18.02 sq mi) and is renowned for its rich biodiversity, glacial geological site, and cultural history.[1]
History
The name "Dawei" derives from its terrain of "rolling hills encircling three counties", namely Liuyang, Tonggu, and Pingjiang.
During the rulingof Wanli Emperor (1573–1620) of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), a fort called Dawei Fort was built on the mountain.
During the Republic of China, in the Second Revolutionary Civil War (1927–1937), it served as a critical Red Army base and formed part of the Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi Revolutionary Base.
After founding of the People's Republic of China, it was designated a nature reserve in 1984 and officially became a National Forest Park in 1992. In 2016, it gained National Geological Park status due to its Quaternary glacial site.[2]
Geography
Geology
Dawei Mountain National Forest Park belongs to the tectonic denudation and erosion granite mid-low mountain landform, primarily featuring middle mountain terrain.[3] It bears the marks of Quaternary glacial deposits and erosion, which formed 48 lakes.[3] The highest peak, Seven Star Peak, has an elevation of 1,607.9-metre (5,275 ft), making it the highest peak in eastern Hunan.[3]
Climate
Dawei Mountain National Forest Park has a mid-subtropical monsoon humid climate with an annual average temperature of 11 to 16 °C (52 to 61 °F).[3] The area receives abundant rainfall, with an annual precipitation of 1,800-to-2,000-millimetre (71 to 79 in), which can reach 2,200-millimetre (87 in) at the mountaintop.[3]
Flora and fauna
The forest coverage reaches 99.5%, preserving primary and secondary forests.[3] Over 3,000 plant species across 23 formations, including 17 state-protected species (e.g., rare trees), in the park.[3] Over 60 wildlife species (e.g., mammals, birds) and 14 state-protected animals inhabit the park.[3] The park is also a habitat for over 1,200 butterfly species, earning the nickname "Natural Animal and Plant Museum".[3]
Main Attractions
- Seven Star Peak (七星岭; 七星嶺; Qīxīng Lǐng): the highest peak in eastern Hunan at 1,607.9 meters; ideal for sunrises, sea of clouds, and stargazing; features glacial landforms like horn peaks and knife ridges.[4]
- Limu Bridge Scenic Area (栗木桥景区; 栗木橋景區; Lìmù Qiáo Jǐngqū): a valley with streams, bizarre rocks, and waterfalls (e.g., Fenglin Waterfall); known as the "essence of Dawei Mountain" for its pristine waterways.[4]
- Maweicao Waterfall Group (马尾漕瀑布群; 馬尾漕瀑布群; Mǎwěicáo Pùbù Qún): a series of 48 interconnected waterfalls with high negative oxygen ion concentrations.[4]
- Red Lotus Temple (红莲寺; 紅蓮寺; Hónglián Sì): a 1,600-year-old temple from the Liang Dynasty, housing jade Buddhas and ancient relics.[4]
- Yuquan Lake (玉泉湖; Yùquán Hú) and Daoquan Lake (祷泉湖; Dǎoquán Hú): glacial ice pits transformed into wetlands; Daoquan Lake is recognized as the source of the Liuyang River.[1]
- Quaternary Glacial Relics: distributed across Limu Bridge, Seven Star Peak, and Yuquan Lake, showcasing erratics, U-shaped valleys, and ice pits.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Wang Xijia (王习加) (2014). 山水名胜 [Landscape Scenic Spots]. 长沙史话 [History of Changsha] (in Chinese). Beijing: Social Science Literature Publishing House. p. 27. ISBN 978-7-5097-6662-0.
- ^ Yang Yang (杨烊); Liu Feng'e (刘凤娥) (2016-04-14). 长沙诞生首家国家地质公园 大围山高分通过验收. rednet.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wang Yanyun (王艳云), ed. (2011-08-11). 湖南风景名胜之大围山. China Daily (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ a b c d e 湖南·大围山国家森林公园. People Weekly (in Chinese). 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2025-11-05.