Dinghu Mountain 鼎湖山

About Dinghu Mountain

Visitor paths pass dense trees and stream valleys, with Feishuitan providing a waterfall-and-pool focus and Qingyun Temple introducing a sequence of religious buildings. Baoding Garden adds a contrasting designed space. Keep to the designated scenic routes: the reserve’s ecological importance does not mean all its forest is open for recreation. Choose the waterfall and temple circuit before deciding whether to add another mountain area.

Dinghu Mountain was originally named Ding Hu (顶湖) after a lake on its summit; according to legend, the Yellow Emperor defeated Chiyou and cast a cauldron (鼎) here, giving the mountain its present name. It ranks first among the Four Great Mountains of Lingnan (岭南四大名山), a group that also includes Luofu, Danxia and Xiqiao. In 1956 it became the first nature reserve in China.

The reserve's highest peak, Jilong Shan (鸡笼山), reaches 1000.3 meters. Forest cover reaches 78.8 percent, ranging from gully rainforest near the foot to subtropical monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest higher up, with coniferous-broadleaf mixed forest as the dominant type. Located on the Tropic of Cancer, the mountain has a subtropical monsoon humid climate; unlike most places at this latitude, which are desert, it stays evergreen year-round.

The reserve holds over 500 plant species, including 23 rare species under state protection, and is home to 178 bird and 38 mammal species; it has been called a gene bank of South China's biological species and a living natural museum. In 1979 it became one of the first UNESCO Man and Biosphere research stations, and in 1982 it joined Seven Star Crags to form part of the first group of 44 national key scenic areas; in 2020 it was rated a national 5A tourist attraction.

What to look for

• Feishuitan concentrates the mountain stream into a waterfall and pool setting.
• Qingyun Temple provides a built religious focus within the forest.

Location & getting there

Getting to Dinghu Mountain

Use the main scenic entrance on Shangshan Road in Dinghu District’s Kengkou area. Follow visitor signs for Dinghu Mountain, then choose the official pedestrian or internal-transport route to Feishuitan and Qingyun Temple.