Guangxin District 广信区

Setting and landscape

The district runs 132 kilometres north to south but only 45 kilometres east to west. The Fengxi River (丰溪) separates it from Xinzhou District (信州区) and Guangfeng (广丰) to the east; Dexing (德兴) lies to the north, Yanshan (铅山) and Hengfeng (横峰) to the west, and Pucheng (浦城) and Wuyishan (武夷山) in Fujian to the south. The land falls in steps from both ends to the Xin River valley, a saddle shape. Its highest point is Wufu Peak (五府岗, 1,891.4 metres) in the south. The central hills are mostly Danxia landforms with caves such as Yueyan (月岩), Nanyan (南岩) and Qifengyan (七峰岩), while the low mountains around Shanglu (上泸) and Sishiba (四十八镇) show karst features, with solution caves and underground rivers.

History

Shangrao County was first created by the state of Wu in the early Jian'an years (196–204); the name was explained as a place of rare mountain products and great fertility. From 758 it was the seat of Xinzhou (信州), and from 1370 of Guangxin Prefecture (广信府). In May 1949 its seat town was split off to form the city of Shangrao, and in July 2019 the county was abolished and replaced by Guangxin District.

What to see

Lingshan (灵山), also called Lingying Mountain (灵应山), is a branch of the Huaiyu range with 72 peaks, the highest at 1,496 metres. It is counted as the 33rd of the Taoist "blessed lands" (福地), and the Taoists Hu Zhao (胡昭) and Ge Hong (葛洪) are said to have taught there; the Song poet Xin Qiji (辛弃疾) wrote a poem about it. The mountain is a ring-shaped granite-complex structure with an area of about 160 square kilometres, and large terraced fields lie at the foot of Shuijingshan (水晶山). It became a national scenic area on 26 January 2010.

Wangxian Valley (望仙谷), in Wangxian township (望仙乡), is a gorge resort with a planned area of 6.1 square kilometres; it has old north-east Jiangxi houses, local crafts and performances. It was rated national 4A in 2019 and named a provincial scenic area of note by the Jiangxi culture and tourism department in 2024. Qifengyan is where Ye Ting (叶挺), commander of the New Fourth Army, was held in the Southern Anhui Incident (皖南事变).

Highlights

• Lingshan 灵山: 72-peak granite ring mountain, a Taoist blessed land; national scenic area since 2010.
• Wangxian Valley 望仙谷: Gorge resort in Wangxian township with old local houses; planned area 6.1 km²; national 4A since 2019.
• Qifengyan 七峰岩: Danxia cave site where Ye Ting was held in the Southern Anhui Incident.