Yandang Mountains 雁荡山

About Yandang Mountains

Lingfeng, Lingyan and Dalongqiu form three distinct scenic sections: changing rock silhouettes, a dramatic cliff setting and the Great Dragon Pond waterfall. They require separate approaches rather than a single summit climb. Choose sections around weather and the operating transport, and keep to the established paths. The broader Yandang mountain range includes other areas well beyond this principal tourist cluster.

The mountain's rocks record Cretaceous volcanic activity, with rhyolitic welded tuff and intrusive quartz syenite forming much of the terrain. Faulting, uplift and rock collapse helped create the present landforms. The humid climate supports predominantly subtropical evergreen broadleaf vegetation. Several temples and shrines occupy caves or cave mouths, placing religious buildings within the rock formations themselves.

The Song scholar Shen Kuo (沈括) examined the peaks and proposed that powerful water flows had removed surrounding sand and soil, leaving large rock masses standing. The Ming traveller Xu Xiake (徐霞客) visited three times and wrote two accounts of his journeys here. The area became a national geological park in 2004 and joined the Global Geoparks Network in early 2005.

What to look for

• Lingfeng and Lingyan expose the steep rock forms produced by the volcanic landscape.
• Dalongqiu provides the contrasting vertical movement of a high waterfall.

The surrounding area

Southern Zhejiang's distinct urban and commercial life, well beyond a short Hangzhou detour.

Location & getting there

Getting to Yandang Mountains

Use Yandangshan Railway Station on the Ningbo–Wenzhou line for the principal North Yandang visitor area, then continue by the available local transport to the selected scenic section.