Beichen Mountain is rich in cultural and historical sites, and its natural scenery is also quite rem[...]
Beichen Mountain is rich in cultural and historical sites, and its natural scenery is also quite remarkable. Here, you can learn about the deeds of Wang Shenzhi, the king of Min during the Five Dynasties, and admire the magnificent statue of Wang Shenzhi. In addition, there is the Wanggong Temple where you can burn incense and offer prayers.
The most famous scenic spot here is undoubtedly the Twelve Dragon Pools Waterfall. Beichen Mountain, also known as “Beishan”, is located in the northeast corner of Tong’an District, Xiamen City. It is within the territory of Wuxian Town, Tong’an, adjacent to Nan’an, and 12 kilometers away from Tong’an urban area.
The end of the mountain is Niuling Peak. It takes more than two hours to reach the top. The latter part of the journey is very steep, almost vertical. It can be a bit tiring to climb. Then it takes another more than one hour to walk down the mountain. However, most tourists who come here climb to the top less often. Most of them take the famous Twelve Dragon Pools Waterfall in Beichen Mountain as the end of their tour.
As soon as you enter the old mountain gate, you can see a temple with prosperous incense. It is called Wanggong Temple, also known as Guangli Temple. It is the starting place where Wang Shenzhi and his brothers of the Min Kingdom in the Five Dynasties opened Fujian. To commemorate Wang Shenzhi’s virtuous governance, the common people erected a ancestral hall and built a tomb for his clothes and cap in the bamboo forest where the uprising took place. Inside the temple, there is a special imperial plaque “Ancestor of the People in Fujian” bestowed by Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin. If you are interested, you can go and offer a prayer. The cost of gold paper and incense needs to be borne by yourself, about 10 yuan for each item.
Further ahead is Wolong Square. You can observe the dragons on the square. They are all four-clawed dragons. In ancient times, the five-clawed golden dragon was exclusive to the emperor. Wang Shenzhi once said, “I would rather be an open-door military governor than a closed-door emperor.” So he only claimed the title of king and not emperor. Therefore, the carved dragons are four-clawed. Then you can take pictures at the statue of Wang Shenzhi further ahead. The statue looks quite magnificent.
Continuing forward, there are natural landscapes, such as narrow mountain paths, beautiful wildflowers, wooden plank roads, and viewing pavilions. The scenery along the way is quite beautiful. Among the more famous scenic spots inside is the Beishan Flying Waterfall and Twelve Dragon Pools. The waterfall cascades down from the gap at the top of the mountain, with a total length of about 1,000 meters. The mountain body has been scoured by the waterfall into a canyon, and 12 water pools have been formed along the way, known as the “Twelve Dragon Pools”. The size, depth, and shape of the pools vary. The wider part of the waterfall is 3 meters wide and more than 2 meters deep, and the water is crystal clear.
If you are interested in climbing the mountain after seeing the waterfall, you can continue to climb to the top to enjoy the wonderful lakes and mountains in southern Fujian. Those who are physically exhausted or short on time can go down the mountain and return.
Opening hours: Open from 09:30 – 16:30 from Monday to Friday throughout the year; Open from 09:00 – 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year; Closed all day on New Year’s Eve.
Preferential policies:
Children: Free for children 6 years old (inclusive) or below 1.2 meters (inclusive).
Seniors: Free for seniors 65 years old (inclusive) and above with valid certificates; Discounted for seniors aged 60 (inclusive) – 65 (exclusive) with valid certificates.
Active-duty military personnel/Fire and rescue workers/Disabled people: Active-duty military personnel (including retired military officers), fire and rescue workers, and disabled people need to present valid certificates for free.
Students: Free with valid certificates.
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