Huiyan Peak is the foremost of the seventy-two peaks of the Southern Sacred Mountain. Ancients believed that the geese flying south from the north would stop here and not fly further south, waiting only to return north in the following spring, hence the name Huiyan Peak. Du Fu once wrote, ‘Thousands of miles of Hengyang geese, returning north again this year.’ Huiyan Peak is located near the Xiangjiang River, close to the dual-purpose bridge for both road and railway that spans the Xiangjiang River in Hengyang.
Standing on Huiyan Peak, one can not only overlook the bridge but also enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city of Hengyang. Huiyan Peak is a site for the veneration of the ‘Boundless Life Buddha’, a deity of longevity in Chinese culture, as expressed in the verse, ‘If you wish to pay homage to Zhurong, the Holy Emperor, first come to Yan Peak to visit the Buddha of Longevity.’ The scenic area is a classical garden that combines various attractions, including the city emblem of Hengyang – the Goose Sculpture, the thousand-year-old temple – Yanfeng Temple, the crown of Hengzhou’s eight scenic spots – Yanfeng Misty Rain, one of the eight scenic spots of Xiaoxiang – the Falling Geese on the Sandbank, the iconic building of Hengyang – Huiyan Pavilion, and the Memorial Hall of Wang Chuanshan’s Birthplace. On Huiyan Peak stands an ancient temple named Yanfeng Temple, which has a history of over 1,500 years. The main gate displays a ‘Yanfeng Temple’ plaque written by Zhao Puchu in gold ink. The temple is divided into two halls: the front hall is the Hall of Guanyin, where the Guanyin Bodhisattva is enshrined; the rear hall is the Hall of the Buddha of Longevity, where a 3-meter-tall statue of the Buddha of Longevity sits on a Vajra platform. It is known as one of the four major Zen temples of Hengyang Buddhism, along with Huayao Temple, Xichan Temple, and Luohan Temple, and has been visited by many eminent monks throughout the ages. The opening hours are from 07:00 to 00:00 all year round, with specific business status subject to the daily opening conditions.
