Feixiantian Scenic Area is located in Qiaokou Town, Suxian District, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, about 25 kilometers from downtown Chenzhou. It covers a total area of 110 square kilometers and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a national geopark. The scenic area features Danxia landform as its core characteristic, integrating mountains, water, forests, caves, and Buddhism, and is known as the "Wonderland of Nanling Danxia." Within the scenic area, red rocks, green waters, crimson cliffs, and spectacular canyons and caves complement one another. The average elevation is 200-300 meters, with the highest peak at 480 meters (the main peak of Feixiantian). There is currently 1 visitor service center and 2 cruise terminals, capable of accommodating 2,000 visitors at the same time. It boasts 9 kilometers of Danxia cliffs, 108 natural grottoes, and 400 mu of ecological lakes.
History and Culture
The Danxia landform of Feixiantian was formed about 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Through long-term weathering, denudation, and water erosion, the unique red rock landscape was created. The scenic area preserves Buddhist grotto statues from the Tang and Song dynasties. Among them, "Shoufo Temple" was first built in the Tang Dynasty, with a history of more than 1,300 years. It was once the Buddhist center of southern Hunan. The existing temple was rebuilt on the original site in 2007. The prototype of the Shoufo enshrined in the temple is the Tang Dynasty eminent monk Wuliang Shoufo (Quanzhen Chan Master). Grand Dharma assemblies are held every year on the 19th day of the second lunar month, the 19th day of the sixth lunar month, and the 19th day of the ninth lunar month. In addition, this place was also a base area for peasant uprising armies in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Remains such as the "Thousand-Year Ancient Trail" and "Dianjiang Terrace" still exist, bearing witness to the ancient military defense system.
Main Attractions
Main Peak of Feixiantian
At an elevation of 480 meters, it is the highest point in the scenic area. From the summit, visitors can overlook the entire Danxia peak cluster. At the top there is a platform of about 500 square meters, where ancient garrison ruins remain. The stone city wall is about 300 meters long, 1.5 meters wide, and 2-3 meters high.
Natural Bridge
It is 38 meters long, 25 meters wide, and 30 meters high, and is the largest natural stone arch bridge in Hunan Province. The bridge body is composed of red sandstone. The bridge opening is semicircular and can accommodate a hundred people passing through at the same time. A stream flows beneath the bridge, creating the spectacle of "a bridge over flowing water, and the water reflecting the bridge."
Shoufo Temple
It covers about 20 mu, with a building area of 5,000 square meters. It consists of the mountain gate, Hall of Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall, Shoufo Hall, and other structures. The temple preserves 3 Tang Dynasty stone Buddha statues. Among them, the bronze statue of Wuliang Shoufo enshrined in the Shoufo Hall is 9.9 meters high and weighs 30 tons, making it the largest bronze Buddha statue in southern Hunan.
Danxia Gallery
It is about 2 kilometers long and consists of crimson cliffs. Various patterns are naturally formed on the rock walls, such as "Divine Turtle Exploring the Sea," "Flying Apsaras Mural," and "Thousand-Year Ancient Fort." Experts have verified that they were formed by a combination of ancient biological fossil remains and weathering patterns.
Heitan
In the Chenzhou area, this term refers to Danxia caves formed by natural collapse. The cave is 120 meters wide, 50 meters deep, and 35 meters high, with a total area of 5,000 square meters. It has the reputation of being the "Number One Cave of Danxia." It is said that bandits once stationed here, so it is also called "Bandit Stronghold" or "Bandit's Den."
Cuijiang River Cruise
The Cuijiang River is 12 kilometers long and runs through the core Danxia landscape of the scenic area. A one-way cruise takes 40 minutes, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery of "crimson cliffs on both banks flanking green water." The cruise terminal operates daily from 8:30 to 17:00, with one departure every 30 minutes.
Tour Routes：
One-Day Tour: In the morning, arrive and take the sightseeing bus to the main peak of Feixiantian. Hike up the mountain for about 1 hour and visit the garrison ruins. After that, go to the Natural Bridge and spend 30 minutes taking photos and sightseeing. At noon, taste Qifengdu fish noodles and Yao-style stuffed tofu at the scenic area restaurant. In the afternoon, take a cruise on the Cuijiang River (the 13:00 departure is best), then visit Heitan and the Danxia Gallery. Before returning, buy specialties such as Linwu duck at the visitor center. Two-Day Tour: The first day's itinerary is the same as above. On the second morning, go to Shoufo Temple to attend the morning chanting (7:00-8:00), then hike and explore the "Thousand-Year Ancient Trail" (3 kilometers total, taking 2 hours). In the afternoon, visit the nearby Gaoyiling Scenic Area (15 kilometers from Feixiantian, with complementary Danxia landforms).
Travel Tips：
The best tourist seasons are April-May (azaleas in bloom) and October-November (clear autumn weather). In summer, pay attention to sun protection (the Danxia landform has no shade), and in winter, bring a windproof jacket.
The hiking trail to the main peak of Feixiantian is a stone-step path. It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes and carry 1 liter of drinking water. Elderly people and children can take the scenic area electric vehicle to Banshan Pavilion (fee: 5 yuan).
During Dharma assemblies at Shoufo Temple (such as the 19th day of the second lunar month), there are many visitors. Advance reservations are required if you wish to participate. Female visitors need to wear clothing with a collar when entering the halls.
The best viewing time for the Danxia Gallery is 14:00-16:00 in the afternoon. When sunlight strikes at an angle, the patterns on the rock walls are clearer. Binoculars can be brought to observe details.
Notes：
There is a risk of falling rocks at the top of the Natural Bridge opening. Do not stay or run under the bridge opening for a long time, and follow the instructions of staff.
Flash photography is prohibited inside the Heitan grottoes to avoid damaging the stone carvings. The cave is slippery, so waterproof shoes are recommended.
Life jackets must be worn on Cuijiang River cruises. Standing or climbing over railings is prohibited during the ride. Children must be accompanied by adults.
Smoking and open-air cooking are prohibited in the scenic area. Climbing or carving on Danxia rock walls is prohibited. Dedicated smoking areas and trash bins are provided along the route.
Mobile phone signal is weak in areas above 300 meters in elevation. It is recommended to travel in groups and not to go alone into unopened canyon areas while hiking.
Transportation：
Self-driving: From downtown Chenzhou, drive along the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway → Chenzhou Avenue, about 25 kilometers in total, taking 40 minutes. From Guangzhou, drive along the Le-Guang Expressway → Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway, about 350 kilometers in total, taking 4 hours. The scenic area parking lot charges 10 yuan per day.
Bus: Take Bus No. 201 from downtown Chenzhou to Qiaokou Town, with a fare of 5 yuan and a travel time of 1 hour. Transfer to a motorcycle taxi or minivan to the scenic area, costing 10 yuan and taking 15 minutes.
Tourist Shuttle: Every day at 09:00 and 10:30, a tourist shuttle departs from the Dongjiang Lake Visitor Center in downtown Chenzhou directly to Feixiantian. The fare is 20 yuan and the travel time is 50 minutes. Return times are 15:00 and 16:30.
Opening Hours：
Open all year round. Daily opening hours are 08:00-17:30 (last entry at 16:30). In summer (June-August), closing is extended to 18:00. In winter, if there is rain or snow, some hiking trails may be temporarily closed, subject to scenic area announcements.
Tickets：
The ticket price is 55 yuan per person (including the sightseeing bus).