Feilaifeng Peak Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information
There are many grotesque stones on the peak in the shapes of charming dragon, prostrate tiger, walking elephant and scared ape. The color of the stones is also queer, green touched with purple, shining and slippery to the full tastes of visitors.
Name legends
There are many legends about the peak's name. Let's have a look at the well-known.
"The Hill That Flew here"
The legend states that an Indian monk named Huili arrived in the valley 1,600 years ago and was surprised to see a peak so dissimilar from any other one in the valley. He believed that the peak had flown over from India, "The Hill That Flew here", because the shape, although unique in China, was common in India. His suggestion was proved when a black ape and a white ape who meditated at the Indian hill were found in a cave here. However, he did not know why the peak would have flown to this spot so far from his country. Hence the peak's name was created and has passed down to the present day.
Being so different
Its peculiar name may also come from its being different from the hills around it. Covered with bizarre rocks and caves, it is both smaller than the surrounding hills and has a different geological structure. All the hills around it are formed with sandstones, while the Hill That Flew here is composed of limestone.
What to see
Secluded by large trees and situated at the top of the hill with pleasant trails for hiking in the woods, we are provided with many attractions here. The pavilion named Cui Wei, Marvelous caves, Ancient statues, "China Grotto Art Garden" and so on.
The pavilion
Large stones scattered along the peak are said to resemble animals like a flying dragon, a running elephant, a crouching tiger, and a fleeing monkey. On the other side of the peak, a pavilion named Cui Wei was erected to immortalize the national hero Yue Fei. This man contributed greatly in the war against Jin Tribe during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 - 1279). The pavilion was destroyed many times before the large restoration of 1942. The current pavilion keeps its old face with fresh paint.
Marvelous caves
Due to the erosion by groundwater, there are many marvelous caves in the mountain. The caves of this mountain shelter about 330 stone statues dating from the 10th to the 14th centuries. The statues appear in a variety of poses ranging from standing, to sitting, to sleeping. In one of these caves, the Shexu Cave, if looking at the roof of the cave at the right time, tourists will see a beam of sunlight shining into the cave, this famous scene called "the Gleam of the Sky."
On the cliff below the summit, there are a large number of caves with exquisite Buddha statues, carved during the Song and Yuan dynasties.
Ancient statues
Representing the Southern China's carving grotto, the Carved Stone Statues are located on the Feilaifeng Peak in front of the Lingyin Temple. There are 388 ancient statues in total, from the period of Five Dynasties to Song and Yuan Dynasties, with the sitting statues of the "Three West Sages" being the earliest, made in the year of 951.
The smiling Maitreya Buddha
Among them, the largest statue of the smiling Maitreya Buddha is the best-preserved one of its kind and embodies the artistry of carving in the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279). With exposed breast and belly, it sits on cliff along the brook. Besides, there is image of King Da Li Ming with three heads, eight arms, and stripping to the waist, colorful crown on head and pearl and jade necklace on neck, a superb one in the statues of the Yuan Dynasty.
"China Grotto Art Garden"
In 1993, a new site by the name of "China Grotto Art Garden" was set up around the beauty spot of Feilaifeng Peak. Thousands of professionals and aficionados in the fields of engraving and grotto research flock to this place to study the unparalleled Chinese classical rock carvings.
Getting there
- By city bus: 7, 807, (get off at Lingyin bus stop)
- Tourist bus: No. 1, 2 and 4 (get off at Lingyin bus stop)