Located in Suiping County, Mountain Chaya lies to the south of Zhumadian City, 300km away from Wuhan and 180km away from Zhengzhou. No.107 National Highway, Jingguang Railway, Jingzhu Expressway all pass through Suiping County.
The convenient communication network and modern transportation have enormously shortened the distance between the attractions and the major cities.
Situated in the transitional zone of the north and the south, the mountain is bestowed with an agreeable climate and abundant resources. In each season, there is a splendor of beauty. In spring, birds sing and flowers give forth fragrance; in summer, the umbrageous woodlands can be seen and clinking sounds of flowing spring water can be heard; in autumn, the mountain is fiery with maple leaves and in winter, clothed in white snow and ice, the mountain takes on a pure and noble look. On the mountain there are steep and rocky peaks and deep caves surrounded by age-old trees and green vines. At the foot, there flow streams towards lakes, making various reflections. In this fairyland, there are altogether 9 sites, 9 peaks, 9 stones, 9 pavilions, 9 caves and over 200 scenic spots of various kinds.
Owing to its strategic location in Central China and difficult access, the mountain has been a vantage point since ancient times. Among the historical remains is the Tomb of the Emperor Wu of the Spring and Autumn Period, Huang Chao Cave of the Tang Dynasty, Shuntian Palace of Li Zicheng at the end of Ming Dynasty and so on. During the periods of resistance war against Japanese invaders and civil war, revolutionaries as Liu Shaoqi, Yang Jingyu, Fang Wenlan left their footprint on the path of the area. The places of historic interests are dotted everywhere in the attraction. Yan Zhenqing, a calligrapher of Tang Dynasty left his handwriting there when he toured the mountain. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, had been to the mountain three times, with places like Qianlong Valley and Qianlong Cave bearing witness. Among others, the Bao Gong Temple, Jade Emperor Temple, Guan Yue Temple, Wulong Temple and Bagua Pavilion show the profound culture heritage and further arouse people's longing for the mountain.
Mountain Chaya is reputed as a “Miniature landscape in Central China”. On the summit of Mountain Mila, streams of spring flow slowly like honey dripping down the wall. On Mountain Nanshan, one can see endless views. On Mountain Beishan, there are a lot of cultural and historical sites. On Mountain Liufeng, one can experience typical pleasures of countryside. Water is also an indispensable part of the attraction. Numerous lakes scattering around the mountain, like a beautiful landscape painting.
Mountain Chaya is acclaimed as a “Totem Forest of China”. There are rocks of various shapes. Some of them look like characters from fairy tales, while some others look like animals. The rocks are actually a reflection of one of the mankind's oldest culture, Chinese totems.
Worldwide known as a “Geological Park”, Mountain Chaya is an extension of Mountain Funiu. It lies in the joint part of Yangtze Plate and North China Plate, a transitional zone of the first terrace and the second terrace and therefore has a very important geological significance. The mountain ages around 123 million years. It serves as a milestone evidence to divide the medium and late stages of mountain formation of Mountain Yanshan. As the valuable and non-renewable geological heritage, Mountain Chaya includes the steepness of Mountain Huashan, splendor of Mountain Taishan, peculiarity of Mountain Huangshan, elegance of Mountain Emei and tranquility of Mountain Yandang. As the only granite landform ruins in China, also rarely seen worldwide, Mountain Chaya has great scientific values. In 2001, an academician from Canada praised the mountain as a world-class tourism site and a fine-taste geological park. In 2003, the mountain was awarded the title of “State Geological Park”.
Reputed as the origin of A Journey to the West, Mountain Chaya has a long history and rich culture. Master Xuanzang had lectured on the mountain many times. Dao Quan and Dao Yi, his two disciples were born here. Wu Cheng'en, a great talent of the Ming Dynasty, sought refuge in the mountain. On seeing the finely shaped stones of drunken pig, sleeping Monk master, the white dragon horse, 72 monkeys and the monkey king, he got his inspiration of creation and finished the classic——A Journey to the West. In 1998, Yang Jie, the general director of A Journey to the West, came to Mountain Chaya to find shooting sites and praised it as the place of inspiration, the birth place of the literary classic and then took it as main location to shoot his TV series.
On April 20th, 1958, the Chayashan People's Commune, the first commune of China came into being in this area. In order to show the management, production and life of that special period, a museum was founded according to the record of history. |
Asia Travel 
Articles: (
Newest publication