THERE are four well-known mountains in Guangdong: Dinghu, Xiqiao, Danxia and Luofu. For those fed up with weeks of humid and stuffy weather, a getaway to one of these destinations is recommended to recharge the batteries.

Danxia Mountain

Also called Chinese Redstone Park, Danxia Mountain in Shaoguan City in north-central Guangdong is a world-famous geological park. China has the world’s largest area of Danxia, or redstone geomorphology, the majority of which is found on this mountain.

Last year, the mountain achieved the status of World Heritage Site as part of China Danxia. Local signs describe it as a world-famous UNESCO geopark. More than 600,000 tourists visit the mountain each year.

The mountain is formed of reddish sandstone that has eroded over time into a series of mountains surrounded by cliffs and various unusual rock formations (Danxia Landform).

The scenic area contains more than 680 stone peaks, fortresses, walls, pillars and bridges. Many stones take the shape of the human body, birds and animals.

Danxia Mountain consists of many other wonderful scenic spots, including Zhanglao Peak, Yangyuan Hill, Xianglong Lake and Jinhe River. At the foot of Zhanglao Peak, which is an ideal place to view the sunrise and sunset, there is a grotto temple that was built during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). The Biezhuan Temple, which lies in the middle of Zhanglao Peak, is one of the 10 most notable temples in Guangdong.

Transport: Take a train from Shenzhen Railway Station to Shaoguan City, or buses that depart for Shaoguan from most city bus stations, then take a Luofu Mountain

Luofu Mountain

Luofu Mountain, situated in Huizhou in Guangdong Province, is a sacred mountain as it is one of China’s 10 famous Taoist mountains.

Among the many temples on the mountain, there is one that is said to be linked to the dragon and certain styles of kung fu.

It is said that in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), the renowned Taoist Ge Hong once refined elixirs here. During Ge’s stay on Luofu Mountain, four huts were built, and subsequently enlarged into temples, namely the southern Temple of Great Emptiness (which was later changed into the Temple of Emptiness), the western Temple of the Yellow Dragon, the eastern Temple of the Nine Heavens, and the northern Temple of Junkets.

In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a branch of the Dragon Gate Sect propagated its teachings at the Temple of Junkets. During the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the abbot of the temple, Chen Jiaoyou, wrote “Evolution of the Taoism of Changchun’s Lineage,” an important work on the history of transmission and the heritage of the Dragon Gate Sect.

A certain number of temples on Luofu Mountain disintegrated after the Ming and Qing dynasties. There are many relics of Ge on the mountain, such as the “Well of Longevity” from which he obtained water, the alchemical kitchen for refining elixirs, and the pond for washing elixirs.

Transport: Buses depart for Huizhou at most city bus stations, then take a sightseeing bus to Luofu Mountain. (Jane Lai)

sightseeing bus to Danxia Mountain.

Accommodation: Hostels at the foot of the mountain cost 80 to 100 yuan per night. Or you can camp on the mountain for the sunrises.