LOCATED in Deqing County, Zhejiang Province, Mogan Mountain has been listed as one of the “four best summer resorts in China” along with the Beidaihe Scenic Area, Lushan Mountain and Jigong Mountain. It is also listed as one of the “45 places to go to” in the world.

    Covering an area of 43 square kilometers and with an average altitude of 500 meters, Mogan Mountain is famous for its wild bamboo, dispersed villas of different styles and enthralling legends.

    In the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), a king of the Wu State sent two well-known sword makers, Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, to the mountain, and the two made one of the most famous swords in Chinese history. The mountain is named after them.

    Bamboo covers the mountain, giving a tranquil atmosphere. Hundreds of springs and waterfalls make the mountain an escape from summer heat, with an average summer temperature of 24 degrees Celsius.

    Villas hidden in the bamboo forest may also surprise visitors. More than 200 villas in different styles, including European, American, Japanese and Russian, give the name “World Architecture Museum” to the mountain. These different villas scattered on the mountain were built in the last century and were used by many famous people, including Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. Today these residences are well preserved and open to the public.

    Jianchi Pond

    Jianchi Pond (Sword Pond) is a famous attraction due to its waterfall. The waterfall has three drops with each drop spanning about 10 meters.

    Many famous people, including Chen Yi, a well-known Chinese military commander and politician, wrote poems about the magnificent scene at Jianchi Pond.

    The best place to see the waterfall is standing on a bridge called Fuxi Bridge, which was built over the pond.

    Wuling Village

    Located on the top of the Wujitou in the mountain, the village has a magnificent bird’s-eye view of the entire mountain area. It is also close to the famous Wenjing Pavilion, Dicui Platform, Xuguang Platform and Ancient Heavy Lake.

    The village is located a distance from other mountain attractions, making it quiet and relaxed.

    The most famous spot in the village is Wuling Villas. Hidden in the green forest, the villas have received many famous guests, including the former Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong Mei-ling.

    Mogan Lake

    Located at the foot of the South Mogan Mountain, Mogan Lake, also known as the Hekou Reservoir, is an artificial lake built in 1963. The lake was built to prevent flooding, and it blends perfectly into the beautiful natural surroundings. The bamboo around the lake is less developed than in other areas, making it easy to spot pangolins, weasels and deer.

    Yucun Village Market

    Yucun Village used to be an abandoned silk farm. A Taiwanese team of designers discovered the village a few years ago and rebuilt it into an artistic market for traditional Chinese village culture.

    Most buildings in the village were built in the 1930s and are now decorated with green bamboo and local crafts.

    There are shops and restaurants offering not only the local delicacies but food from around the world.

    Cultural and art events are also held in the village regularly.

    Activities

    There are many activities that you can do when visiting the mountain.

    The most recommended experience is to learn about traditional tea culture in the Jiangnan region. There are many tea gardens and workshops in the area and all of them offer activities such as tea leaf picking, tea making and tasting.

    Outdoor activities are also recommended. The area has hiking paths with different levels of difficulty. Some are family friendly and some are for professional hikers.

    Cycling and rock climbing are also popular among outdoor lovers.

    Accommodation

    Like many tourist attractions in China, there are many hotels and local inns in the area. What makes Mogan Mountain different is the style of its local inns. When most local inns offer a comfortable and traditional rural lifestyle, inns in Mogan Mountain focuses on an international experience.

    (Wang Yuanyuan)Transport: Fly to Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, from Shenzhen airport and take a coach to Dexing. There are buses and taxis going to Mogan Mountain. Another recommended route is to ride a bike to the mountain from Hangzhou. The ride takes only about one and a half hours.