Where the Water on the Watershed Comes From
Fanjingshan lies in the transition zone between the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the hills of western Hunan, and is one of the watersheds dividing the Wu River and the Yuan River. The mountain has an enormous elevation difference and takes a typical dome-like form, with its summit water system rushing outward in all directions and streams and gullies densely scattered across the slopes—so numerous that people have long described them as the "Ninety-Nine Streams." Where the land drops away, the water tumbles down and forms many waterfalls, their sound mingling with the mountain scenery and lending a lively spirit to this ancient massif.
Annual precipitation here is high, making this one of the rainier areas in the province. The abundant moisture nourishes dense forests and often turns into seas of cloud high on the mountain. In other words, the streams and waterfalls seen in the valleys, the mist and clouds at the summit, and the lushness of the forest are simply different facets of the same thing.
Water Scenery Has Its Own Charm in Every Season
Water flow changes with the seasons and rainfall, and the viewing experience differs markedly, so before setting out you can choose a time that suits your preferences.
- Rainy season and high-water period: streams and waterfalls carry abundant water and roar loudly, at their most spectacular.
- Just after rain clears: mist and moisture interweave, waterfalls appear and vanish, with a beauty all its own.
- Dry season in autumn and winter: though the flow is smaller, the stream stones are crisp and the water clear, ideal for quiet contemplation.
Listening to the water and watching the mountains is a pleasant diversion along the climb. Provided it is safe, quietly taking in the dialogue between water and mountain often brings more reward than rushing along the trail.
Water and Geology: Reading the Stones Along the Way
Fanjingshan is one of the older areas in southern China to have risen from the sea to become land, preserving strata and landforms formed roughly 1 billion to 1.4 billion years ago. Solitary peaks jut out, cliffs drop sheer, and gullies run deep; aeons of wind and rain erosion have carved out a distinctive landscape of mountain stones. The metamorphic rock at the summit lies nearly horizontal with well-developed vertical joints, and after weathering and collapse it has formed peak-forest oddities such as Mushroom Rock, Eagle Rock, Ten Thousand Scrolls, and General's Head; the effects of structure and water erosion have also created deep, precipitous gorges and walled-valley landforms.
Along the way, watch for the nearly horizontal attitude of the rock layers and the developed vertical joints, and understand how the "large on top, small below" Mushroom Rock and the sheer isolated cliffs were carved by weathering and erosion; then, together with the gorge, walled-valley, and waterfall landforms, sense the long-term action of water and structure. With a little geological background, what you see while climbing is not just "stones" but a history of Earth's evolution spanning aeons.
Viewing and Safety Tips
- View from open trails and viewpoints, and keep away from slippery cliff edges and the margins of pools.
- Mountain flash floods come fast in the rainy season; never linger in gullies or river channels or wade across water.
- Rocks are slippery; stand firm and hold on when framing shots and taking photos, and watch your step.
- Geological features are mostly found along the trails and in the summit area; please view them within open areas, do not climb on rock bodies or chip off specimens, so that these precious geological relics may endure for a long time.