Southwest of Chuzhou lies Langya Mountain, an eastern extension of the Huaiyang mountain range. Its name comes from the title of a ruler of the Eastern Jin dynasty. Among historic buildings, inscribed rocks, and wooded slopes, this area reveals a diverse side of the city region.
Langya Shan: Two Different Scales
One Langya Shan scenic area covers 4.98 square kilometers and is divided into five sections. These include the cultural and visitor area around the Pavilion of the Old Drunkard, Tongle Garden, Nantian Gate, and the recreation area at Shensiu Lake. The larger Langya Shan scenic area covers 115 square kilometers and includes the areas around the Pavilion of the Old Drunkard, Puxian, and Qingliu Pass. The two figures therefore refer to areas of different sizes.
Langya Mountain has more than 85 percent forest coverage. It is designated a national forest park; the scenic area is also rated a national 5A-level attraction. These designations are part of the area's character, where cultural attractions meet an expansive mountain landscape.
Trails and Views at Nantian Gate
The Langya Ancient Road leads from the Pavilion of the Old Drunkard to Langya Temple. The historic path is paved with blue stone slabs; wooded mountain slopes, ancient trees, and bamboo line the route. Nantian Gate, the highest point in the southeast of Langya Mountain, is home to the Langya Pavilion and Huifeng Pavilion, among other sites. From Langya Pavilion, views extend across the surrounding mountains, the high-rises in eastern Chuzhou, and the Yangtze River. The trail and viewpoint offer different perspectives on the area: one connects historic places, while the other looks out over the mountains and city.
Pavilion, Literature, and Calligraphy
The Pavilion of the Old Drunkard, also known as Zuiweng Pavilion, was built in 1046. During the Qingli era of the Northern Song dynasty, the monk Zhixian of Langya Temple had it built for Ouyang Xiu, who was then prefect of Chuzhou. The pavilion is one of China's four famous pavilions and is considered the foremost among them. Its history connects a specific place with Ouyang Xiu and the literary heritage that continues to define the pavilion's name today.
Tongle Garden displays inscriptions of Ouyang Xiu's text “Record of the Pavilion of the Old Drunkard” in regular, cursive, clerical, and seal scripts. These include works by Su Tangqing, Su Shi, Zhao Mengfu, Dong Qichang, Zhu Zhishan, Wen Zhengming, and Zhang Ruitu, as well as dedication inscriptions by modern artists. Another highlight is Ouyang Gong Hall, the main building of the Ouyang Xiu Memorial Museum in Tongle Garden. It houses a statue of Ouyang Xiu nearly three meters tall; murals depict his life. The text, script styles, and memorial hall offer different ways to learn about the same person.
Temple and Protected Inscriptions
Langya Temple was built in 771 by Li Youqing, prefect of Chuzhou, and the monk Facheng. It is among the nationally significant temple complexes. The rock inscriptions and steles on Langya Mountain are also designated nationally protected cultural relics of major significance. These include seven particularly noteworthy Tang-dynasty rock inscriptions and a stele written by Su Shi featuring the “Record of the Pavilion of the Old Drunkard.”
Time for Planning Your Day
A one-day itinerary dated March 3, 2023, estimates about 4.5 hours for the scenic area, not including meal and walking times. Use this as a planning estimate, not as a current schedule. Allow additional time for meals and walking when planning your own day.
Discover more destinations: Bengbu, Huainan, Fuyang, Xuancheng, Huangshan, Lu'an, Suzhou, Bozhou.
For the main travel overview: Anhui.
