Mt. Wuyi -- A World Cultural and Natural Heritage

Wuyi Mountain, with its stunning scenery and wealth of cultural relics, is located in northwestern Fujian Province. In December 1999, the UN World Heritage Committee as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, thus becoming the fourth in China after Mt. Taishan, Mt. Huangshan, and Mt. Emei, designated it.

Wuyi Mountain's 108 scenic spots, including its Jiuqu (Nine-Bend) River, Tianyou Peak, Waterfall Cave, Huxiao (Roaring Tiger) Rock, Wuyi Palace, and Lianhua (Lotus) Peak, are scattered over 10 main scenic areas. With its beautiful landscape, cultural relics and fascinating folk tales, Mt. Wuyi provides an ideal setting for re-discovering the charms of nature. Cai Shangsi, a famous historian, once said, "Confucius of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and Zhu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty are the two great men of letters in ancient Chinese history, while Mt. Tai and Mt. Wuyi are China's cultural cradles."

Mt. Wuyi is a refuge for rare and endangered animal species. It is also known as "bird paradise," a "world of insects," and the "kingdom of snakes." Its Huanggang Peak, or the "ridge of Eastern China," is 2,158 meters above sea level.

Wuyi Mountain has convenient transportation, including a state level airport, extensive leisure facilities, and a dazzling array of local handicrafts from which to select gifts and souvenirs. The fragrant Wuyi Rock Tea is one of China's ten most famous teas, and was regularly presented as a tribute to the imperial court from as far back as the Song Dynasty. It is now in great demand on the European, American and Southeast Asian markets.

(China Today 05/2001 )