Phoenix Mountain (Fenghuang Shan)

This article was originally published on August 6, 2010, in the Shenzhen Daily.
The information was accurate at that time, and may be outdated now. Use with caution.

The temple on Phoenix Mountain, Bao'an

Take a full day trip to Fenghuangshan (Phoenix Mountain) in Bao'an's Fuyong Town, not far from the Shenzhen Airport.

Catch bus 301 anywhere along Shennan Thoroughfare west of the Huaqiangbei area. Take it west to the Fenghuang Terminus (Fenghuang Zongzhan 凤凰总站). Get off and walk to the nearby Wenchang Tower (also called Fenghuang Tower), just east of the terminus.

Started in 1796, the tower honors Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283), a scholar-general of the late Song Dynasty. His nephew's grandson Wen Yinglin later came to Shenzhen; the original villagers of this area were his descendants, mostly named Wen.

Wenchang Tower near the mountain

Continuing east on Fenghuangshan Boulevard, passing the Phoenix Supermarket (stock up on water!) and Fenghuang Park, you can climb Phoenix Mountain (Fenghuang Shan); it takes about an hour. Or, if you're lazy like me, just catch a ride to the top from one of the local providers.

On the mountain you'll find a fairly large temple complex, along with smaller halls, pavilions, ponds, and some interesting grottoes. An air of mystery surrounds the place, lending credence to the old tradition that phoenixes used to nest there (hence the name, though some say the mountain looks like a flying phoenix when viewed from the air). There is also a restaurant.

Continue climbing to the peaks for stunning views in several directions.

Dragon King Temple lies at the foot of Phoenix Mountain

Back down at the bottom of the hill, go counter-clockwise around its base. Off of Fuyong East Road, you'll find the lovely little Longwang (Dragon King) Temple, a jewel of Chinese architecture.

There's more about the Fenghuang area in another article in the Shenzhen Daily, "Ancient villages record the city's history."

GPS Info:

• Wenchang Tower = 22.691238, 113.836686
• Phoenix Mountain = 22.67592, 113.85383
• Longwang Temple = 22.67116, 113.84063

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Click on the links to see the maps:

• Wenchang Tower
• Phoenix Mountain
• Longwang Temple