Jiangmen Heshan Dayanshan Weekend Hike

Dayanshan - Haihui Temple - Jiyuan Tower - Yanming Lake - Zhuangyuan Square We recommend a great place for a one-day outdoor activity on the weekend: Dayanshan in Heshan, Jiangmen. Dayanshan is just across the river (Xijiang) from Shunde. You can see a tower on the top of the mountain when passing through the Jiujiang Bridge or Jiangshun Bridge. That is the Jiyuan Tower (also known as Dayan Tower by locals) on Dayanshan. The air on the mountain is rich in negative oxygen ions, and the temperature in summer is much cooler than in the city below. It is very suitable for friends who like outdoor hiking and climbing. Therefore, on weekends, it attracts many self-driving tourists from Foshan and Guangzhou, as well as middle-aged and elderly tour groups from afar. There are several routes from the foot of the mountain to the top, which can be divided into two main routes. One route starts from the north gate entrance, passes through Haihui Temple, and leads to Jiyuan Tower, Zhuangyuan Square, and Yanming Lake. The second route starts from the west gate parking lot entrance, passes through the mountain square, a small waterfall, Yanming Lake, Zhuangyuan Square, and Jiyuan Tower. The first route is shorter and allows you to visit Haihui Temple, but the slope is steeper. The second route is longer, but the parking lot is large and easy to find a parking space, making it more suitable for self-driving visitors. Haihui Temple is located halfway up the mountain and is built along the mountain. It consists of three main buildings: the Dharma Hall, the Mahavira Hall, and the Guanyin Hall. The temple is solemn and ancient. If elderly people with mobility issues need to visit the temple, they can ask the temple's laypeople for assistance (during holidays, the laypeople wear gray vests). They can drive directly to the temple entrance. Other regular visitors are usually asked by security to park at a small parking platform below the temple and walk up. The small waterfall has a small pool formed by the flowing water. If you visit in spring, you may see many tadpoles in the pool. Children often bend over to catch tadpoles together! Yanming Lake is a lake formed by building a dam in a valley near the top of the mountain. The valley is breezy, making it a perfect spot to enjoy the cool breeze on the bridge during summer and autumn! You can see fish and turtles in the lake, and sometimes you may even spot white ibises leisurely by the lake. Jiyuan Tower is located at the highest point of Dayanshan and was built to commemorate the establishment of Heshan as a city. It symbolizes the establishment of a city and the beginning of a new era! The tower is an octagonal nine-story pavilion-style imitation Song Dynasty pagoda, about 53 meters high, with a construction area of 1,950 square meters and a ground floor of 180 square meters. The tower has nine sections of stairs with a total of 197 steps, spiraling up to the top. During the Lantern Festival and Double Ninth Festival, this place is the most lively, with many local residents from Heshan and nearby areas gathering to climb the mountain and celebrate the festival. It is a grand event! There are many other places to explore on Dayanshan, leaving some mystery for you to discover! We welcome you to climb to the top, exercise, breathe fresh air, and enjoy the wonderful benefits of outdoor activities with family and friends.