Mount Heng is a 150-kilometre range home to the world's rarest botanical treasures.

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known as the southern peak of China's Five Great Mountains, Mount Heng is far more than a spiritual landmark. Spanning 72 peaks in Hunan Province, this range creates a unique vertical climate that supports everything from ancient Buddhist monasteries to the only four remaining wild velvet soapberry trees on Earth.

Mount Heng, or Heng Shan, stretches 150 kilometres across southcentral China. Its geography is defined by 72 distinct peaks, ranging from Huiyan Peak in the south to Yuelu Mountain in the north. The highest point, Zhurong Peak, reaches an altitude of 1,300 metres. This elevation creates a distinct vertical climate, where temperatures drop by an average of 0.59°C for every 100 metres of ascent. This variation shapes the mountain's ecology, transitioning from subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests below 800 metres to dwarf forests and grasslands at higher altitudes.

The region is a sanctuary for rare biology. Beyond its 67% forest coverage, the mountain hosts unique specimens like the two ancient wild yews discovered in 2013, estimated to be over a millennium old. Perhaps most remarkably, the primary secondary forest near Guangji Temple holds the world's entire population of wild velvet soapberry trees—just four individuals, identified in two separate discoveries in 1954 and 2012. Wildlife also finds refuge here, including the silver pheasant and the long-eared owl, the latter of which was rediscovered in the area in 2004 after being considered extinct in the province for over a decade.

Human history is as layered as the mountain's ecology. At its base sits the Grand Temple of Mount Heng, the largest ancient building complex in Hunan Province. The area is dotted with significant religious sites, such as the 8th-century Zhusheng Temple, Fuyan Temple, and the stone Zhurong Gong. To protect this intersection of cultural heritage and biodiversity, the Nanyue Mount Heng Nature Reserve was established in 1984, eventually achieving national status in 2005. Today, the Nanyue Arboretum continues the work of cataloging and preserving the mountain's rich botanical diversity.

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