Dawei Mountain National Forest Park () is a National Forest Park, AAAA-level tourist attraction, and National Geological Park located in Liuyang of Changsha, Hunan, at the Hunan-Jiangxi border. It covers a total area of approximately and is renowned for its rich biodiversity, glacial geological site, and cultural history.
History The name "Dawei" derives from its terrain of "rolling hills encircling three counties", namely Liuyang, Tonggu, and Pingjiang.
During the rulingof Wanli Emperor (1573–1620) of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), a fort called Dawei Fort was built on the mountain.
During the Republic of China, in the Second Revolutionary Civil War (1927–1937), it served as a critical Red Army base and formed part of the Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi Revolutionary Base.
After founding of the People's Republic of China, it was designated a nature reserve in 1984 and officially became a National Forest Park in 1992. In 2016, it gained National Geological Park status due to its Quaternary glacial site.
Geography Geology Dawei Mountain National Forest Park belongs to the tectonic denudation and erosion granite mid-low mountain landform, primarily featuring middle mountain terrain. It bears the marks of Quaternary glacial deposits and erosion, which formed 48 lakes. The highest peak, Seven Star Peak, has an elevation of , making it the highest peak in eastern Hunan.
Climate Dawei Mountain National Forest Park has a mid-subtropical monsoon humid climate with an annual average temperature of . The area receives abundant rainfall, with an annual precipitation of , which can reach at the mountaintop.
Flora and fauna The forest coverage reaches 99.5%, preserving primary and secondary forests. Over 3,000 plant species across 23 formations, including 17 state-protected species (e.g., rare trees), in the park. Over 60 wildlife species (e.g., mammals, birds) and 14 state-protected animals inhabit the park. The park is also a habitat for over 1,200 butterfly species, earning the nickname "Natural Animal and Plant Museum".
Main Attractions Seven Star Peak (): the highest peak in eastern Hunan at 1,607.9 meters; ideal for sunrises, sea of clouds, and stargazing; features glacial landforms like horn peaks and knife ridges.
Limu Bridge Scenic Area (): a valley with streams, bizarre rocks, and waterfalls (e.g., Fenglin Waterfall); known as the "essence of Dawei Mountain" for its pristine waterways.
Maweicao Waterfall Group (): a series of 48 interconnected waterfalls with high negative oxygen ion concentrations.
Red Lotus Temple (): a 1,600-year-old temple from the Liang Dynasty, housing jade Buddhas and ancient relics.
Yuquan Lake () and Daoquan Lake (): glacial ice pits transformed into wetlands; Daoquan Lake is recognized as the source of the Liuyang River.
Quaternary Glacial Relics: distributed across Limu Bridge, Seven Star Peak, and Yuquan Lake, showcasing erratics, U-shaped valleys, and ice pits.
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