Mount Heng, a sacred land for fire god worship and longevity

In the eyes of poets, it is a magnificent poem; in the minds of scholars, it is a cultural repository; in the hearts of tourists, it is a natural wonder; in the belief of pilgrims, it is a sacred mountain. It is Mount Heng in Hengyang, Hunan province. Along with Mount Tai, Mount Song, Mount Hua and Mount Heng in Shanxi province, the Mount Heng in Hunan is one of the Five Great Mountains of China that are collectively known as Wuyue in Chinese culture. Mount Heng is of great historical and cultural significance, and the local government in Hengyang has been making great efforts to raise its profile as a world-renowned tourism destination.

Various cultures have left their marks on the mountain. Mount Heng is revered as the birthplace of the worship of Zhurong, the fire god of ancient legends. The fire culture that arose around the worship of Zhurong has become emblematic of Mount Heng, as depictions of Zhurong can be seen everywhere on the mountain.

It is said that in ancient times, Zhurong taught his people how to strike stones together to spark a fire. This benevolence earned him respect, and the highest peak of Mount Heng is named Zhurong Peak in his honor.

A statue of Zhurong is enshrined in Zhurong Temple on Zhurong Peak. In April 2021, China's first Mars rover was named "Zhurong". The torch for the 13th Sports Games of Hunan, held in 2018, was lit at Zhurong Peak, as was the torch for the 14th, held in 2022.

In recent years, the government has developed the fire culture of Mount Heng into a cultural tourism complex called Zhurong Town. With diverse formats and innovative activities, it has quickly become a new landmark and tourist attraction.

If the fire culture is the source of Mount Heng's culture, then the sacrificial and longevity cultures are important reasons for the mountain's enduring fame.

The first day of the eighth lunar month is said to be the birthday of the fire god and became a traditional festival at Mount Heng, known as ganbayue, which literally means pilgrimage in the eighth mouth. Visitors from all over the country gather to burn incense for blessings, worship Zhurong and pray for good fortune and longevity. The area around Mount Heng is bustling with visitors and hotel rooms are in high demand. The Spring Festival also attracts visitors and pilgrims from all over the country. The Nanyue Temple Fair has not only been recognized as one of the country's most influential traditional Spring Festival activities but has also been included on the national-level intangible cultural heritage list.

Liu Jianguo, a visitor from Shaoyang in Hunan province, said that visiting Mount Heng on the Lunar New Year's Day is almost a ritual for his family. They set off before dawn, arrive the same day and pray that their family receives peace and health.

Many devout visitors choose to climb the mount on foot. The Chinese character for longevity — shou — can be seen everywhere along the winding mountain paths. Some are carved beside temples, some on rocky cliffs and some are simply etched along the sides of the paths.

Hengyang's Nanyue district where Mount Heng is located is also known as the hometown of longevity, with an increasing number of elderly people reaching advanced ages. This phenomenon is closely tied to Mount Heng's ecological environment. As one of the national 5A-level tourist attractions and national-level natural reserves, the Mount Heng area boasts towering ancient trees, with a forest coverage rate of up to 76.68 percent. This has provided suitable conditions for the development of the local healthcare industry.

Nanyue district has been protecting the forest resources and promoting the commercialization of ecological advantages in tourism, agriculture and other fields. The district received 6.83 million visits in the first half of 2024, according to official data.