China: Mount Wuyishan Scenic Area

Here’s another spectacular site, famous worldwide and also a UNESCO World Heritage site – Mount Wuyishan – honored for both its outstanding biodiversity and its deep cultural and historical significance. This is classic Danxia Landform with sandstone cliffs, deep gorges, and isolated, flat-topped peaks that rise sharply out of the green terrain. There are many different trails in the park, but the most spectacular area is the Nine-Bend River in the absolute heart of Wuyishan, where the river twists and turns for about 9km through the jagged peaks. Wuyishan isn’t just a natural wonder – it has been a sacred sanctuary for centuries, serving as a cultural crossroads for three major Chinese philosophies – Taoism, Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism – and there are multiple temples and monasteries dotting the landscape.