Lotus Hill

The Lotus Hill, also known as Lianhua Mountain, in Guangzhou is the right place to enjoy the beauty of blooming lotus flowers. The hill is situated is located in the eastern outskirt of Panyu City, 20km from Guangzhou and 60 sea miles from Hong Kong. Covering an area of 2.54sq km, it is composed of 48 red sandstone low hills, the highest of which is 108m tall. It has the best preserved ancient quarry site, with a history of 2000 years in China. 

The lotus city itself was built during the Kangxi's reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). There is also the gold statute of the Goddess of Mercy, which is the biggest in the world. The statue was cast in 1994 with 120 tonnes of bronze and 180 taels of gold coating and measures 40.88m. The Lotus Hill Tourist Resort displays a combination of ancient ruggedness and modern delicacy. Do not miss it when in Guangzhou.

Apart from its link with the flower, the name Lotus Hill also refers to a fairy tale. According to the story, a dragon, which lived in the South China Sea, used to create tidal waves to sink ships and flood the farmlands near the Pearl River. The ordeal of the local people moved the Goddess of Mercy and she threw her lotus seat and overpowered the dragon. People believe that it is this lotus seat that later transformed into the Lotus Stone, thus giving the hill its name. This is the very reason why you will find a gold statue of the deity on this hill.

There is a statue called the statue of the Goddess of Mercy, which is considered to be the biggest statue in the world. It was built in 1994 and has 180 gold teals and bronze that weighs 120 tons. Apart from this, the area also has some stone quarries that are about 2000 years old. The authorities have preserved these mines with enough care and they have now become an important part of the Lotus Hill in Guangzhou.

The quarry works from each of the past dynasties, dating back to the Western Han (206 BC - 24 AD), leave behind a legacy of countless majestic red sandstone cliffs, perilous peaks, stelae and winding stone forests and grottoes. Visitors should not miss the Swallow Rock (Yan Zi Yan), Eagle Cliff (Fei Ying Ya), Goddess of Mercy Rock (Guan Yin Yan), and the Lion Stone (Shi Zi Shi), as they formed the essential stone landscape of this ancient stone yard.

Looking up from the Swallow Rock, one will see four cliffs circling around it, shaping the broad sky into a small well. The gigantic tottering cliffs are breathtaking and dazzling. Vines on the rocks are just like a green wall, forming a wonderful watercolor painting in the blooming season. Film and TV directors frequently use this place as their choice location.

The Lion Stone lies in the eastern part of the Lotus Hill. Due to the stone lion roaring towards the direction of the Pearl River, the hill is also sometimes referred to the "Lion Hill." According to archaeologist, this place used to be just a small island hundreds of years ago but with passing time, the land elevated and sea level dropped, resulting in what it is today. The Lion Stone, originally a rock on the side of the small island, took the current shape due to continuous erosion and weathering.

The famous Lotus Flower and Peach Blossom Festivals are held in Lotus Hill Tourist Resort annually. From June to August every year, more than 100 kinds of lotus flowers, the holy flower of Buddhism, are picked for the festival. Hence, if tourists were to visit there during this period, they would not only enjoy the grand landscape but also appreciate a myriad of blooming lotus.

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