Mengshan
Mengshan (蒙山) is a county in Central Guangxi. It is administratively part of the city of Wuzhou. The county seat is also called Mengshan.
Understand
Mengshan was historically known as Yongan (永安). A number of places in Mengshan still bear that name.
Get in
Unless you have a car, buses are the only means of getting to Mengshan.
Get around
Within Mengshan Town
Mengshan Town is not very large. Most of the attractions are within a 2km-radius, so getting around on foot is quite feasible. Buses and taxis (including both regular taxis and motorized pedicabs) are also available. Virtually all urban bus services originate from and terminate at the Mengshan Bus Station.
To and from rural Mengshan
Special bus services operate to many of the attractions in Mengshan's rural areas. Tickets for these special buses may be purchased at the Mengshan County Tourist Transportation Centre (蒙山县旅游集散中心), which is inside the Mengshan Bus Station (just next door to the main hall of the station). The Tourist Transportation Centre is open from 08:00 to 17:30.
See
- 🌍 Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Yongan Site (太平天国在永安活动旧址，太平天国开国封王地), 32 Minzhu Street (民主街32号). Tuesday to Friday: 08:00-12:00, 15:00-18:00. Weekends: 09:00-16:00. Closed on Monday. The centrepiece of the site is the reconstructed Wu Temple (武庙), a temple dedicated to Guan Yu, a 2nd century general. When the forces of the Taiping Rebellion occupied the city, they desecrated the temple and made it their headquarters. There is a museum about the Taiping Rebellion behind the temple. Among the artefacts at the museum are a substantial collection of weapons and the skulls of two Qing government officials who were executed by the Taiping army. The site is surrounded on two sides by the surviving section of the old city wall. Free.
- 🌍 West Battery Park (西炮台公园), Intersection of Meijiang North Road and Meijiang Middle Road (湄江北路与湄江中路交叉口) (After visiting the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Yongan Site, head west down Yongan Street (永安街) until you get to the park). The West Battery stands on a hill overlooking the town. It was one of four fortifications that were built by the Taiping army to defend their position in Mengshan. The battery has been restored and equipped with replica cannons (which actually look rather different from the originals) and there is a statue of Xiao Chaogui, the West King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Also in the park is a momument to those fought in the revolutions of the 20th century and a statue of Wei Jiesen, a local-born revolutionary. Free.
- 🌍 East Battery Ruins (东炮台遗址), 100 metres south of the intersection of Donghuan Road and Liaowang North Lane (东环路与僚望北巷交叉口南100米) (The ruins are situated on farmland on the edge of the town. To access the ruins, you will need to follow a dirt path up a hill while being careful not to tread on the farmers' crops). In marked contrast to the West Battery, the East Battery has been largely neglected and has basically been allowed to rot and become covered in weeds. That being said, one could argue that due to the lack of any modern restoration work, the East Battery has a more authentic appearance. Free.
- 🌍 Liang Yusheng Park (梁羽生公园), 250 Tongwen Street (通文街250号), ☏ +86 774 6285733. 08:00-17:00. This park is dedicated to Liang Yusheng, one of the most famous wuxia writers of the 20th century, who was born in a village in Mengshan County. The park contains numerous statues and other monuments to remind visitors of Liang's legacy. Martial arts shows are performed daily at the park's Martial Arts Square. The shows typically depict scenes from some of Liang's best known novels. There is also a small theatre where you can watch a short documentary about Mengshan County (in Chinese only). ¥30.
- 🌍 Yongan Temple (永安寺), 173 Shengli Street (胜利街173号) (Adjacent to Liang Yusheng Park), ☏ +86 774 2536538. Mengshan's largest Buddhist temple. It was originally built during the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor (1796-1820), but demolished in the 1950s. The present structures were constructed in the 1980s. Free.
- 🌍 Old Banyan Tree Park (古榕公园), Liantang Lane (莲塘巷). A small park containing a few old banyan trees. The oldest and most sacred tree is the Zhoutou Banyan (州头古榕), which is said to have been planted over 1000 years ago during the Song Dynasty. Free.
- 🌍 Longevity Bridge (长寿桥). Longevity Bridge (or Changshou Bridge) is a traditional-style covered bridge that dates from the early 19th century. Free.
Eat
In Mengshan Town, restaurants can easily be found on the roads that run parallel to the Mei River.
- 🌍 Capri (卡布里音乐西餐厅), 14 Guangming Street, Mengshan Town (蒙山镇光明街14号), ☏ +86 774 6285208. One of the very few decent Western restaurants in Mengshan. The restaurant is well-decorated and has a good view of the river.