Daheishan Mountain in Kaiyuan City, Honghe

Dahei Mountain (大黑山) is the highest peak in the eastern part of Kaiyuan City (开远市), Yunnan Province (云南省), with its main summit reaching 2,775.5 meters above sea level. Formed during the Himalayan orogeny in the Early Pleistocene of the Quaternary period, the mountain features a transitional plateau monsoon climate shifting into alpine conditions. It is renowned for the saying “one mountain with four seasons, different weather every ten miles.” Its core scenic area, Stone Fortress (石围城), showcases karst landforms, including stone forests, karst peaks, and alpine meadows. The vegetation is dominated by Yunnan poplar, rhododendrons, and shrub forests, with frozen landscapes and snow visible in winter. As of 2025, the area is planned as a 1,060.74-hectare National Rocky Desertification Park (国家石漠公园, under construction).

• Elevation: 2,775.5 meters
• Climate: Vertical climate zones
• Vegetation: Alpine meadows and shrub forests
• Main Scenic Feature: Stone Fortress (石围城) karst landforms
• Conservation Level: National Rocky Desertification Park (under construction)
• Tourism Highlight: Four-season landscape contrasts

Geological Features

The mountain range was formed around 2.5 million years ago during the Himalayan orogeny and belongs to the Liuzhao Mountain branch (六昭山) of the eastern Yunnan Plateau. Its northwest-southeast fault zones created elevated plateau terrain. The main summit, Peinechong Dapotop (裴呢冲大坡顶), reaches 2,775.6 meters. The range extends into six ridges covering Dazhuang Township (大庄乡) and Yangjie Township (羊街乡).

Natural Scenery

The Stone Fortress (石围城) scenic area presents classic karst landscapes, featuring diverse stone forests, peak clusters, and cave systems, with moss-covered rocks forming colorful patterns. Alpine meadows cover more than 4,600 hectares, bursting with rhododendrons in spring and buckwheat flowers in autumn. In winter, snow often blankets the summit, while summer brings ever-changing seas of clouds.

Ecological Resources

Vegetation is vertically distributed: above 2,000 meters grow boxwood and rhododendrons, while mid-to-low elevations support buckwheat fields and pepper groves. Fauna includes free-ranging sheep and wild honeybees. The mountain also shelters underground water sources such as Xianren Cave (仙人洞). By 2022, the area had become an important water source for the Dazhuang Reservoir (大庄水库).

Climate Characteristics

The annual average temperature ranges between 10–15°C, with a day–night temperature difference of up to 17°C. The rainy season is concentrated between June and August, while winters often bring frost and ice. The vertical climate leads to the saying: “no three days of clear skies, no three feet of flat land.” The mountaintop often features wind turbines set against moving seas of clouds.

Tourism and Conservation

Two main tourist routes have developed: Donglian Village (东联村) – Yangjie (羊街), and Nandong (南洞) – Baicao (白草) Road. Since 2016, eco-hiking and photography have been promoted as key activities. In 2022, the National Rocky Desertification Park project was launched, aiming to protect 1,060.74 hectares of karst landscape while serving ecological and educational purposes. Visitors are advised to dress warmly and prepare for icy conditions in winter, while in summer, rain gear is recommended.