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Huashan Rock Painting was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2016 because it is acclaimed as an artistic treasure of China. Huashan Rock Painting comprises a cliff painting complex along the Zuojiang River in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region., but the best example of the Rock Paintings of Hua Mountain is located in Ningming County, Chongzuo City, where the rock paintings are the largest and of the most complicated patterns.

Features of Huashan Rock Paintings

Huashan Mountain stands around  271 meters high on the west bank of Mingjiang River. Facing the river is a precipitous cliff with dark red patterns. Paintings cover an area of over two acres (8,000 square meters), with a length of  172 meter and a width of 50 meter.  

Noadays, 1,951 images have been counted which can be categorized into 110 groups. Most are patterns of human beings, animals and utensils. Human figures are in various postures. Each man in the middle of a group bears a sword and wears a zoomorphic ornament on the head, looking like the chief of a tribe. Some surrounding figures are doing fork dances barefooted like a hopping frog, raising their hands over head and bending their knees. Others are riding horses, beating drums, or playing gongs. Some profile figures half kneel and raise hands together over head, as if they are presenting something to the chief. It's inferred that they are the lower levels and women. Identifiable animals include dogs, donkeys, wolves, tigers, and birds. It's easy to tell that the cliff paintings show a magnificent ceremony.
Neither the dance movements nor the drawing of figures are elaborate. However, Huashan Murals as a whole are imposing, showing the brilliant culture of Zhuang Nationality. Therefore, Huashan Rock Paintings are of great historical and artistic value.

Unsolved Mysteries

It is recorded that the masterpieces were painted over 2,000 years ago by the Luoyue Tribe, ancestors of Zhuang People. The earliest ones can be dated back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476BC). However, the Rock Painting of the Mountain Huashan remains an unsolved mystery. How did the ancient people paint on such a steep cliff? What kind of pigment did they use so that the paintings are still clear and bright after thousands of years of weathering? And, why did they paint and what exactly do the paintings imply?
Opinions vary on the last question about the content of the paintings. Some assume that people in the paintings are celebrating a bumper harvest while some think they are celebrating victory over invading enemies. Some experts reckon that Luoyue People drew pictures on the cliff to frighten demons in the river, thus praying for favorable weather for the crops. Some guess they are showing awe and respect to a frog totem. Others believe it is just the witchcraft of Luoyue People.

Travel Tips

Add: Ningming County, Chongzuo City,Guangxi
Admission Fee: CNY 80 (including the entrance ticket and ship ticket)
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00