The mountain received its name, which translates as “five fingers,” because of its shape: it looks like an open palm whose fingers hold up the sky.
All five peaks share a common base. The longest “finger” rises 1867 meters above sea level. This is the highest point on Hainan, which has made Wuzhishan a symbol of the island.
The second finger, 1300 meters high, is connected to the first by the “Fairy Bridge,” which is shrouded in mist and clouds. Despite the weather conditions, tourists without special climbing skills or equipment can make the ascent here.
Only professionals can conquer the other three “fingers.” Incidentally, there is a belief that the third finger used to be the tallest, but it was shortened by a lightning strike.
The unusually shaped mountain has given rise to many legends. One of them says that the massif is a symbol of the emperor’s palm. Long ago, a battle between the monarch and an arrogant monkey king took place here. Calling on divine forces for help, the emperor defeated his opponent with a single hand. After the duel, the victorious palm became a symbol of the five elements: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. Originally, the mountain was called just that — the five elements, Wuxingshan.
Today, Wuzhishan is one of the most untouched places on the planet. The flora and fauna here are extremely rich: there are 30 thousand species of animals, birds, and insects. As for plants, there are about 170 species of orchids alone.
Most of the island’s rivers originate here. Tourists are offered a rafting trip along one of them, named after the mountain itself. The river is 6 kilometers long, and there are rapids and whirlpools along the way. There is also a lake and a picturesque waterfall at the top.
