The Hiking Trail of China's Five Great Mountains (Hengshan Section, Hunan) was newly included in the IMTA International Model Mountain Hiking Routes in 2024. Located in Nanyue District, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, it is the core hiking section of South Hengshan, another of China's Five Great Mountains. Featuring "picturesque landscapes and the coexisting culture of Buddhism and Taoism", it leverages Hengshan's natural endowment as "the most graceful among the Five Great Mountains" and its thousand-year accumulation of religious culture, becoming a benchmark hiking route in South China that combines leisure experience with profound cultural connotations. Located in a subtropical monsoon climate zone, Hengshan has a vegetation coverage rate of over 95%, presenting distinct scenery in all four seasons: blooming azaleas in spring, dense shade in summer, colorful foliage in autumn, and rime-covered branches in winter, boasting a superior ecological environment.

The core section is the classic hiking route from Nanyue Grand Temple to Zhurong Peak, covering about 10 kilometers and taking 3–4 hours to finish with low difficulty. The altitude rises from 900 meters to Zhurong Peak at 1,300.2 meters above sea level. The trail is mainly paved with bluestone slabs with gentle slopes, suitable for hikers of all ages. Starting from Nanyue Grand Temple, the route ascends gradually past key attractions such as the Martyrs' Shrine, Chuanyan Poetry Forest, and Mid-Level Pavilion. Along the way, ancient trees tower into the sky, exotic flowers and herbs are everywhere, and streams gurgle gently. Chuanyan Poetry Forest features poems and verses inscribed by literati of past dynasties on natural rocks, allowing hikers to experience the integration of literature and nature during the climb. As a midway rest stop, the Mid-Level Pavilion offers a distant view of the green peaks and a bird's-eye view of the mist-shrouded valleys, making it one of the best spots to watch the sea of clouds in the mountains. Upon reaching the summit of Zhurong Peak, hikers can enjoy the magnificent sunrise and sea of clouds. On clear days, they can also overlook the city of Hengyang and the meandering Xiangjiang River, with an extremely broad view.

The cultural experience is highly diverse. Hengshan is a sacred site where both Buddhism and Taoism coexist. Hikers can explore well-known religious sites along the way, including Nanyue Grand Temple, Fuyan Temple, and Nantai Temple. Nanyue Grand Temple is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient architectural complexes in southern China, integrating Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. With red walls, yellow tiles, and towering halls, buildings such as the Lingxing Gate, Kuixing Pavilion, and Imperial Stele Pavilion embody a thousand years of historical heritage. Fuyan Temple is hailed as "an ancient temple of the Six Dynasties and a dojo of the Seventh Patriarch", where thousand-year-old ginkgo trees and inscriptions of past dynasties witness the vicissitudes of time. Multilingual cultural interpretation boards are set up along the trail, detailing Hengshan's historical legends, religious culture, and natural ecological knowledge. Professional cultural guides can be booked to lead tours and unlock in-depth cultural connotations. The supporting facilities are extremely well-developed. A large number of catering and accommodation facilities gather around Nanyue Grand Temple at the starting point, offering local delicacies such as Hengyang fish noodles and Nanyue vegetarian dishes. Standardized rest stations are located at key points such as the Mid-Level Pavilion and South Heaven Gate along the way, providing hot drinks, light meals, and medical supplies. The trail has clear signage and is equipped with night lighting facilities, supporting both daytime and nighttime hiking (night hiking requires advance reservation). The best hiking seasons are March–May and September–November each year, when the climate is mild, the scenery is layered and rich, making it the ideal time to watch the sea of clouds, red leaves, and azaleas. In summer, it serves as an excellent summer resort for hiking.