Fangzhang: The Legendary Paradise of Immortals in Chinese Mythology

Fangzhang, also known as Fanghu or Fangzhang Mountain, is one of the Three Sacred Mountains of Chinese mythology, rising from the heart of the Eastern Sea.

Alongside Penglai and Yingzhou, it is a realm shrouded in eternal mist, guarded by divine beings, and believed to exist just beyond the reach of mortals.

These islands were never regarded as mere places, but as visions of paradise—realms where immortality could be attained.

Among the three, Fangzhang stands out as a mystical isle where dragons gather, golden palaces gleam, and immortals live free from the burdens of heaven.

Fangzhang: The Isle of Dragons

Also known as Fanghu or Fangzhang Mountain, this sacred isle is said to rise from the very center of the Eastern Sea.

Ancient texts describe it as a radiant kingdom where palaces of gold and crystal shimmer above the waves, their glow casting divine light across the endless waters.

At its heart dwells the Lord of All Water Origins—the sovereign of aquatic deities.

He rules over dragons, serpents, giant whales, and countless water spirits, ensuring balance and harmony within the vast seas.

A Haven for Immortals

Fangzhang is said to be home to hundreds of thousands of immortals who chose a different path from the heavenly court.

Unlike celestial officials bound by ritual and duty, these immortals live in freedom.

They cultivate harmony with nature, embracing a carefree and unrestrained existence.

On this isle, immortals till fields of sacred plants nourished by springs as pure as jade.

Spiritual herbs glow with life, rare flowers bloom in eternal spring, and exotic beasts roam freely beneath skies untouched by time.

Fangzhang embodies the ultimate Daoist paradise, a society radiant with beauty, order, and balance.

Symbol of Human Longing

For the people of ancient China, Fangzhang was more than a myth—it was an ideal.

It represented humanity’s deepest yearning for a world beyond death and sorrow, where time held no power and life flowed in eternal harmony.

To dream of Fangzhang was to dream of freedom: freedom from mortality, from suffering, and from the endless cycle of existence.

It is a place where immortality shimmers on the horizon—a vision of hope that has endured in the Chinese imagination for centuries.