八嶺山(shan)(shan)(shan),即古龍(long)山(shan)(shan)(shan),元明(ming)時期(qi)因山(shan)(shan)(shan)中(zhong)(zhong)盛產喬松(song)、白桃、香梨、甜杏、蜜橘、板(ban)栗、青(qing)茶、黃(huang)花八大(da)土特產品而聞名遐邇,又以(yi)八寶山(shan)(shan)(shan)著稱。據消乾隆《江(jiang)陵(ling)(ling)志余》記載,楚(chu)(chu)莊(zhuang)王(wang)、楚(chu)(chu)康五、楚(chu)(chu)平王(wang)、楚(chu)(chu)昭王(wang)、樊妃以(yi)及(ji)明(ming)代(dai)11位藩王(wang)俱(ju)葬(zang)于(yu)此(ci)。八嶺山(shan)(shan)(shan)早在春秋(qiu)戰國(guo)時期(qi)就(jiu)成了楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)的(de)公墓區(qu)。凡在江(jiang)陵(ling)(ling)為政(zheng)的(de)楚(chu)(chu)王(wang)大(da)都葬(zang)在這里。山(shan)(shan)(shan)中(zhong)(zhong)古墓密集,現(xian)已探明(ming)的(de)大(da)型古墓有320多座。其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)楚(chu)(chu)墓最多,漢墓次之,兼有其(qi)它朝代(dai)的(de)墓葬(zang)。八嶺山(shan)(shan)(shan)油菜花是荊州市民觀賞油菜花的(de)一處常去景(jing)點(dian),每年4月,油菜花盛開的(de)季節,漫山(shan)(shan)(shan)遍野的(de)黃(huang)燦(can)燦(can),譜出春天的(de)樂章。
相傳(chuan)是東晉(jin)西征大將軍桓(huan)溫(wen)在鎮守江陵時留下的遺址。杠溫(wen)恃定(ding)自大,妄圖(tu)稱帝,重陽節在龍(long)山(shan)飲酒賞菊時-陣風將他的帽子吹落(luo)(luo),被認為(wei)是不祥之兆,留下“龍(long)山(shan)落(luo)(luo)帽”的趣(qu)話。
據(ju)史料(liao)載,漢將關公(gong)鎮守荊州時(shi)劉備(bei)被曹(cao)軍所困,關公(gong)取道救(jiu)之。途經八嶺山時(shi)兵馬干渴難耐,行至(zhi)半坡赤免馬引(yin)頸長(chang)嘶,頓時(shi)蹄下石頭飛濺,冒出一股(gu)清(qing)泉(quan)。將士爭相飲用(yong),而后精(jing)神抖擻,一舉擊破曹(cao)軍。從此人們給這眼泉(quan)命名為“馬跑泉(quan)”,并立碑傳世(shi)。
該景(jing)區(qu)源(yuan)于(yu)一(yi)個民間傳說:此處原(yuan)有兩處墳(fen)冢。古時戰亂,家(jia)家(jia)缺兒少女(nv)、一(yi)日菩薩(sa)顯靈托夢,凡要(yao)子求女(nv)者(zhe),可(ke)去(qu)仙靈廟用(yong)黃包袱包來石頭(tou),再(zai)到該墓(mu)去(qu)投(tou)(tou)(tou)石子,投(tou)(tou)(tou)中大墳(fen)者(zhe)生兒子,投(tou)(tou)(tou)中小墳(fen)者(zhe)生女(nv)兒。善男信女(nv)們紛紛去(qu)投(tou)(tou)(tou)石打墳(fen),果然(ran)靈驗。從此前來求于(yu)打墳(fen)者(zhe)絡繹(yi)不(bu)絕,傳為佳話。
是(shi)明朝開國皇帝朱(zhu)(zhu)元璋第十(shi)四子朱(zhu)(zhu)植之墓(mu)。遼(liao)王(wang)墓(mu)于1987年9月發(fa)掘,10月復建。墓(mu)室呈"王(wang)"字形,建筑形式與北京定陵相仿,保(bao)存極為完(wan)好。遼(liao)王(wang)墓(mu)是(shi)中國南方的(de)一座園(yuan)(yuan)林(lin)式地下宮殿。此外,園(yuan)(yuan)中還有系馬冢、仙女廟、娘(niang)娘(niang)墓(mu)等眾多景觀。
八(ba)嶺(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)古(gu)墓(mu)(mu)群南北(bei)長8公(gong)(gong)里(li),東西(xi)寬5公(gong)(gong)里(li),總面(mian)積40多(duo)平(ping)方(fang)公(gong)(gong)里(li)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)中(zhong)(zhong)古(gu)墓(mu)(mu)葬(zang)密集,現封土堆尚存(cun)特(te)大(da)型(xing)、大(da)型(xing)及(ji)(ji)中(zhong)(zhong)型(xing)古(gu)墓(mu)(mu)560余座,其中(zhong)(zhong)以楚墓(mu)(mu)居(ju)多(duo),明(ming)藩王(wang)(wang)墓(mu)(mu)次之。不(bu)少墓(mu)(mu)冢(zhong)雄踞山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)頭,宛若山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)峰,構成(cheng)了八(ba)嶺(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)的壯觀(guan)奇景。史載楚莊王(wang)(wang)墓(mu)(mu)在山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)中(zhong)(zhong),前后(hou)陪葬(zang)有(you)(you)數十冢(zhong),皆(jie)列成(cheng)行。明(ming)藩遼簡王(wang)(wang)及(ji)(ji)肅、靖(jing)、惠、恭、莊等諸(zhu)多(duo)王(wang)(wang)墓(mu)(mu)俱在山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)北(bei)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上(shang)有(you)(you)平(ping)頭冢(zhong)、換帽(mao)臺、落帽(mao)臺、馬跑泉等勝跡。八(ba)嶺(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)現為國家森林(lin)公(gong)(gong)園,山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上(shang)喬木參(can)天,茶海松濤,煙云籠罩,兼(jian)有(you)(you)雄奇幽深(shen)之勝,故有(you)(you)"不(bu)到八(ba)嶺(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),不(bu)算到荊(jing)州"之說(shuo)。
坐班車(che)從荊州到荊州區八嶺(ling)山鎮(zhen)新場村即到。
湖北(bei)八嶺山國家(jia)森林(lin)公園(yuan)位(wei)于湖北(bei)省荊州市境(jing)內(nei),在荊州市西北(bei)部20千米處。
湖北八嶺山(shan)國(guo)家森林公園地(di)處中緯度(du)地(di)區,屬濕潤的(de)北亞熱帶季風氣(qi)候區。光照(zhao)充足,熱量豐(feng)富,雨(yu)量充沛,而且雨(yu)熱同季。年(nian)(nian)(nian)日照(zhao)時數1800~2000小時,年(nian)(nian)(nian)平均氣(qi)溫15.9~16.6℃,年(nian)(nian)(nian)無(wu)霜期242~263天,多(duo)數年(nian)(nian)(nian)份降雨(yu)量在1100~1300mm之間(jian)。