Hainan is a land rich in legend, where folklore and myth breathe their magic into the local culture, and ancient stories are still told, enchanting the imagination of young and old alike. Today, we will tell the legend of the Seven Fairies of Seven Fairy Mountain in Baoting, Hainan. 

Seven Fairy Mountain, or Qixian Peak, in Baoting is a popular hiking spot. [Photo/中孚鉴]

Seven Fairy Mountain is a breathtakingly scenic part of Hainan, with lush green rainforests, high mountain peaks, and luxurious mineral-rich natural hot springs. 

The soothing hot springs of Baoting. [Photo/海南会生活]

But how did the mountain get such a strange name? According to local legend, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month every year, seven beautiful fairies would descend from heaven to soak in Baoting’s excellent hot springs. It was the ultimate girl’s getaway! 

An illustration shows the fairies visiting Baoting.

One year, though, they found that something was wrong. The hot springs had turned icy cold, the rainforests had withered, and the local Li people were suffering. The fairies were horrified. What had caused this calamity? They soon discovered the cause. A terrible wind demon had claimed the land for himself, blowing icy blasts all around and destroying the warm, tropical climate that the fairies had grown to love. The local Li people were working to build a tall stone wall to block the terrible wind, but it just wasn’t enough. The demon wind was winning! The seven fairy sisters immediately leapt into action, forming a barrier with their own bodies to protect the local people and the land. 

An illustration of the seven fairies blocking the icy blasts of the wind demon with their own bodies.

The wind demon fought the seven fairies for seven days and seven nights. Finally, the demon was defeated by their combined fairy magic, and his icy blasts blew no more. The balmy, tropical climate of Baoting was restored, saving the ecosystem, the plants, the animals, and the local Li people. The hot springs even recovered their healing benefits! It was a miracle. But sadly, the bodies of the seven fairies had been frozen into stone. 

An illustration of the seven fairies turned to stone in Baoting. 

They were frozen in stone for all time. The seven fairies still stand in a line, protecting Baoting and her people. You can see them for yourself when you arrive - they are the seven peaks of Seven Fairy Mountain. 

The seven peaks of Seven Fairy Mountain are said to be the stone bodies of the seven fairies, still protecting Baoting after all this time. 

The Li people of Baoting revere the seven fairies, depicting them in legend, dance, and brocade. Every year during the annual Sanyuesan Festival, seven women are selected to represent the seven fairies, drawing water from a sacred spring to kick off the event. 

The seven ‘fairies’ arrive to draw sacred water from the spring at the 2024 Sanyuesan Festival in Baoting.

According to Wang Huiying, there is some variation in the story of the seven fairies between different branches of the Li, but in the legends of the Sai Branch of the Baoting Li, the seven fairies are:

The Rain Fairy, one of the seven fairies of Baoting, Hainan, depicted in Li Brocade by a brocade inheritance representative. [Photo/Island Delights Shop, Haikou]

The Rain Fairy, who blesses the people with good weather and helps all living things grow.

The Grain Fairy, who blesses the people with good harvests and prevents famine.

The Music Fairy, who blesses the people with the music of the mountains.

The Dance Fairy, who blesses the people with the ability to dance on joyous occasions.

The Liquor Fairy, who blesses the people with the ability to brew alcohol and enjoy the finer things of life. 

The Medicine Fairy, who blesses the people with medicinal herbs that heal diseases.

The Weaving Fairy, who blesses the people with the art of weaving, which is passed down from generation to generation, bringing beauty into the world. 

Which of the seven fairies of Baoting is your favorite?

by Nicki Johnson 谢敏