八(ba)嶺(ling)山,即古(gu)龍山,元明(ming)(ming)時期因山中盛產喬松、白桃、香梨(li)、甜杏、蜜橘、板(ban)栗、青茶(cha)、黃(huang)花(hua)(hua)八(ba)大(da)土(tu)特產品而聞名遐邇,又(you)以八(ba)寶(bao)山著稱(cheng)。據消(xiao)乾隆《江(jiang)陵(ling)志余》記載(zai),楚莊(zhuang)王(wang)、楚康五、楚平王(wang)、楚昭(zhao)王(wang)、樊妃以及明(ming)(ming)代(dai)11位藩(fan)王(wang)俱葬(zang)(zang)于此。八(ba)嶺(ling)山早(zao)在春(chun)秋戰國(guo)時期就成了(le)楚國(guo)的(de)(de)公墓區(qu)。凡(fan)在江(jiang)陵(ling)為(wei)政的(de)(de)楚王(wang)大(da)都葬(zang)(zang)在這里(li)。山中古(gu)墓密集,現已探明(ming)(ming)的(de)(de)大(da)型(xing)古(gu)墓有320多座。其中楚墓最多,漢墓次之(zhi),兼有其它朝(chao)代(dai)的(de)(de)墓葬(zang)(zang)。八(ba)嶺(ling)山油菜(cai)花(hua)(hua)是荊州市民觀(guan)賞油菜(cai)花(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)一處常(chang)去景點,每年(nian)4月,油菜(cai)花(hua)(hua)盛開(kai)的(de)(de)季節(jie),漫山遍野的(de)(de)黃(huang)燦(can)燦(can),譜出春(chun)天(tian)的(de)(de)樂(le)章(zhang)。
相(xiang)傳是(shi)東(dong)晉西征(zheng)大將(jiang)軍桓溫(wen)在鎮(zhen)守江陵時(shi)留下的遺址。杠溫(wen)恃(shi)定(ding)自大,妄圖(tu)稱帝,重(zhong)陽節(jie)在龍山飲酒賞菊時(shi)-陣風將(jiang)他的帽子吹落(luo),被認為是(shi)不祥之兆,留下“龍山落(luo)帽”的趣話。
據史料載(zai),漢將關(guan)公(gong)(gong)鎮守(shou)荊州時(shi)劉(liu)備被曹軍所困,關(guan)公(gong)(gong)取道救之。途經八(ba)嶺山時(shi)兵馬(ma)干渴難耐,行至半(ban)坡赤免馬(ma)引(yin)頸長嘶,頓時(shi)蹄下石頭飛濺,冒出一(yi)股清泉(quan)。將士爭相飲用,而(er)后精(jing)神抖擻,一(yi)舉(ju)擊破曹軍。從此人們(men)給這眼泉(quan)命(ming)名為(wei)“馬(ma)跑泉(quan)”,并(bing)立(li)碑傳(chuan)世。
該(gai)景區源于一個(ge)民(min)間傳(chuan)說:此(ci)處(chu)原有兩處(chu)墳(fen)冢。古時(shi)戰亂,家家缺兒(er)少女、一日菩薩顯(xian)靈托夢,凡要子求女者,可去仙靈廟用(yong)黃(huang)包袱(fu)包來石(shi)頭,再到該(gai)墓去投(tou)石(shi)子,投(tou)中(zhong)大(da)墳(fen)者生兒(er)子,投(tou)中(zhong)小(xiao)墳(fen)者生女兒(er)。善男信(xin)女們紛(fen)紛(fen)去投(tou)石(shi)打墳(fen),果然靈驗。從此(ci)前(qian)來求于打墳(fen)者絡繹不絕(jue),傳(chuan)為(wei)佳話。
是(shi)明(ming)朝開國皇帝朱元璋第十(shi)四子朱植之墓。遼王(wang)(wang)(wang)墓于(yu)1987年(nian)9月(yue)發掘,10月(yue)復建。墓室呈(cheng)"王(wang)(wang)(wang)"字形(xing),建筑形(xing)式與北京定(ding)陵相仿,保存(cun)極為完好。遼王(wang)(wang)(wang)墓是(shi)中(zhong)國南方(fang)的一(yi)座園林式地(di)下宮(gong)殿。此外(wai),園中(zhong)還有系(xi)馬冢、仙女廟(miao)、娘(niang)娘(niang)墓等眾多景觀。
八嶺(ling)(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan)古(gu)墓(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)群南(nan)北長8公(gong)(gong)里,東(dong)西寬5公(gong)(gong)里,總面積40多(duo)平(ping)方公(gong)(gong)里。山(shan)(shan)中古(gu)墓(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)葬(zang)密集,現(xian)(xian)封土堆尚存特大型、大型及(ji)中型古(gu)墓(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)560余座,其中以楚(chu)(chu)墓(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)居多(duo),明藩王墓(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)次之。不(bu)(bu)少墓(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)冢(zhong)雄(xiong)踞(ju)山(shan)(shan)頭,宛若山(shan)(shan)峰(feng),構成了八嶺(ling)(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan)的壯觀(guan)奇景。史載楚(chu)(chu)莊王墓(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)在(zai)山(shan)(shan)中,前后(hou)陪葬(zang)有(you)數十冢(zhong),皆列成行。明藩遼(liao)簡王及(ji)肅、靖、惠、恭、莊等諸多(duo)王墓(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)俱在(zai)山(shan)(shan)北。山(shan)(shan)上有(you)平(ping)頭冢(zhong)、換帽(mao)臺、落帽(mao)臺、馬跑泉等勝(sheng)(sheng)跡。八嶺(ling)(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan)現(xian)(xian)為國家森林公(gong)(gong)園,山(shan)(shan)上喬木參天,茶海(hai)松濤,煙云籠(long)罩,兼有(you)雄(xiong)奇幽深之勝(sheng)(sheng),故有(you)"不(bu)(bu)到(dao)八嶺(ling)(ling)(ling)山(shan)(shan),不(bu)(bu)算到(dao)荊州"之說。
坐(zuo)班車(che)從(cong)荊(jing)(jing)州到荊(jing)(jing)州區八嶺山鎮新場村(cun)即到。
湖北八嶺山國家森林公園位于湖北省(sheng)荊州(zhou)市境內,在荊州(zhou)市西北部20千米處。
湖(hu)北(bei)(bei)八嶺山(shan)國家(jia)森林(lin)公園(yuan)地處中(zhong)緯度(du)地區(qu),屬濕潤(run)的北(bei)(bei)亞熱(re)帶(dai)季風(feng)氣(qi)候區(qu)。光照充足,熱(re)量(liang)豐富,雨(yu)(yu)量(liang)充沛,而且雨(yu)(yu)熱(re)同季。年(nian)(nian)日照時(shi)數1800~2000小時(shi),年(nian)(nian)平均氣(qi)溫15.9~16.6℃,年(nian)(nian)無霜期242~263天,多數年(nian)(nian)份降雨(yu)(yu)量(liang)在1100~1300mm之(zhi)間(jian)。