The epic world of The Legend of the Condor Heroes spans from the Mongol steppes to the Southern Song capital, from the sacred Mount Hua to the mysterious Western Regions.1 The novel’s locations reflect the vast geopolitical landscape of 13th-century Asia, where Chinese civilization faced the rising Mongol Empire.
Major cities & capitals
Strategic fortresses
- Xiangyang 襄阳 – Strategic fortress city defending against Mongol invasion
- Fancheng 樊城 – City adjacent to Xiangyang that fell before the main siege
Southern Song capital
- Lin’an 临安 – Capital of Southern Song Dynasty, known for cultural refinement and West Lake scenery
Regional centers
- Jiaxing 嘉興 – City northeast of Lin’an, famous for Misty Rain Pavilion
- Central Capital 金中都 – Historical capital of the Jin dynasty, modern Beijing
Mongol capital
- Karakorum 哈剌和林 – Capital city of the Mongol Empire established by Ogedei Khan
Western regions
- Samarkand 撒马尔罕 – Historic Silk Road city in modern Uzbekistan
Sacred mountains & peaks
Five sacred mountains
- Mount Hua 华山 – Western Great Mountain, site of Huashan Sword Summit
- Huashan Sword Summit 华山论剑 – Site of martial arts competitions among the Five Greats
Daoist mountains
- Zhongnan Mountains 终南山 – Sacred Daoist mountain range where Wang Chongyang established his temple
Western peaks
- White Camel Mountain 白驼山 – Mountain within the Kunlun ranges, base of Ouyang Feng
- Iron Palm Peak 铁掌峰 – Mountain peak where the Iron Palm Keep was based
- Iron Palm Mountain 铁掌山 – Mountain range where the Iron Palm Keep was based
- Kunlun 昆仑 – Sacred mountain range representing the axis mundi in Chinese mythology
Other peaks
- Daxue Shan 大雪山 – Perpetually snow-capped mountain in Yunnan Province
- Burkhan Khaldun 不儿罕山 – Most sacred mountain in Mongolia, birthplace of Genghis Khan
Islands & water bodies
Islands
- Peach Blossom Island 桃花岛 – Huang Yaoshi’s island stronghold
- Mingxia Island 明霞岛 – Uninhabited island in the East China Sea
Lakes
- Lake Tai 太湖 – Third largest freshwater lake in China, base for waterborne clans
- Dongting Lake 洞庭湖 – Second largest freshwater lake in China
- Black Dragon Pool 黑龙潭 – Remote mountain spring pond with dark waters
- West Lake 西湖 – Cultural symbol of Southern Song refinement in Hangzhou
Rivers
- Yellow River 黄河 – China’s “Mother River” notorious for catastrophic floods
- Yangtze River 长江 – China’s longest river serving as vital trade corridor
- Onon River 斡难河 – River where Temujin was proclaimed ruler
- Orkhon River 鄂尔浑河 – Heartland of Turkic and Mongol empires
- Amu River 阿母河 – Major crossing point in Central Asia during Mongol campaigns
- Indus River 申河 – River where Genghis Khan pursued Jalal-ad-Din
Regional territories
Chinese regions
- Western Regions 西域 – Frontier territories west of Yumen Pass
- Jiangnan 江南 – Prosperous region south of the Yangtze River
- Jinghu North Circuit 荆湖北路 – Song Dynasty administrative region
Steppe regions
- Mongol Steppes 蒙古大漠 – Eurasian steppe belt
Villages & settlements
- Niu Clan Village 牛家村 – Agricultural community near Lin’an
- Red Plum Village 红梅村 – Zhejiang settlement famous for winter blossoms
- Lotus Pond Village 荷塘村 – Jiangnan settlement surrounded by ponds
- Ke Village 柯家村 – Farming community in Jiaxing
- Qinglongji 青龙集 – Green Dragon Market settlement used by bandits
Military fortifications & passes
- Grand Victory Pass 大胜关 – Strategic Ming Dynasty fortress
- Iron Gate Pass 铁门关 – Historic Silk Road mountain gate
- Yongjin Gate 涌金门 – Historic water gate of Lin’an
Religious sites & temples
Daoist sites
- Tomb of the Living Dead 活死人墓 – Subterranean meditation complex beneath Zhongnan Mountains
- Chongyang Sanctuary 重阳宫 – Daoist temple and Quanzhen Order headquarters
- Golden Lotus Hall 金莲堂 – Hall Zhou Botong built for Wang Chongyang’s inner circle
Buddhist sites
- Yunqi Monastery 云栖寺 – Historic Buddhist monastery near West Lake
- Fahua Temple 法华寺 – Southern Song Dynasty Buddhist temple in Lin’an
- Iron Spear Temple 铁枪庙 – Jiangnan temple associated with Yang family legacy
Entertainment & commercial venues
- Drunken Immortal Tavern 醉仙楼 – Famous restaurant in Jiaxing
- Ethereal Mist Peak 缥缈峰 – Peak near Lake Tai known for perpetual mists
- Misty Rain Pavilion 烟雨楼 – Famous building in Jiaxing
Foreign territories & cities
- Baoying 宝应 – County in Jiangsu Province, historical merchant stronghold
- Ninghai Prefecture 宁海州 – Song Dynasty coastal administration zone
- Eastern Mou 东牟 – Tang-Song frontier garrison against Liao and Jin incursions
- Laizhou 莱州 – Shandong peninsula port city serving as smuggling route
- Wenshang 汶上 – Confucian heartland in Shandong with ideal archery and horse training terrain
Valleys & special locations
- Heartless Valley 绝情谷 – Gorge with unique poisonous flora
- Hundred Flowers Valley 百花谷 – Valley with geothermal vents sustaining perpetual blooms
- Qilian Valley 起辇谷 – Sacred Mongol burial ground in Khentii Mountains
- Black Pine Forest 黑松林 – Dense coniferous woodland, traditional dueling ground
Bridges & crossing points
- Twenty-four Bridge 二十四桥 – Historic Yangzhou bridge immortalized in Tang poetry
- Tianjin Bridge 天津桥 – Sui-Tang Dynasty Luoyang landmark crossing Luo River
Military & strategic locations
- Azure Dragon Shallows 青龙滩 – River rapids used for naval ambushes
- Xuanyuan Platform 轩辕台 – Yellow Emperor worship site, Beggars’ Guild oath-taking platform
Administrative divisions
- Jiaxing Prefecture 嘉兴府 – Administrative division in Southern Song
- Xiushui County 秀水县 – County northwest of Jiaxing
Palace complexes & imperial sites
- Tümen Amgalan Ord 万安宫 – Ögedei Khan’s throne hall in Karakorum
Sacred & ceremonial grounds
- Kurultai Assembly 库里勒台 – Mongol council electing khans and declaring wars
Observatories & academic institutions
- Yuqing Temple 玉清观 – Quanzhen Daoist temple known for internal alchemy
- Five Splendors Temple 五华观 – Daoist temple specializing in Book of Changes divination
- White Cloud Temple 白云观 – Famous Daoist temple, one of Three Great Ancestral Courts
Cave dwellings & hidden locations
- Yanxia Cave 烟霞洞 – Cave dwelling with natural smoke-like vapours
- Yunguang Cave 云光洞 – Cave dwelling known for iridescent cloud reflections
Academic & cultural centers
- Chongfu Temple 崇福观 – Daoist temple hosting equinox sacrifices
- Huayang Temple 华阳观 – Coastal Daoist temple specializing in sunrise meditation
- Tianbao Temple 天宝观 – Daoist temple funded by merchant donations for maritime protection
- Xiuzheng Temple 修真观 – Daoist monastery dedicated to advanced internal alchemy
Natural formations & geological features
- Tuul River 土兀剌河 – Heartland of Ong Khan’s Kerait tribe
- Hailar River 海剌儿河 – Upper reaches of the Argun River
- Lake Buyr 捕鱼儿海子 – Eastern Mongolia’s largest lake
Trading posts & commercial centers
- Almaliq 阿力麻里 – Capital city of the Chagatai Khanate
- Beshbaliq 别失八里 – Chagatai Khan’s summer capital
- Quyash 虎牙思 – Chagatai Khan’s mobile headquarters
Battlefield locations
- Three Peaks Mountain 三峰山 – Strategic location near Yuzhou
- Wild Fox Ridge 野狐岭 – Site of Temüjin’s first major victory over Jin Dynasty
- Khalakhaljin Sands 合兰真沙陀 – Site of Temüjin’s near-defeat by Ong Khan
- Chakirmaut 纳忽崖 – Battle site where Temujin defeated the Naiman
- Köyiten 阔亦田 – Battle location where Temujin and Ong Khan defeated Jamukha’s coalition
- Otrar 讹答剌 – Heavily fortified city besieged during Khwarazm campaign
- Gurganj 玉龙杰赤 – Capital of Khwarazm
See also
- Jin Yong locations
- The Legend of the Condor Heroes characters
- The Legend of the Condor Heroes factions
- The Legend of the Condor Heroes martial arts