Mogan's magic

Naked Castle commands spectacular views of the landscape. [Photo/VCG]

He has built a series of luxury resorts and hotels in the area under his Naked brand.

Grant says Naked's whole concept is to be sustainable and have as little impact on the environment as possible. He describes to me in great detail about how he built his first villa himself, digging the earth by hand and refusing to use any heavy machinery.

Grant is passionate about sustainability and has a unique outlook on the local area.

"If the local community is not part of your development, you'll fail," he says.

"Or at least you are only winning for yourself, and that's not a success. Success is if everyone can benefit and be improved."

It's the pioneering work of the plucky South African. His resorts and approach to the environment have inspired almost a thousand smaller homestays to pop up all over the mountain. The tourism industry here has never been better.

Our driver, with the skill of a mountain goat, takes us from one breathtaking view to another. Natural beauty abounds. A shimmering emerald lake here, followed by wondrous rock formations contorted by nature and time. We are tracked constantly by the wavering ridge line of the mountain, which looks a little like my heart rate on a cardiograph.

There is a saying in Chinese that roughly translates as "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets". Having spent some time at Mogan Mountain, with everything it has to offer, I couldn't agree more.