Mount Qingcheng

Next to Chengdu lies Mount Qingcheng (Qingchengshan), one of the birthplaces of Taoism (Daoism), China's only indigenous religion. It is still a religous center sprinkle with caves and shrines venerated by Taoist. Founded in AD 143 in Qingcheng Mountain, Taoism has developed into an important religion in Southeast Asia, exerting tremendous influence there. For ordinary tourists, Mount Qingcheng is an ideal summer resort. The for-hour trek to its summit, 1,600 meters above sea level, is a pleasant trip.

Sixteen kilometers from the Dujiangyan city, Mt. Qingcheng has been known since ancient times as "the most tranquil place under heaven". Reaching the mountain on an early spring or summer morning, the tourist will find it shrouded in mist, which moistens stone steps rising up towards the summit. Forests of pine, Chinse fir, cypress and all kinds of fragrant undergrowth make up a deep green world.

The only sounds the tourist hears are birds, waterfalls and the tourists' footsteps. Chinese hermits and men of letters have long cherished the perfect sense of peace in Mountain Qingcheng. There are four famous Taoist mountains such as Mount Qingcheng in Sichuan Province, Mount Wudang in Hubei Province and Mount Laoshan in Shangdong Province. UNESCO inscribed the Mountain Qingcheng-Dujiangyan Irrigation Project on the World Heritage List in 2000

Some Famous Tourist Attractions In Qingcheng Mountain

Jianfu Temple
It is located under the Zhangren Peak of the Qingcheng Mountain and was originally built in the 12th year of Kai Yuan of Tang dynasty (A.D. 724). A legend has it that, Xuanyan Emperor Huangdi ever learned Taoism from one supernatural being named Ningfeng in Mt. Qingcheng. And he defeated Chiyou depends on the favor of Ningfeng. And then, he apotheosized Ningfeng as Wuyue Zhangren to lead the five holy Taoist mountains (Mt. Taishan in Shandong, Mt. Huashan in Shaanxi, Mt. Songshan in Henan, Mt. Hengshan in Hunan, Mt. Hengshan in Shanxi). Jianfu Temple (aka Jianfu Palace) is Zhangren Ancestral Temple formerly is caused by this Ningfeng Zhangren. And the statues of Ningfeng and all great masters of Taoism are offered in Jianfu Temple.

Natural Drawing
This scenic spot is located on the ridge of Paifanggan, a hillock of the Longju Mountain. The west is 1,000 meters away from Jianfu Temple. From an ancient unique pavilion (built in the Qing dynasty) here, you can get a commanding view of the nearby beautiful rocks, lingering clouds and trees.

Tianshi Temple
Tianshi Temple (lit. Heavenly Teacher’s Temple or Taoist Master’s Temple) was originally built in the Sui dynasty (605 – 618 A.D.) and 2,000 meters away from Jianfu Temple. It is located on the mountain level ground which is between Baiyun Brook and Haitang Brook. The height above sea level is 1,000 meters. What on backside is the 3rd Hunyuan Peak. The crag is like a colorful picture show. The left side connects to Qinglong Hillock, and the right side connects to Lihu Pond. Three sides are surrounded by mountains and visual field on anterior Baiyun Canyon. There is a cave in the front of the temple, called Tianshi Cave. A legend has it that it was the former residence of Zhangdaoling, a famous Taoist Master in ancient China, hence the name.

Shangqing Palace
Shangqing Palace was first built in the Jin dynasty (265 – 316 A.D.), and the current temple was built in the reign of Tongzhi Emperor (1862 – 1874) of the Qing dynasty. The palace is now famous for its wooden carving works- the Classic of the Virtue of the Tao, by Laozi, the most famous Taoist Master in ancient China. Also, some attractions in the palace can be found, such as the ancient inscriptions on precipices, the Yuanyang Well and the Magu Pool in the front of the southern building. But the tourist highlight of the palace is considered on the highest point of the palace, where a small pavilion perches there. Standing there in the morning, you can enjoy sunrise, the sea of clouds and the holy lamps in the palace.

Chaoyang Cave
It is located on the northern rock dome of Hunyuan Peak. It is famed as the dwelling place of God Taoist Ningfeng. Recorde of Scenic Spots Across the Country recodes that the Cave of Mr. Ning is in the rock dome which is behind Longgong Mountain. Here is full of tall and straight rocks, wandering dark paths, ancient bines and trees, fantastic peaks and rocks. It is always been sunk in hazes and mist of mountain and the cave mouth is suddenly enlightened only. Every time when it is clean and sun is rising in the east, the rock wall would be golden and brilliant just like covered by gold chips. To look down the plain, all gardens and cottages are visible distinctly.

Zibi Canyon
It is also called Shuanbi Canyon. The canyon ranges from rock top to hill foot. The depth is about 70 meters and width is about 18 meters. The two rocks are broken and face the nether deep canyon. As the legend goes the Taoist Master, Zhangdaoling took an oath with ghost and ordered the fiend never harm common people again. He drew on the mountain by red brush and the handwriting became this canyon to remain a wonder.

Thousand-year Old Gingko Tree
There is one thousand-year old maidenhair tree on the side of Tianshi Temple which is in the front of Tianshi Cave. A legend has it that it was planted by Zhangdaoling in Eastern Han dynasty. The tree now is considered as the key treasure of Mt. Qingcheng.

The Back Qingcheng Mountain
There are four brilliant and admirable deep, luxuriantly green, steepy ravines such as Feiquan, Wulong, Shenxian, Hongyan. And also more than 50 natural scenes such as plank road built along canyon, water shade of deep pool, waterfall of clever canyon, stalagmites and grottoes. All of them form lot of phantasmagoric and admirable drawing rolls.

Golden Whip Rock
The rock is yellow and ochre. And there are three stones ranked in one concave. In the legend, here is the place that Zhao Gongming hided his golden scourge. There are many crags and steepy peaks in this spot with graceful rocks and colorful flowers. That is sublime.

Qingcheng Martial Arts
The history of Qingcheng Wush is centuries-old. It was from Taoism and gymnosophist. It focuses on the Qigong, internal work and spiritual refining. Qingcheng swordplay is good at the exercise of counterforce to overwhelm rivals dexterously. There still some swordplay are came down such as Seven Faeries Swordplay, Purple Rainbow Swordplay, and Male and Female Swordplay; Qingcheng fistic play is disported as diverse kinds by abilities and artifices. Qingcheng Hong Fistic Play is the most famous and it is titled as Sword-Fist caused by swordplay.

Taoist Music on Mt. Qingcheng
The history of Mt. Qingcheng Taoist music is centuries-old. Mr. Xuanke, discoverer of the Naxi Ancient Music (Dongjing Music) of Lijiang, have been to Mt. Mountain twice. After a detailed research, he announced that Naxi folk ancient music came of the Taoism music of Mt. Qingcheng. In the time of Emperor Xianfeng of Qing dynasty, Qingcheng Taoist Zhang Kongshan studied and researched the fingering and performance artifice of ancient music instrument which was belonging to Shu faction when he got into Mt. Qingcheng. He recompose the ancient melody High Mountain and Running Water combined with Qingcheng Taoism music and lection rhythm, and created The 72 Roll Whisk Running Waters by means of Big Mediation measure and numbers of Roll Whisk and Cryptical Compound Melody which were used to describe and depict the insurgent condition of running water. This Melody became one of melodies which represents humanity of earth and was sent into outer space by spacecraft No. 2 Traveler of U.S in 1977.