Chonglong Mountain

I haven't returned to my hometown Zizhong County for many years. Visiting Chonglong Mountain, a place I used to frequent as a child, with my alma mater at the foot of the mountain, my feelings upon seeing these ancient relics are completely different now. There are ancient temples and halls built during the Ming Dynasty, such as Yongqing Temple, and a total of 160 niches and 1,648 statues carved into the cliff during the Sui and Tang dynasties, most of which are well-preserved. Beside the statues, there are also many inscriptions and poems by famous people since the Tang Dynasty. Yongqing Temple currently houses over 1,700 collections, including calligraphy steles and paintings by famous people such as Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, Yuan Mu, Zeng Guofan, and Zhang Daqian. Among them, Huang Tingjian's 'Rhapsody on the Orchid' stele is the most precious, a rare treasure. Zizhong also has a lot of delicious food. When in Sichuan, one can visit this small town for a unique taste.

Chonglong Mountain is located in the center of Zizhong city, where the literary atmosphere has been prosperous since ancient times, leaving behind many cultural relics. In addition to the Junzi Spring cliff inscriptions that were previously introduced, there are various historical remains scattered throughout the mountain, exuding a strong cultural essence and an imposing aura. The first site to mention is Yongqing Temple and its wooden archway, now a Sichuan provincial-level cultural heritage site. Yongqing Temple was initially built during the Tang Dynasty, rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty, and renovated in the Qing Dynasty. The 'Chonglong Ancient Relics' stone archway in front of the temple was reconstructed last century, but the ten stone slabs embedded within are original artifacts excavated from nearby towns, exquisitely set into the archway. The wooden archway inside the temple is even more precious; originally part of the Yuzhou City Yuwang Palace gate, it was constructed during the Ming Dynasty's Jiajing era. The entire wooden arch is assembled without a single nail and has remained sturdy for over 500 years, with its elaborate brackets and flying eaves. In modern times, this archway also witnessed the Xinhai Revolution; Duan Fang, who came to Sichuan to suppress the Railway Protection Movement, was executed here, and in the 1970s, it was moved into Yongqing Temple. Additionally, there are several stone archways from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, such as the Xichang Mountain Dou Archway and the Yuxu Palace Archway, both county-protected. There is also the provincial-protected Qing Dynasty Shouyin Pavilion, originally from Wanshou Palace, but unfortunately, that area has been closed due to the risk of landslides, and the trees have grown very lush. Of course, there is also another part of the nationally protected Chonglong Mountain stone carvings - the Ancient North Rock, which has also been mostly closed due to landslide hazards, featuring the exquisite Longdong Grotto and the Ancient North Rock and Huanyu Pool inscriptions. Furthermore, at the foot of Chonglong Mountain is the Zizhong Wenwu Temple complex that was introduced in a previous article. There is also the Dongyue Temple, which now serves as a teacher training school and is rarely open to the public. The entire Chonglong Mountain is rich in historical sites, which have always attracted many literati and scholars to linger, truly making it a cultural paradise.

Zizhong is a county town 150 kilometers away from Chengdu, with the Tuojiang River flowing through the city. It is only upon entering Zizhong that one discovers it is actually a city with a long history and a famous cultural name. Zizhong, formerly known as 'Zizhou', is named for its location in the middle part of the Tuojiang River, and it is the birthplace of Confucius's teacher, Zhang Hong. The Zizhong Confucian Temple was first built during the Yongxi period of the Northern Song Dynasty. The Dacheng Hall houses the only standing statue of Confucius in China, because Zizhong is the hometown of Confucius's teacher Zhang Hong. Therefore, even the most sage Confucius can only stand here, reflecting the Confucian respect for teachers and emphasis on the Way. Inside the hall, there are plaques from eight emperors: Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, and Guangxu, as well as plaques from Lin Sen and Chiang Kai-shek. Yongqing Temple on Chonglong Mountain in Zizhong County was first built in the early years of the Tang Dynasty's Jianzhong period, donated by relatives of Tang Dynasty Prime Minister Pei Du. Behind the mountain, there is a stele pavilion of the Ming Dynasty Taoist Yuxu Palace and the inner and outer city walls built by the state government. Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism coexist harmoniously on the same mountain. The Buddhist monk statues carved into the North Cliff at the entrance to the mountain gate, which began in the Tang Dynasty, are exquisitely crafted and lifelike. The Huanyu Pond on Chonglong Mountain was inscribed by Su Dongpo himself. It is said to have been expanded from Qingshen and carved here.

🏨 Zhonglong Mountain, Zizhong 🌟 Highlights: The Zhonglong Mountain scenic area is located in the northeastern corner of Zizhong County, in the southeastern part of the Sichuan Basin, within the urban planning area. A solitary mountain stands tall, and from its summit, one can take in the panoramic views of rivers, mountains, and the cityscape. The mountain is covered with ancient trees that reach the sky, providing a canopy of green. Within the area, there are ancient architectural attractions such as Yongqing Temple, Laihe Pavilion, Wenming Birth Spread Archway, Zhonglong Pavilion, and Shouyin Pavilion available for rest, as well as attractions like the Gentleman's Spring, Beiyang Cliff Carvings, and the Fish Calling Pond for viewing. ❤ Recommended Reason: Zhonglong Mountain has a long history and is rich in resources. The scenery combines both grandeur and beauty. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, it has been a famous tourist destination. 👍 Most Recommended: Currently, only Yongqing Temple is fully open. The temple was originally built during the Tang Dynasty, and the current buildings are mainly from the Ming and Qing dynasties' renovations and reconstructions. The temple faces south with a quadrangle courtyard layout, covering an area of 10,200 square meters and a building area of 2,869 square meters. It consists of the stone archway of the mountain gate, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Laihe Pavilion, Putuo Hall, the Mahavira Hall, and the east and west wing rooms. The main building of the temple, the Mahavira Hall, is designed in harmony, with appropriate decoration size, exquisite patterns, fine carvings, and especially the roof design, which has a strong local characteristic and also possesses the exquisite style of ancient southern architecture, making it a rare cultural relic and architectural treasure. The Laihe Pavilion, located in the temple, is exquisitely elegant and double-eaved octagonal. It is said that in ancient times, the ancient cypresses and pines of Zhonglong Mountain were lush and green, and white cranes often came to perch and roam, hence the name 'Laihe' for the pavilion. Since the temple is built on the mountain, it is still necessary to walk up, but the difficulty is not high, and most people can complete it. Moreover, the Zhonglong Mountain scenic area is located in the urban area of Zizhong County, so transportation is very convenient and the cost is low.

Zhonglong Mountain, located one mile northeast of Zizhong County, Neijiang City, Sichuan Province, has ancient temples such as Yongqing Temple built in the Ming Dynasty and 160 cliff carvings from the Sui and Tang Dynasties, with 1648 statues, most of which are well preserved. Next to the statues, there are many inscriptions and poems by famous people since the Tang Dynasty. Yongqing Temple currently has more than 1700 collections, including calligraphy steles by famous people such as Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, and paintings by Yuan Mei, Zeng Guofan, and Zhang Daqian. Among them, Huang Tingjian's 'Ode to the Quiet Orchid' stele is the most precious and is a rare treasure. 🌟Highlights: Opening hours All year round: Monday to Sunday 09:00-18:00 Attraction level AA-level scenic spot Provincial-level cultural relics protection unit Famous attractions Cliff carvings, Zhonglong Pavilion, Yongqing Temple Development history: Yongqing Temple is located on the south side of the top of Zhonglong Mountain. The time of its establishment is unknown. It was rebuilt during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty and was further repaired in the 38th year of Jiaqing (1559). The temple is magnificent and the houses are lined up. Standing in front of the temple and looking far away, the city's scenery is vivid. As the poem by Yang Shunyuan, the inspector of the Ming Dynasty, says: 'Thousands of green mountains are inserted into the sky, and the towers are decorated with the palace of the Buddha. If you wander around the Maoshao Yueling, it is like a pearl in the middle of the finger.' It vividly depicts its beautiful scenery. Zhonglong Mountain cuisine: Roast chicken; bamboo tube meat; stir-fried mountain delicacies, etc. The ingredients used, such as roast chicken, are naturally raised and not fed any feed. The growth period is generally more than a year. The bamboo tube used for bamboo tube meat is wild mountain bamboo, which has a special fragrance. The mountain delicacies used for stir-fried mountain delicacies are naturally grown on the mountain. Scenic features: Next to the statues, there are many inscriptions and poems by famous people since the Tang Dynasty. Yongqing Temple currently has more than 1700 collections, including calligraphy steles by famous people such as Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, and paintings by Yuan Mei, Zeng Guofan, and Zhang Daqian. Among them, Huang Tingjian's 'Ode to the Quiet Orchid' stele is the most precious and is a rare treasure. Neijiang has the custom of hanging wormwood on the fifth day of May. On the fifth day of May, people hang wormwood on the door, saying that this is to commemorate an old lady. The not-so-high Zhonglong Mountain is densely wooded, and a winding stone path is hidden in the weeds. There are fewer traces of artificial chiseling, and more natural mountain and wild atmosphere. No wonder the Sichuan dialect drama 'Commander Fool' chose to shoot here. Passing through the shooting site of 'Commander Fool', walking up the stone steps, passing the Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder, and arriving in front of the ancient temple on the top of the mountain, the two slanting guest pines are rugged and interesting, which is incomparable to the worldly things in the red dust. Stepping on the moss and entering the ancient temple, the ancient temple is solemn and strict, the monks who do the lessons are as quiet as water, and the sound of the chime, the chanting, and the wooden fish make the ancient temple more mysterious and ethereal. In the water pavilion, there are lotus ponds on all sides, and the nine-turn bridge railings are bright red. A few high-rolled exquisite houses are used for tourists to drink tea and talk. You can drink alone in the flowers, or you can drink tea and talk about Zen with the monks. The tea is the new tea that the monks on the mountain plant, pick, and make themselves. With the rootless water brewing, the indoor sandalwood and tea fragrance will cleanse the dusty soul of people.