Gaizhou Qinglong Mountain

Gaizhou Qinglong Mountain

Qinglong Mountain Scenic Area

Located in Chentun Town, Gaizhou City, it is a renowned summer resort. Although not large in total area, the mountain boasts lush pines and cypresses, peculiar rocks, wildflowers and fruits, as well as birds soaring and deer calling — resembling a naturally formed, giant bonsai that is beautiful in appearance and rich in charm. Notable attractions on the mountain include the Welcoming Pine, Spring Halfway Ridge, Twin Trees, Two Dragons Pine, General Stone, Cave, Dragon King Temple, and Sea-Viewing Temple.

Majestic and elegant, Qinglong Mountain rises over 700 meters above sea level. Covered year-round with verdant pines and cypresses, the mountain resembles a coiled green dragon lying across the ridges — magnificent and spectacular. Hence the name Qinglong Mountain (Green Dragon Mountain)!

Qinglong Mountain has a long history and profound cultural heritage. As early as the Liao Dynasty, it was ranked first among the Eight Scenic Spots of Xiongyue, and today it is a widely renowned tourist destination. Here, perilous peaks, peculiar rocks, and ancient pines complement one another, while rare flowers and grasses vie in beauty. With an unadorned charm and minimal artificial touches, it is the best-preserved ancient pine forest on the Liaodong Peninsula and has been designated as a National Forest Park in Liaoning Province. It is an ideal place to explore nature and reconnect with the wild. The mountain boasts over 30 natural and cultural attractions, with ancient caves and Sea-Viewing Temple being especially famous. The ancient cave is a natural rock cavern located halfway up the mountain, with a mouth 16 meters wide, 8 meters high, and extending endlessly into the depths. Legend has it that 500 years ago, a Taoist master named Zhao used the cave as his dwelling for meditation, hence the name of the cave.

In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, a three-room main hall was built inside the cave, along with three side rooms outside, collectively known as Sea-Viewing Temple. In addition, there are also the Liao Zhai Palace, Dragon King Temple, and 0 Hall, where the vividly crafted statues inspire awe and leave a lasting impression.

The Qinglong Mountain Scenic Area is located on the eastern side of the Bohai Bay, bordering the Golden Beach Bathing Beach to the west, Fairy Island and Baisha Bay Bathing Beach to the south, and Mother’s Hill Scenic Area to the north, forming a circular tourist belt. Descending the mountain and traveling four kilometers west leads to the nationally renowned Xiongyue Hot Springs — an ideal destination for tourism, vacation, and summer retreat.

Moreover, Chentun Town is known as the “Fruit Kingdom of the North,” abundant in apples, grapes, and pears, offering visitors unique opportunities to enjoy the scenery and savor local flavors.

Scenic Features

Qinglong Mountain is characterized mainly by its beautiful pines, peculiar peaks, unique rocks, and rare flora, spread across a 15-square-kilometer scenic area.

Beautiful Pines

Speaking of beautiful pines, this is the only remaining ancient

Korean pine belt in southern Liaoning, with trees all over 500 years old. Their shapes and vigor rank among the best in the region. Ten thousand pines display various graceful postures, each with its own charm, and many carry touching legends. For example, the Sparrow Screen Pine, symbolizing deep marital love, resembles two sparrows spreading their wings, telling the beautiful love story of two fairy maidens longing for their husbands. The Loving People Pine, shaped like a coiling dragon with branches stretching wide, covers over 360 square meters and creates a rustling sound even without wind. Legend says the Dragon Prince cared for the people and controlled rain without permission, violating heavenly law and being struck by thunder. But seeing his good heart, the Thunder God spared his life, transforming him into this pine — the lightning scar still visible today. The Twin Dragons Pine in the temple courtyard, with one trunk and two branches reaching for the sky, is the largest pair of sister pines in the province. There’s also the Deep Friendship Pine and others.

Peculiar Peaks

The peaks are uniquely shaped, echoing the grandeur of Huangshan and Huashan mountains. The area has over 60 peaks of varying sizes, some resembling humans, objects, or birds and beasts: the Buddha Gazing Peak looks like a kindly sitting Buddha; the Flying Swallow Peak resembles a swallow soaring south; the Whale Back Peak looks like a giant whale leaping from the water, its back against the sheer cliff. Water flows down the rock face, glistening in the sun like a small mountain waterfall. The Azure Dragon Peak towers into the clouds, as if a dragon stands amid the mist, like a deity descending from heaven. Most peculiar is the Turtle Herding Mountain Peak, resembling two turtles struggling uphill, heads held high as they navigate through waves — visitors are always amazed, and the legend of the Turtle Sage saving the mountain is still told.

Unique Rocks

The rocks are unexpectedly special and full of charm. Not far south of the temple courtyard lies a massive rock weighing over ten thousand tons, standing tall like a mighty general guarding the precious mountain — known as General Stone. Legend says that during the Three Kingdoms period, General Guan Yu obtained his Green Dragon Sword here, and later, to guard the frontier, he turned into stone. To protect the local people, he was henceforth called General Stone or Guan Yu Stone. Most intriguing is the Eight Immortals Climbing Stone, where a natural line of footprints appears on the hard rock surface, from bottom to

top. Some appear barefoot, whole or partial, single or double, with walking stick prints nearby — said to be left by the Eight Immortals who turned the stone soft with magic, leaving these traces. Other scenic spots include Two Immortals Conversing, Turtle Carrying Scriptures, Yuanbao Stone, Yin-Yang Stone, Eight-Step Bird, Laojun Stone, Heavenly Basin Stone, Wooden Fish Stone, Immortal Cave, Piggy Exploring the Cave, and over twenty other unique rock formations. Careful observation reveals endless beauty.

Rare Flora and Fauna

The mountain produces over 150 kinds of precious medicinal herbs and lingzhi mushrooms, valuable tonics. A spring trickles out halfway up the mountain, its clear waters producing a pleasant tinkling sound. The water is clean and refreshing, seemingly endless despite having no visible source — known as the Immortal Spring. In the mountain streams, one can still find living fossils of ancient creatures: the four-legged fish, also called salamander, which is amphibious and moves from the Little Peach Garden into the reservoir.

Qinglong Mountain offers breathtaking views in every season. In spring, azaleas and rhododendrons bloom across the hills, competing in color and fragrance, while bees, butterflies, and birds fill the air. In autumn, the mountains glow golden, forests shine, and wild fruits tempt the taste buds.

Qinglong Mountain presents different scenes in every season. From atop the mountain, you overlook undulating peaks; in the distance, orchards, fields, winding rivers, quaint villages, and new buildings stretch out before you. Further still, the ancient Xiongyue City, Bayuquan’s massive new port, and the vast Bohai Sea with its misty waves and white sails resemble a celestial tapestry — truly enchanting.

The most beautiful sight is watching the sunset. When the sun meets the sea, its shape morphs like a parachute; once it sinks, the land turns dark blue while the sea glows bright.

The clouds turn orange and purple, making it seem as if the sea lies beneath you, transporting visitors to another world. These splendid landscapes and unique natural scenes attract countless tourists — a must-visit destination.

Legends

Within Chentun Town, Gaizhou City, Liaoning Province, lies Qinglong Mountain. This mountain faces the sea at its head and tail, forming a large crescent bay along the flat coastline. In winter, it shimmers with silver scales; in summer, it’s lush and blue — truly a resting dragon.

Legend says that in the coral reefs of the Western Sea, a pearl oyster had been nurturing a night pearl for nine hundred ninety-nine years, nine months, and nine days. That very night, the pearl was to shine brilliantly, guiding ships even through heavy fog.

A poor but kind fisherman named Qinglong thought, “I’m young and strong, with no burdens. Why not dive for the pearl to ease the villagers’ worries?” But retrieving the pearl was no easy task. In his battle against strange sea demons, he lost consciousness, and the pearl slipped from his chest.

At dawn, the waves carried him ashore. He was barely alive. The tearful calls of his fellow villagers reached his ears, but all he could do was open his mouth to urge them to search for the Pearl of Light. That final wish turned into his last breath, exhaled into the sea. The villagers buried him by the shore. Three years later, two ginkgo trees sprouted on the hill facing the ocean. They didn’t grow year by year, but minute by minute. People say these two great trees were transformed from the Dragon King’s arms. They stand tall, reaching out to guide lost ships passing by.

Chen Tun Town: A township under the jurisdiction of Gaizhou City. Established as a township in 1958, reorganized as a commune in 1961, and reinstated as a township in 1984. Located in the southern part of the city, it is 37 kilometers from the municipal government, covering an area of 74.4 square kilometers with a population of 21,000. The Wan (Fu)–Xiong (Yue) Highway passes through the town. It administers 15 village committees: Heping, Pujia Gou, Shangzao Yu, Xiazao Yu, Taiping Gou, Yang Dian, Shui Yu, Chen Tun, Yanjia Gou, Beiyan Zhai, Yiyong, Toutao Gou, Qinglong Yu, Sandao He, and Huangshao. Local enterprises are engaged in commerce, machinery processing, granite mining, and other industries. The main agricultural products are corn, rice, beans, with abundant production of apples and pears... More detailed information about Chen Tun Town ++