Mount Yunwu — Da Guanyin Pavilion Scenic Area

Mount Yunwu — Da Guanyin Pavilion Scenic Area

Mount Yunwu — Da Guanyin Pavilion Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site protected by Liaoning Province.

Historically known as Yuwei Ridge or Wulu Mountain, now commonly referred to as Mount Yunwu, it is an extension of the Yin Mountains range. Located within Beizhen City, Liaoning Province, the mountain stretches from northeast to southwest, spanning 45 kilometers in length and 14 kilometers in width, covering an area of 630 square kilometers. It boasts over fifty notable peaks, with the highest — Wanghai Peak — rising 866.6 meters above sea level.

Mount Yunwu has been historically renowned. Historical records indicate that it was one of the twelve famous mountains designated by Emperor Shun. It is also one of China’s “Ten Great Mountains” among the “Five Sacred Mountains and Five Great Mountains.” The Complete Chronicles of Liaoyang states: “Among mountains, Mount Yunwu is the most spiritually refined,” and it is honored as the foremost of the “Three Great Mountains of Northeast China” (Mount Yunwu, Qianshan, and Changbai Mountain).

Since ancient times, Mount Yunwu has centered around temples to form more than ten interconnected scenic areas such as Yuquan Temple and Da Ge, each occupying one or several famous peaks and ancient temples. Each area also features inscribed stelae documenting the surrounding mountain landscapes and temple histories. Each scenic zone is unique in its own characteristics. Among them, the core area — Da Guanyin Pavilion Scenic Area — is the most celebrated. It showcases architectural landscapes including study halls, temples, and pavilions from the Liao, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It has long been a frequent destination for emperors, generals, scholars, and celebrities from the Liao Dynasty through the Ming and Qing Dynasties, adorned with hundreds of stone inscriptions and cliff carvings scattered among temples, valleys, and cliffs, exuding a profound historical and cultural atmosphere. Particularly notable is that Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Guangning four times and climbed Mount Yunwu three times, composing over two thousand characters of poetry about the mountain, which were inscribed on steles. Emperors Jiaqing and Daoguang also visited the mountain several times for worship and sightseeing. The site sees a constant flow of pilgrims year-round, with incense smoke lingering in the air.

The Da Guanyin Pavilion, commonly called Da Ge, is located on the eastern side of the northern scenic area of Mount Yunwu, six kilometers from the ancient city of Beizhen. Originally built during the Liao Dynasty, it was initially called Qing’an Temple in the early Ming Dynasty, later renamed Guanyin Pavilion. During the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty, to distinguish it from the Guanyin Pavilion on Baiyun Pass, it was renamed Da Guanyin Pavilion, commonly known as Da Ge. The area around Da Ge features numerous attractions, famously including thirty-eight scenic spots, making it a major visiting area of Mount Yunwu. Ancient writers praised the Da Lu scenic area as: "Remarkable peaks pierce the clouds, shaded waters hang from cliffs, with layered mountains to the right and the vast sea to the left; ancient stone inscriptions abound, many worth viewing" (from Volume 177 of the Illustrated Compendium of the Imperial Encyclopedia · Administrative Regions). "Gazing upon its splendid aura, lush and verdant, reaching up to the heavens while overlooking the mythical Penglai; waterfalls cascade down, bridges wind magnificently" (from the Beizhen Temple Stele Inscription by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty). The Qing Dynasty poet Sun Cheng wrote a uniquely refreshing poem titled “Gazing at the Guanyin Pavilion”: “Rising abruptly like a held tablet, front peaks green as bean eyes; mountain shapes seem ready to fly, cloud vapors hover then still. The grand pavilion is hard to reach, the hollow cliff seems to whisper; let my desire to climb and gaze linger as something yet unexperienced.” The Jiangsu poet Shen Quan of the Qing Dynasty also wrote: “Mountain pavilions layered atop stone beams, cave mouths shower coolness with cascading falls; climbing vines straight up three thousand feet, birds sing and flowers bloom in the long daylight.” The famed Eight Scenic Spots of Da Ge — Dao’yin Valley, Sacred Water Basin, Kuanguan Pavilion, Lv Gong Rock, Peach Blossom Cave, Wanghai Temple, Cloud Nest Pines, and South Heaven Gate — are all located in this area.

Upon arriving at the foot of the Guanyin Pavilion on Mount Yunwu, looking up at the magnificent mountain scenery — lush pines and cypresses, peculiar peaks and rocks, secluded valleys and streams — integrated seamlessly with the mountain temples and pavilions, it forms from afar a colorful, picturesque scene akin to a vibrant landscape painting.

Major attractions in the Da Ge Scenic Area include:

A concentration of thousands of years of historical and cultural essence of Mount Yunwu — the Mount Yunwu Mountain Gate;

A marvel of water and stone — the Great Stone Shelter;

A thousand-year-old temple — the Guanyin Pavilion;

A Liao Dynasty fortress reaching toward the sea and sky — Baiyun Pass;

A perilous peak suspended amid drifting clouds — Lotus Peak;

A symbol of loyalty through the ages — Yelü Chucai’s Study Hall.

Scenic area hotline: 0416-6609590

Scenic area opening hours: 7:00–17:00

Parking information: Parking lot outside the scenic area

Tour guide price explanation: 50 RMB

Seasonal highlights: View pear blossoms in spring, enjoy pleasant scenery in autumn

Service tips: Take the cable car to Yuquan Temple in the back mountain

Regular tourism events: “Yunwu Flower Festival” during the May Day holiday; “Yunwu Cultural Food Festival” during the National Day Golden Week

Main routes: Mountain Gate — Sign Gate — Jade Maiden Washing Statue — Sacred Water Bridge — God of Wealth Hall — Da Guangning Temple — Great Stone Shelter — Sacred Water Basin — Da Guanyin Pavilion Temple — Wax Museum — Liao Crown Prince Study Hall — Peach Blossom Cave — Wanghai Temple — Ten-Thousand-Year Pine — Yuquan Temple

Transportation information: Public bus from Beizhen to Da Guanyin Pavilion, special bus from Jinzhou to Da Guanyin Pavilion

Self-driving guide: Exit at Gaosheng on the Beijing-Shenyang Expressway — Kulongtai — Beizhen — Mount Yunwu Scenic Area

Tourist shuttle buses, public transport, subways: Shenyang — Yunwu; Jinzhou — Yunwu; Beizhen bus — Yunwu

Nearby tourist attractions: 2.5 km from Da Chaoyang, 3.5 km from Emperor Valley, 5 km from Beizhen Temple.

Accommodation: Da Chaoyang Mountain City, Beizhen Building, Fuyuan Hotel

Dining: Da Chaoyang Mountain City, Beizhen Building, Farmhouse Restaurant

Entertainment venues: Yulong Songcheng and Jiulong Bathhouse

Souvenirs: Cloth tigers, treasure gourds, home-protecting axes, peace sachets, Lüshan souvenirs

Contact information:

Address: West suburbs of Beizhen City, Liaoning Province

Hotline: 0416-6609590

Further reading:

· Seventh batch of cultural heritage protection units in Liaoning Province

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