Xiping Mountain

Xiping Mountain

Situated in the northern part of Tuoshan Township, Xiping Mountain has an elevation of over 230 meters. Its uniqueness lies in the flat terrain at the summit, which looks like a plateau on the mountain, thus it is also called Ping Mountain (Flat Mountain). The mountain is surrounded by various steep stone forests and cliffs, resembling a natural screen, which is how it got the name Xiping Mountain (West Screen Mountain).

The summit of Xiping Mountain is remarkably flat, covering about six square kilometers with vast expanses of natural turf. From a distance, it looks like a magnificent and peculiar giant millstone, as if carved by nature, or like a soaring roc ready to take flight, sparking the imagination. For these reasons, it is considered a feng shui treasure by locals. The mountain features twelve scenic spots, including Ancient Horse Pen, Xiping Stone Forest, Nine-Eye Dragon Spring, Echoing Cave, Ping Mountain Summit, Stone City, Ancient Well, Baolin Temple Ruins, Monk Tomb Ruins, Mother Stone Slope, Pot Sky Cave, and Buddha’s Hand Pillar.

The summit is surrounded by cliffs, with towering rock faces and crags of various shapes forming a grand and vivid stone forest that stretches over 800 meters. On the eastern cliff, there is a cluster of stone stalagmites in diverse forms, naturally whimsical. To the north, there is a group of peaked, pitted rocks, riddled with holes and presenting a myriad of strange shapes—this unique stone forest sight is called “Mother Stone Slope.” It is said to form a pair with the “Father Stone Cliff” near Dagu Mountain, standing as counterparts and responding to each other from afar. Around the plateau are several springs that trickle year-round, known as the “Nine-Eye Dragon Spring.” Following the spring down along the rock face, there is an Echoing Cave, which usually emits soft sounds but roars during heavy rain. However, it remains a mystery where the sound comes from, as no cave can be found. The Chicken Comb Ridge on the mountain was once an ancient battlefield, where many fragments of armor worn by warriors have been unearthed. Halfway down the mountain is the Echoing Pond, an underground river. In summer, even when no water is visible, the sound of rushing water like galloping horses can be heard. There is also a meteorite on the mountain, measuring 4.8 meters in length and 4 meters in height, though no one knows when it fell. At the foot of the mountain lies a vast expanse of lush green grassland, with fresh air and beautiful scenery, making it a rare natural oxygen bar. A small river called Yinma Chuan (Horse Drinking River) runs nearby. Legend has it that this was where Emperor Taizong of Tang’s troops watered their horses. Though small, the river flows with clear water all year round. On the river lies an ancient stone bridge known as Lintun Bridge, though its exact construction date is unverified.

The mountain is also a Buddhist sacred site. The Baolin Temple, built in 645 AD during the Tang Dynasty, is located here, and it is one of the “Eight Scenic Spots of Ancient Fuzhou,” known as the “Xiping Morning Moon.” During the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong of Tang personally led his army to camp at Xiping Mountain and ordered General Yu Chibao Lin to build the Baolin Temple on the foundation of the original Tianliang Hall. The temple complex included the North and South Grand Halls, the Eighteen-Hand Buddha Hall, the Bell Tower, and the Earth God Shrine. Not far from the Baolin Temple are the ruins of an ancient tomb complex, known as the “Monk Tomb” or “Pagoda Forest Temple.”

Xiping Mountain also features twelve attractions, including Ancient Horse Pen, Stone City, Ancient Well, Pot Sky Cave, and Buddha’s Hand Pillar. Near the mountain’s base are six administrative villages: Longhe, Dingtun, Quanshui, Paoya, Dawei, and others. These villages are renowned for producing high-quality agricultural products such as apples and cherries.