Dalian Jiulong Mountain Scenic Area

Dalian Jiulong Mountain Scenic Area

Dalian Jiulong Mountain Scenic Area

Jiulong Mountain Scenic Area is located at the southern end of Shuangta Town in the city, belonging to the extension of the Qianshan Mountain Range. It faces the national-level scenic spot—Weiba Mountain City—across the mountain, and is 30 kilometers from Anbo Hot Spring Resort, 20 kilometers from Biliu River Reservoir Scenic Area, and 75 kilometers from Pulandian urban area. The area is well known for its abundant stone production. In the 1980s, local residents discovered a group of cliff carvings on Jiulong Mountain, featuring 18 arhats from Buddhist iconography. Experts have verified that these carvings date back 1,670 years. To protect them from wind and rain erosion, the local government built stone shelters. Both the Liaoning Provincial Government and the Dalian Municipal Government subsequently erected plaques designating the site as a provincial and municipal cultural relic, respectively, ensuring its protection. The Jiulong Mountain Scenic Area spans 1,000 acres, with its highest peak reaching an elevation of 380 meters. The provincial-level protected cultural relic—the Wanghai Temple Cliff Carvings—although weathered by 800 years of natural elements, still vividly depict the 18 arhats in seated meditation. The mountain is covered with lush forests and features uniquely shaped rocks, offering both a rich cultural environment and distinctive natural landscapes. The cliff carvings are situated on the southern slope of Jiulong Mountain within Shuangta Town and are a key cultural relic under the protection of Liaoning Province. They were initially created during the Jin Dynasty. Named after the nearby Wanghai Temple, which is located about 20 meters southeast of the stone cliff, the carvings are found on a rock face approximately 5 meters high and 7.26 meters long. Originally, there were 18 statues, one of which was a standing figure inside a niche and has since been destroyed. The remaining 17 are reliefs, most of which are well preserved. Five Buddha statues recently unearthed behind Wanghai Temple have been identified by relevant authorities as exquisite Buddhist artifacts dating back 2,000 years. Their discovery not only reveals that Buddhist culture had spread to southern Liaoning 2,000 years ago but also marks the introduction of stone carving art to Shuangta Town around the same period.