Red Snail Three Perils

Red Snail Three Perils

Red Snail Three Perils is located northwest of Huangshandian Village, Zhoukoudian Town, Fangshan District. It was one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Fangshan during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The mountain rises in a spiral formation, divided into three levels, with winding paths beneath cliffs on each level.

The so-called Red Snail Peril, also known as Youlan Mountain, refers to the legend that a red snail once appeared in the Red Snail Cave on the upper ridge and emitted a red glow, hence the name. Another legend says that over ten thousand years ago, this area was an ocean, and there was a sea eye here. One day, people suddenly noticed a huge sea snail blocking the sea eye. Its body was covered with bright red scales, and when the sunlight hit it, it radiated a dazzling red light, illuminating half the sky and dyeing the surrounding seawater red. Soon after, with a loud “boom,” the earth shifted, the sea disappeared, and the red sea snail turned into a wondrous mountain range resembling the lid of a giant sea snail. It is divided into upper, middle, and lower levels, and is thus called Red Snail Three Perils.

Since the Ming Dynasty, the Bamboo Garden Temple was built at the lower peril, the Ultimate Bliss Temple at the middle peril, and at the upper peril, aside from small hermitages, every cave became a temple. Red Snail Three Perils features steep peaks that stand tall and majestic among the surrounding mountains. The mountains are shaded by tall ancient pines, cypresses, and oaks, with as many as eight varieties of red foliage. Countless wildflowers emit delicate fragrances, while clear springs flow gently. Ancient temples, stone tablets, and pagodas dot the landscape, creating picturesque scenery.

Location

Northwest of Huangshandian Village, Zhoukoudian Town, Fangshan District, Beijing