Hongze Laozi Mountain

Hongze Laozi Mountain

Laozi Mountain, also known as Dan Mountain, is said to have been named after Laozi, the ancient philosopher, who refined elixirs here during the Spring and Autumn Period. The northern part consists of flat, small islands and shoals, while the southern part features low hills and ridges. As early as the Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, due to its strategic location along the north-south waterway, Laozi Mountain was a bustling town known for thriving commerce, rich culture, and the gathering of merchants from both the north and south. Numerous historical relics have been discovered here, including Han Dynasty tombs, Eastern Jin Dynasty tomb bricks, and tombs from the Six Dynasties period. In addition, precious cultural artifacts such as lotus-petal-patterned roof tiles from the Northern Song Dynasty, high-relief tiger tiles, and lion-head-patterned tiles have been unearthed.

The Laozi Mountain scenic area features over ten historic sites and attractions, including the Jellyfish Well and Lower Turtle Mountain. Local legends add a touch of magic to these ancient spots.

Events such as the Laozi Mountain Fishermen’s Kite Art Festival, Fishermen’s Culture Festival, and the Temple Fair on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month attract large numbers of visitors. Among them, the fishermen’s water sports competition is a unique highlight in northern Jiangsu.

Transportation Laozi Mountain is surrounded by Hongze Lake on three sides and borders Xuyi on the other, making it an “exclave” of Hongze County. Taking a bus from downtown Xuyi to Laozi Mountain is the most convenient option.

Jiangsu Huai’an

Lao Dan, whose surname was Li, given name Er, and courtesy name Boyang, was posthumously referred to as "Dan." He was a native of Ku County in the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period (present-day eastern Luyi County, Henan Province), though his exact birth and death dates are unknown. He once served as the historiographer of the Zhou royal archives and later as the Grand Historian, possessing profound knowledge of historical changes through the ages. In his later years, he lived in seclusion in Pei, teaching students, farming, and lecturing on virtue and the Way. He later traveled westward into the Central Plains and died in Qin.

After the Warring States Period, his sayings became widely circulated. Eventually compiled by Huan Yuan, they formed the “Tao Te Ching,” in two parts — the present-day “Laozi.” In the book, the fundamental essence of the universe and all things is referred to as the “Dao” or the “Pu,” sometimes called the “Void.” The Dao is… More detailed information about Laozi ++