Pinggu Yaji Mountain

Pinggu Yaji Mountain

Situated in the northwest of Pinggu District in the suburbs of Beijing, Yaji Mountain was historically part of Huairou and is an extension of the Yanshan Mountain Range. The Yaji Mountain Temple was first built in the early Tang Dynasty, flourished through the Liao and Jin dynasties, reached its peak during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, and attained its zenith during the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty. With a history of over 1,300 years, before the liberation, most old Beijingers were familiar with two old sayings: one is “In Beijing — to the east lies Yaji Mountain, to the west lies Miaofeng Mountain”; the other is “The lions of Lugou Bridge, the steles of Yaji Mountain.” The former refers to two famous Taoist mountains located respectively to the east and west of Beijing — Yaji Mountain in Pinggu to the east of the city and Miaofeng Mountain in Mentougou to the west. The latter means that the stone steles on Yaji Mountain are as numerous and uncountable as the lions on Lugou Bridge. These sayings alone sufficiently illustrate the past fame and grandeur of Yaji Mountain’s architecture.

This ancient architectural complex, known as the “Little Potala Palace” of North China, has its restoration project included among the Beijing Cultural Olympics cultural relics protection initiatives. Historically, it was hailed by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty as a “blessed land near the capital.”

“A mountain need not be high; it is famous so long as there is an immortal.” Though Yaji Mountain stands only 361 meters above sea level, it rises abruptly from the plain against the backdrop of the Yanshan Mountains, giving it a majestic and imposing appearance when viewed from afar. At the summit, two uniquely shaped rocky peaks rise naturally, resembling the twin buns worn in a girl’s hair, hence the name “Yaji Mountain” (Forked-Bun Mountain). Legend has it that in the early Tang Dynasty, a wandering Taoist priest was deeply captivated by the mountain’s serene and mystical beauty surrounded by water and hills, and thus chose to stay. After raising funds across the regions, he built a hermitage and temple at the summit to enshrine the Jade Emperor. Over the following thousand years, continuous renovations and expansions transformed Yaji Mountain into a renowned Taoist mountain with a vast complex of ancient buildings. Looking up from Zixiao Palace at the mountain’s base, the various ancient structures built along the slopes appear grand and majestic, exuding a remarkable aura and presence.

The ancient architectural complex of Yaji Mountain Temple is mainly divided into three sections: the main structures at the mountain’s base — Zixiao Palace and Guanyin Hall; the main structures midway up the mountain — Dongyue Temple and Huixiang Pavilion; and the main structures at the summit — Bixia Yuanjun Shrine, Doumu Palace, Jade Emperor Pavilion, Bell and Drum Towers, the Sanguan Hall between the two peaks, as well as the Mountain Gate. In addition, dozens of other buildings of varying sizes, such as the Sanguan Hall, Bodhisattva Hall, Mountain Patrol Hall, Dragon King Temple, Insect King Temple, Horse King Temple, Medicine King Temple, Lingguan Temple, Wanshou Palace, Imperial Stele Pavilion, and South Heaven Gate, are scattered among these three main levels. The most distinctive and stylistically refined parts of the Yaji Mountain Temple complex are the main structures at the summit. Ascending the Forty-Eight Turns and reaching the Forest of Steles, visitors are greeted by a massive wall standing before them. It turns out that both rocky peaks at the summit are clad in huge stones, with mortar-filled joints, forming a steep and towering platform over ten zhang high. From a distance, the precipitous, massive walls appear slightly milky-white and highly eye-catching. The temples built atop the platform all feature grey walls and yellow tiles. The Jade Emperor Pavilion on the East Peak is a two-story circular structure reminiscent of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven, housing a statue of the Jade Emperor. The main hall of the Bixia Yuanjun Shrine on the West Peak enshrines the goddess Bixia Yuanjun (commonly referred to as the Goddess), with the Doumu Palace located behind the main hall. Between the two peaks is the Sanguan Hall, which houses statues of Fuxi, Shennong, and the Yellow Emperor, serving as a connector that allows access to both the East and West Peaks. To reach the summits, visitors must pass through the doorways under the Bell and Drum Towers, as if entering two ancient fortresses or ascending into a celestial realm. Under the bright sun, the ancient buildings topped with yellow glazed tiles shine brilliantly, appearing resplendent, majestic, and mysterious — much like the Potala Palace in Tibet. Looking down upon the entire temple complex is like beholding a heavenly palace, truly breathtaking in its magnificence and extraordinary presence.

As a Taoist temple, Yaji Mountain achieved a national first — the highest number of imperial recognitions in history. In the 54th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, Kangxi composed the “Inscription on the Jade Emperor Pavilion,” recording his visit to pray on his 60th birthday and praising Yaji Mountain as “since the Yuan and Ming dynasties, known as a blessed land near the capital. With the Shrine of Bixia Yuanjun atop, every early summer, people from all directions gather here to pray, shoulder to shoulder and foot to foot, in uncountable numbers. Ancient texts say that high places are dwellings of the divine; this mountain lies to the north backed by the Purple Wall (the Great Wall) and faces south toward the capital, with rolling ridges and majestic contours gathering spiritual essence. Thus, the spiritual influence here often brings miraculous responses — a natural phenomenon.” In the first year of Emperor Yongzheng’s reign, coinciding with Kangxi’s 70th birthday, the newly enthroned Yongzheng established a court rule: every ten years, the emperor must personally come to Yaji Mountain to preside over sacrificial ceremonies. In the 12th and 18th years of Emperor Qianlong’s reign, Qianlong visited Yaji Mountain twice and composed poems inscribed on stelae, including: “The waters gleam like silver rings, the mountains bloom like purple lotuses. Willows veil the misty shores, peach blossoms linger after rain. Briefly I come, joyous and enchanted; yet loath to leave, I pause in hesitation…” During Emperor Jiaqing’s reign, though he did not visit personally, he sent his crown prince to Yaji Mountain more than ten times as his proxy. In the 17th year of Emperor Daoguang’s reign, Daoguang and the Empress Dowager visited Yaji Mountain together and composed the “Inscription on the Reconstruction of the Bixia Yuanjun Temple on Yaji Mountain,” stating: “The deity originates from the east, and this mountain also aligns with the northeast position of the capital; the east brings life, the northeast completes and stores auspiciousness — surely no coincidence…” Precisely because of the multiple imperial recognitions and attention from the court since the Ming and Qing dynasties, Yaji Mountain gradually evolved into a prominent Quanzhen Taoist temple, enjoying centuries of flourishing incense offerings and becoming one of the four major temple fairs in North China alongside Mount Tai in Shandong, Qiu Mountain in Henan, and Baiyun Mountain in Shaanxi, with influence extending across Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, even Liaoning and Inner Mongolia.

As a famous Taoist mountain, the history of the prosperity and glory of Yaji Mountain Temple is indeed ancient and enduring. Especially from the time of Emperor Kangxi, Yaji Mountain came to be regarded as an imperial family temple and a site for large-scale royal religious activities, with two imperial palaces specifically built both at the mountain and at its base. Aside from the irregular pilgrimages of the emperor and royal family members, the Qing court’s Imperial Household Department was required to offer incense at Yaji Mountain annually, further propelling the mountain’s rise to glory. However, in the later Qing Dynasty, with waning imperial attention — particularly under the influence of Empress Dowager Cixi — coupled with national decline, Yaji Mountain gradually fell into decline until it was destroyed by war and during the Cultural Revolution...

In 1987, to promote traditional Chinese culture, the local government raised funds to restore parts of Yaji Mountain’s ancient architecture, re-erect toppled and damaged steles, and install new ones — including the stele inscribed with the words “Joy of the Benevolent and Wise” by elder statesman Chen Lifu, and over ten stone tablets authored by renowned calligraphers and painters such as Wang Yushu and Li Yan. The traditional April Temple Fair was also revived annually, breathing new life into ancient Yaji Mountain. Since the fair’s reinstatement, this “Blessed Land Near the Capital” has attracted and hosted over a million domestic and international visitors who came to worship, including many international friends, overseas Chinese, and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Sun Huifang, granddaughter of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, also visited the temple to offer incense and pay homage. This fully demonstrates the wide influence and high reputation of Yaji Mountain Temple. Today, the restoration project of Yaji Mountain Temple has been included in the Beijing Cultural Olympics cultural relics protection projects. This renowned temple and Taoist site in eastern Beijing has largely restored its original architectural scale, bringing back the once magnificent and resplendent structures to the world — truly a gratifying and meritorious act.

Scenic Spot Location

Liujia Shop Township, Pinggu District, Beijing

Liujia Shop Town: One of the 17 townships under the jurisdiction of Pinggu County, Beijing. It lies 14.5 km southeast of the county government seat and is located in the northwest of the county. It borders Dahuaishan Town to the east, Wangxinzhuang Town to the southeast, Yukou Town to the south, and Dongshaocui Township of Miyun County to the north and west. Covering a total area of 35.6 square kilometers, the town is situated in a mountainous river valley region. Except for the flatlands in the central and southeastern parts, the area is mostly mountainous. The highest peak within the territory is Qibuhen, at 474.6 meters above sea level. The Hu River enters from the north, winds southward, and flows into the territory of Yukou Town south of Hujia Shop Village. The Zhenluoying Shihe and Xiong’erzhai Shi... More details about Liujia Shop Town++