Niushou Mountain Forest Park Buddha’s Summit Palace

Niushou Mountain Forest Park Buddha’s Summit Palace

Niushou Mountain Forest Park is located in the Jiangning District of Nanjing’s southern suburban scenic area. It consists of numerous peaks of varying sizes, including Niushou Mountain, Zutang Mountain, East and West Tianmu Ridges, and Yinlong Mountain, covering a total area of 14,000 mu. Since ancient times, it has been a renowned tourist destination, celebrated as the equal of “Autumn Qixia” in fame to “Spring Niushou.” Commonly known as Ox Head Mountain, the area features undulating peaks and rugged rocks. It earned its name because its two prominent peaks resemble a pair of ox horns. Niushou Mountain is picturesque in spring and equally scenic in autumn. “Climbing Niushou without reaching its summit is like coming away empty-handed.” Once you ascend to the mountain’s highest point, a spectacular view awaits — the Yangtze River stretches out like a thread, seemingly floating into the sky, with a hundred miles of landscape spread out before your eyes.

Legend has it that during the Daxing era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Emperor Yuan of Jin planned to erect a pair of que towers outside the Zhengnan Gate — Xuanyang Gate — of the capital Jiankang. Prime Minister Wang Dao accompanied the emperor in his carriage as they exited Xuanyang Gate. Wang Dao argued that the nation was newly established, finances were strained, and even the city walls were made of bamboo fences rather than proper materials, so large-scale construction should not be undertaken. He then pointed to the two peaks of Niushou Mountain directly facing Xuanyang Gate and said to the emperor, “These are the Heavenly Que.” The emperor thus abandoned the idea of building the que towers. During the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, the mountain was renamed “Tianque Mountain.” However, today we can no longer see the “two peaks competing in height” of Niushou Mountain. It turned out that during the “Great Leap Forward in Steel Production” era, iron ore was discovered in the mountain. Years of reckless mining resulted in one of the “ox horns” being sacrificed, and the once double-peaked Niushou Mountain is now a one-horned ox.

Niushou Mountain is also known as “Immortal Grotto Mountain,” a name linked to its Buddhist temples. During the Southern Dynasties, many emperors revered Buddhism and built numerous temples. Niushou Mountain, with its serene and beautiful environment, was an ideal place for Buddhists to cultivate their spirituality. During the Southern Dynasties, a eminent monk named Pizhi practiced in a cave beneath the two peaks of Niushou Mountain, which later became known as “Pizhi Cave.” Legend says Pizhi “attained Buddhahood and ascended to heaven” here, hence the cave was called “Immortal Grotto Cave.” During the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang, Minister Xu Du built a temple between the two peaks called Buddha Grotto Temple, and later Emperor Wu built the Immortal Grotto Temple beneath it. Thus, Niushou Mountain also came to be called “Immortal Grotto Mountain.” Fahui, an eminent master of the important Niutou Zen sect, once preached here, making it the birthplace of the Niutou Zen school. This sect took its name from Niushou Mountain, and the mountain gained fame both in China and abroad because of the sect. The Buddha Grotto Temple was known as Hongjue Temple during the Southern Tang Dynasty. During the Japanese invasion of China, the temple was burned to the ground, with only the Hongjue Pagoda remaining. Today, Niushou Mountain still has structures such as Puju Temple, Hongjue Pagoda, Pizhi Cave (Immortal Grotto Cave), Wenshu Cave, Daoren Cave, and some cliff carvings.

Niushou Mountain is also a sacred Buddhist site, as the Zen sect Niutou Zen originated here. Niutou Zen was founded by the Tang Dynasty eminent monk Fahui. When he came here to practice, he built only a humble thatched hut in the wilderness, using grass ropes for beds, cattail mats for cushions, and keeping birds and beasts as companions. He endured the summer without curtains and the winter without cotton padding, yet through great austerity, he eventually attained enlightenment. It is said that when he meditated on the rocks, hundreds of birds offered him flowers, and to this day there remains a scenic spot known as Flower-Offering Rock. Fahui had profound Buddhist knowledge and was an excellent speaker. One day, his sermon in the temple was so extraordinary that auspicious clouds lingered in the sky for three months. Niushou Mountain also has the Hongjue Temple, built in 503 AD, which was once highly popular, but unfortunately was destroyed in war, leaving only the Hongjue Pagoda. The pagoda is 45 meters tall with seven stories, featuring an outer octagonal shape and inner square structure, with staggered angles and hollow筒-style layers. Although the wooden interior was destroyed by lightning fire, the brick structure remains intact. Despite more than a thousand years of wind and rain, the main body of the pagoda still stands proudly, a testament to the high level of ancient Chinese architectural art.

The Yue Fei Anti-Jin Ancient Ramparts originated from Hanfu Mountain and extend along the mountain ridge southward to the northern side of Niushou Mountain’s main peak, with a remaining length of over 4,200 meters. Where the ramparts are well-preserved, the base is 2.5 meters wide and about 1 meter high, built neatly. In May of the fourth year of the Jianyan era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1130), Yue Fei set an ambush on Niushou Mountain. His troops gathered stones locally to build fortifications and ambushed the Jin soldiers. After the great victory at Niushou Mountain, they pursued the enemy and drove the Jin troops back across the river, reclaiming Jiankang (present-day Nanjing).

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Niushou Mountain was covered with towering ancient trees, and temples were built along the mountainside like rows of beehives and pigeon coops. The monks would plant orchids in the “Tianque Mountain House” during spring and autumn to welcome visitors. The most famous flora of Niushou Mountain include azaleas, delicate orchids, and “Tianque Tea.” Between March and April, the mountain is ablaze with colorful blooms. On April 8th, the Buddha Bathing Festival, and on Laba Festival, Buddhists from Nanjing flock to Niushou Mountain to burn incense and worship, filling the air with the clear sounds of chanting amidst wind and rain. The twisted pines and slender bamboos create a picturesque mountain forest. Sometimes after the rain clears, the mountain air becomes especially fresh, with light misty clouds drifting around the peaks, a breathtaking sight.

The scenery of Niushou Mountain is extremely beautiful, and the mountain is dotted with historic sites. Spring is the peak season for visiting, with a continuous stream of tourists. At this time, it is truly “lush greenery everywhere, peach and plum blossoms flying, new green shoots on trees, and orioles chirping among the leaves,” offering a uniquely delightful experience — hence the renown of “Spring Niushou.” Niushou Mountain is beautiful in spring and also spectacular in autumn. As the saying goes, “Climbing Niushou without reaching its summit is like coming away empty-handed.” Once you reach the mountain’s highest point, a remarkable scene unfolds — the Yangtze River stretches out like a thread, seemingly floating into the sky, with a hundred miles of landscape spread out before your eyes, and the city of Nanjing clearly visible. The vast river and sky inspire awe. Only then can you fully appreciate the splendor of Niushou Mountain.