Deqing Yansha Guan

Deqing Yansha Guan

Deqing Yansha Guan is a cultural tourism attraction.

Yansha Guan is located in Wulong Village, Wukang Subdistrict, Deqing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province — within the Deqing Tashan Forest Park. According to historical records such as the Jiaying Wukang County Annals and the Daoguang Wukang County Annals, Yansha Guan originated during the Southern Song Dynasty. At that time, when the capital was moved south to Lin’an (modern-day Hangzhou), Liu Shiyin, a Taoist priest from Henan, enamored with the natural landscape, built a hermitage and cultivated himself spiritually in Yanshawu, naming it “Yansha Cottage” to honor the mysterious and nurture truth. He meditated and practiced Taoism, planting plum blossoms across several miles of land. It was later listed as one of the Eight Ancient Scenic Spots of Wukang — the Yansha Cave Heaven.

Throughout the dynasties, many ancient poems praised Yansha Valley and the reclusive Taoist masters. In the 12th year of the Chunxi era of the Song Dynasty, Cheng Jiwan, then the magistrate of Wukang County, composed the poem “Yansha Valley Poem”: “In the deep mountains, boundless beauty abounds; guests arrive and together we ascend. The springs and valleys glow cool with misty light, while the misty woods hold the clarity of a cleared sky. The difficulty of the verse strengthens the poetry; the number of cups is hard to match. Old as I am, fame and success are secure — why sigh over Mian and Mian? My temples are speckled with stars, weathered by frost and wind. Years pass like birds in flight, my life viewed from this perilous pavilion. The cold green still calls for reflection, why not pause the rushing torrents? All my life I’ve loved mountain views, but for these, my eyes turn greener still.” During the Ming Dynasty, Tang Keng, a local, wrote “Yansha Cave Heaven Poem”: “The ancients left behind a villa, tucked beside the secluded white clouds. A place of pure wind and moon, a small cave heaven amid misty hues. The curtain-like mountain merges with the peaks, and the layered... (text truncated) ...the hidden immortal herbs. It speaks of a place where one can refine the spirit and ascend. The clear blue still seeks reflection, why not pause the rushing waters? All my life I’ve loved mountain views, but for these, my eyes turn uniquely green. After several years have passed, the thunderstorm clears the valley once more. The high peaks cast shadows, and the secluded temple stands anew.” During the Qing Dynasty, the female Taoist Cai Xiu wrote, “The mountain path winds deep, the secluded temple stands alone. The pines echo the distant chants, and the incense drifts through the hazy air. The immortal master’s traces linger, the Taoist heart remains unmoved. Though years have passed, the spiritual vision stays bright. The mountain’s beauty remains undimmed, the Taoist practice continues unbroken. Though the years have worn on, the devotion persists. The mountain’s charm captivates, the Taoist path endures.”

In the second year of the Yuandade era (1298 AD), Taoist Shen Changchong renovated the site. During the late Ming and Chongzhen era, female Taoist Xu Dayun renovated it again, renaming it “Yongcui Nunnery.” Throughout the dynasties, Taoist priests from various sects — including the Longmen, Huashan, Maoshan, and Celestial Masters schools — both southern and northern — resided here. It was later destroyed during the Great Leap Forward period.

Dharma does not arise alone but relies on conditions. In 1985, former Yansha Guan Taoist elders Zheng Dingchun, Yu Yongshou, and Miao Yongzuo returned to the mountain. Under the leadership of Taoist Chen, the ancestral incense was revived, and restoration work began gradually. With the blessing of the ancestors, and the support and efforts of the Party, government, Taoist community, and devoted followers, in the spring of 2003, it was approved as a legitimate Taoist site; in 2004, the mountain access road was widened; in 2006, religious land was allocated; and from 2007 to the present, buildings such as the Lingguan Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, Doumu Hall, Cihang Hall, Wenchang Hall, Caishen Hall, Minhoud Hall, Dining Hall, Elixir Room, and Comprehensive Building have been constructed one after another. In 2012, the Taoist community completed the first round of official Taoist clergy certification.

To promote the Taoist cause, Yansha Guan also frequently assists in the revival of other temples. The Taoist community regularly studies national religious regulations, current policies, and participates in various trainings, actively engaging in charitable activities. In accordance with national requirements, they aim to cultivate a Taoist group that is politically reliable, morally respected, academically accomplished, and effective in critical moments. The Taoists support themselves through their own efforts, work diligently, and vow to dedicate their lives to the Taoist cause. Over the years, Yansha Guan has been honored as a County-Level Safe Religious Site, County-Level Five-Star Religious Site, City-Level Advanced Collective, City-Level Model Unit, Provincial-Level Advanced Religious Site, Provincial-Level Star-Rated Religious Site, and National-Level Advanced Collective. Starting in 2017, it has been working toward becoming a “Standardized Model Religious Site.” With support from all sectors, Yansha Guan will surely become an ideal blessed land and celestial haven for spiritual cultivation, prayer, and personal enrichment in the near future.