Shimu Mountain Scenic Area

Shimu Mountain Scenic Area

Guide: Located at the foot of Swan Peak, an extension of the Kuaiji Mountain Range along the Dongzhu Highway in Dongyang City, central Zhejiang Province, about 10 kilometers from downtown Dongyang.

It is a scenic area that combines religious culture with landscape tourism. The Tongmu Temple, built in the second year of the Rui Gong era of the Song Dynasty (989 AD), has withstood millennia of change. Structures such as the Heavenly King Hall, Guanyin Hall, and Shimu Hall are simple, solemn, and dignified. At the center of the scenic area stands a monument commemorating the assembly point of the anti-Japanese propaganda team. Amidst the forest, springs, and clouds, as well as on cliff inscriptions, one can find poetic writings by notable figures and scholars throughout history.

Sword-Testing Stone and Recumbent Lion Stone are located between Tianmen and Jinsi Pool. The Sword-Testing Stone features a straight vertical crack running down its middle, smooth and flat as if cut by a sword, earning its name from the local legend that Hu Gong’s divine sword-splitting power created it. The Recumbent Lion Stone lies to the northeast of the Sword-Testing Stone, standing over ten meters tall with a rectangular base about one meter thick. Its top resembles a majestic lion kneeling, seemingly ready to leap eastward to greet the sunrise.

The Hundred-Step Precipice, stretching from Lulin Right Pavilion to Tianmen, is the only path to Tongmu Temple. It consists of 403 steps, each two meters wide, built with stacked stones. To its west rise perilous cliffs covered with hanging vines, while to its east looms a sheer cliff dotted with dense undergrowth. Handrails are installed along both sides.

The Cloud-Soaring Wonder is found on the steep slope in the middle of Swan Peak’s wing. Towering pines block out the sun, and massive rocks lie scattered, including the Cloud-Soaring Cave. Formed by several rocks, the cave is four meters in circumference and unfathomably deep—too dangerous for entry. However, at dawn and dusk, clouds and mist can be seen billowing from within, creating a spectacular sight.

The Dragon Pool Suspension Bridge spans the cliff above the Jinsi Dragon Pool. It is 70 meters long, 1.2 meters wide, and 35 meters high. Made of steel cables and wooden planks, it is flanked by wire mesh railings. As visitors walk across, the bridge gently sways, offering a thrilling yet enjoyable experience—thus it is also known as the “Carefree Bridge.”

The Tongmu Zen Monastery is located at the foot of Swan Peak and was built during the Northern Song Dynasty. It earned the name “Tongmu Temple” due to the abundance of tongmu (paulownia) trees along the nearby stream. Behind the monastery are, in sequence, the Master-Disciple Bridge, Heavenly King Hall, Guanyin Hall, and Shimu Hall.

The Longshan Stone Forest is situated on Longshan Hill southeast of Tongmu Temple, where numerous upright rocks rise from the ground like a forest, interspersed with green cypresses. Visitors looking up at these towering formations may feel as though witnessing the mythical Gonggong touching the sky. The Divine Turtle Guarding the Mountain is located near Shengqi Cave east of Tianmen, resembling a giant turtle crawling atop a boulder, gazing down at the mountain. Legend says a thousand-year-old turtle from the Qiantang River was moved by Hu Gong’s spirit of serving the people and transformed into this stone turtle to guard the mountain gate forever.

Ancient Apes Listening to the Waves is found on the rocky cliff by Jinsi Pool. Looking north from the walking trail, visitors will see a rock that resembles the head of an ape, as if listening intently to the sounds of the mountain stream. Lion and Elephant Standing Majestically: At the entrance of the entire scenic area, two mountains stand opposite each other—White Elephant Mountain to the east and Lion Mountain to the west. Their shapes are vivid and lifelike, facing each other across the stream like gate guards. Near the base of White Elephant Mountain is a small village where two thousand-year-old camphor trees thrive, lush and full of vitality.

The Swan Hatching Its Young is located in the northwest of the scenic area. Swan Peak resembles a soaring swan, and behind its tail are nine small hills arranged in a fan shape, much like a mother swan brooding her cygnets. On the belly of Swan Peak lies the ancestral tomb of Ming Dynasty Minister Zhang, along with touching folk legends. The Cliffside Stone Railings were built in the late Southern Song Dynasty, stretching from Tianmen to Zuodong Bridge. They border the cliff west of Jinsi Pool, spanning over 200 meters in total and pieced together from 85 stone slabs embedded in stone pillars. The railings are covered in moss, resembling a coiling dragon along the valley. Transportation: There are no direct buses to the scenic area from downtown. Visitors can take a local taxi or hire a car to get there.

Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province