Qingfeng Temple

Qingfeng Temple

Qingfeng Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Originally named Wang Liefu Shrine, it is located east of Yao’ao Village, Sanjie Town, Shengzhou City, Zhejiang Province.

About one li south of the temple lies Qingfeng Ridge. The temple was built in honor of a woman surnamed Wang from Linhai who lived during the late Song Dynasty.

According to the Republican-era *Shengxian County Annals*: “Wang Liefu Shrine — (from the Qianlong-era *Shengxian County Annals* by Li Yiyang) is situated on Qingfeng Ridge. The lady was from Linhai. In the late Song Dynasty, she was abducted by Yuan troops, bit her finger to draw blood, and inscribed a poem on the rocks of the ridge…” “After finishing the poem, she threw herself off the ridge and died.” “In the first year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty, the county magistrate Xu Rui carved a cave out of the rock to house it and erected a stele in her honor; five years later, Gui Bingyi, an official of the Eastern Zhejiang Circuit Inspectorate, built a four-bay wooden structure south of the stone cave. During the Zhizheng era, she was honored as a ‘Chaste Woman.’ In the 18th year [of Zhizheng], the structure was destroyed, and the garrison commander Zhou Shaozu rebuilt it.” It was renovated in the early Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty, in the 15th year of the Chenghua era (1479), the 12th year of the Hongzhi era (1499), the 5th year of the Wanli era (1577), the 57th year of the Kangxi era (1718) of the Qing Dynasty, the 13th year of the Jiaqing era (1808), and the 4th year of the Tongzhi era (1865). It was refurbished again in the 25th year of the Republic of China (1936).

The temple faces south and has a single courtyard. It is three bays wide. The structure features a mixed system of raised beams and through-tenon construction, with a front corridor. It has a single-eave flush-gable roof. At the center is a platform enshrining a statue of the chaste lady. The side walls feature six colorful murals depicting scenes such as the lady being captured and leaping off a cliff to take her own life. The pillars are hung with poetic couplets penned by notable individuals.

Qingfeng Temple is a tangible representation of upholding national integrity and serves as material for patriotic education. With its long history and exquisite architecture, it is one of the key cultural relic protection units of Shengzhou City.

Qingfeng Ridge

Located in Changzaiyingzi Township, Chaoyang County, it is 58 kilometers from the city center. The scenic area features nine valleys and eighteen ridges, each uniquely beautiful and picturesque. The Yulin Valley boasts continuous, overlapping peaks that compete in splendor, with naturally formed rock formations that are vivid and lifelike, reminiscent of the charm of Zhangjiajie. The Miaogou Valley is covered with ancient trees, with caves every hundred steps and waterfalls every thousand, mountain springs hidden among the foliage, and cascading waterfalls hanging from the cliffs, evoking the ambiance of Jiuzhaigou. Bizarre peaks, strange rocks, clear springs, waterfalls, caves, and giant trees together form a series of natural ink-wash paintings.

Qingfeng Ridge is abundant in peculiar rocks. For example, “Sun Wukong Captures the Lion Monster” depicts the lion monster bowing its head submissively while Sun Wukong stands proudly, making visitors feel as if they’ve entered a mythical world from *Journey to the West*. The ridge also has many springs, such as the “Three-Tiered Colorful Springs,” where springs reflect and layer upon each other, shimmering in seven colors under the sunlight, dazzling and mesmerizing. There are many legends here too, such as the tale of the Immortal Horse’s Sacred Spring, the legend of the Immortal Cave, the story of Old Man Wang the Digger, and more. There are also perennial spiritual springs for drinking, and outside the cave, preserved wall inscriptions of “Qingfeng Ridge, Mingyue Bridge” serve as historical evidence. Additionally, attractions like the “Listening to the Rain Pavilion,” “Mountain-Splitting Cypress,” “Pigsy’s Divine Journey,” “Golden Toad Gazing at the Sun,” “Water-Dripping Guanyin,” “Flying Rock,” the Huguo Temple, and the Ma Xian Temple all offer their own unique charm.

Qingfeng Ridge was once a heroic mountain, also known as “China’s Land.” After the September 18th Incident, Wang Wenfu (nickname: Old Man Wang the Digger) organized local resistance against the Japanese here, persisting for 14 years and ensuring this land remained unoccupied by the Japanese, truly becoming “China’s Land.” In the mid-1960s, during the Third Front construction period, the state built an arms factory here called “Factory 280,” which specialized in producing anti-aircraft guns that played a significant role in the Vietnam War effort. Today, Qingfeng Ridge has become a popular tourist destination known for its magical and rugged beauty. The entire scenic area spans over 100,000 acres, with two main valleys branching off to the southwest and northwest. The valley to the southwest is called Wang Laodao Valley.

Inside Wang Laodao Valley stands a very high and steep mountain called Silengzi Mountain, where Old Man Wang the Digger and his companions once held their ground against the Japanese invaders. Behind the mountain, beneath a cliff, there is a natural cave where Old Man Wang the Digger stored grain, flour, and water.

In the valley leading to the northwest lies the former site of “Factory 280,” with the main scenic spots distributed along this valley.