Jade Emperor Soaring Clouds

Jade Emperor Soaring Clouds

Jade Emperor Soaring Clouds

Jade Emperor Mountain is located to the south of West Lake. During the Five Dynasties period, Qian, the king of Wuyue, welcomed Buddhist relics from Ayuwang Temple in Mingzhou (now Ningbo) and enshrined them here, giving rise to the name "Yuwang Mountain." In the Ming Dynasty, Fuxing Taoist Temple was built to worship the Jade Emperor, and Yuwang Mountain was subsequently renamed Jade Emperor Mountain.

At an elevation of 237 meters, Jade Emperor Mountain stands majestically between West Lake and the Qiantang River. It connects with Phoenix Mountain on the eastern side, with ridges that flow together like a dancing dragon and soaring phoenix, prompting Jin Dynasty scholar Guo Pu to write: “From Tianmu Mountain hang two long teats, as dragon and phoenix dance their way to Qiantang.” At the summit of Jade Emperor Mountain are the Cloud-Ascending Pavilion and the Lakes-and-Rivers-Viewing Pavilion. From here, one can gaze out to see clouds and mist swirling around the mountainsides, with drifting clouds creating a mystical scene, earning it the name “Jade Emperor.” It is now one of the New Ten Scenes of West Lake.

Jade Emperor Mountain boasts numerous scenic spots and historical sites. Major attractions include Ciyun Ridge, Five Dynasties stone carvings, Zilai Cave Heaven, the Seven Star Stations (also known as the Seven Star Pots), Bagua Field, Sun-Moon Well, and Tianyi Pool, along with many temples, pavilions, and other landscape features. Ascending to the mountain’s peak offers sweeping views: to the east, the grandeur of Hangzhou city; to the south, the vast expanse of the Qiantang River; to the west, the misty tea fields; and to the north, the beautiful scenery of West Lake — all of Hangzhou’s most picturesque landscapes are visible in one panoramic view.

The modern literary master Yu Dafu wrote in his travelogue “Jade Emperor Mountain”: “From the heights, one can gaze northwest and take in the misty waters and drifting clouds of West Lake…; to the southwest lies the Zhijiang River, with sailboats dotting the breeze…; looking eastward toward Haimen, a solitary peak and the convergence of two tidal flows create an even more majestic sight.”