Longquan Mountain

Longquan Mountain

Fifteen kilometers east of Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province, lies the undulating Longquan Mountain, an extension of the Dabie Mountains that stretches for dozens of miles. With an elevation of 281.5 meters, Longquan Mountain is located in Qiaotouji Town, Feidong County, and is the highest peak among the local mountains. The mountain gets its name from an ancient spring located halfway up its slopes, which has flowed continuously and clearly for thousands of years. The waters of Longquan maintain a constant temperature of 18 degrees year-round, offering a sweet and refreshing taste, and contain 23 types of minerals and trace elements beneficial to the human body. The <> records: “Within the temple halfway up the mountain is the ‘Dragon Spring,’ whose clear waters flow down to the base of the mountain, hence the name Longquan Mountain.” Zhang Youxin of the Tang Dynasty, in his <>, rated this spring as the “Number One Water in Lu Prefecture.” The spring water gushes forth from the “Dragon’s Mouth” in Longquan Temple, forming a continuous stream that nourishes the farmland and communities across dozens of square miles throughout the year. In the fifth year of the Qingli era (1045) during the Northern Song Dynasty, the literary scholar Ouyang Xiu, while serving as prefect of Chuzhou, visited Longquan Mountain out of admiration and, after tasting the sweet spring water, immediately ranked it as the “Thirteenth Best Spring under Heaven,” even erecting a stele to commemorate the occasion. Longquan Ancient Temple is situated on the mountainside of Longquan Mountain, above the spring. The temple derives its name from the spring, and the mountain gains renown because of the temple. The mountain is covered with ancient pine trees and ginkgos over a hundred years old, presenting a lush green landscape, which together with the sweet spring water flowing from the temple, creates an atmosphere that refreshes the spirit and inspires devotion. According to the <>, which still exists in the temple, Longquan Ancient Temple is said to have been originally built during the Cao Wei period, boasting a history of over 1,700 years. During the Tang Dynasty, when Buddhism was highly revered, Longquan Temple enjoyed immense popularity and fame throughout the land. It flourished once again during the Ming Dynasty, becoming the foremost temple in central Anhui.

To get to the mountain: From the long-distance bus station, take the Hefei–Chaohu bus and get off at Xinjiekou in Qiaotouji Town. Then transfer to a tricycle to reach the temple entrance.