Longji Mountain Scenic Area

Longji Mountain Scenic Area

The Longji Mountain Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

The Longji Mountain Natural Scenic Area is located in Xincai Town, Lie Shan District, about 25 kilometers from downtown Huaibei. It covers an area of approximately 10 square kilometers, borders Suzhou City to the east and Xiao County to the north, and has a highest peak at 363 meters above sea level, the highest in Huaibei. The area boasts well-developed artificial vegetation, spectacular peaks, ancient towering trees, and uniquely shaped rocks, offering delightful scenery. Highlights include the ruins of Dafang Temple hidden beneath a thousand-year-old sandalwood tree, as well as attractions such as Longyin Lake, Bianquan Spring, Sunrise Viewing Platform, Immortal Cave, and the spot where the legendary figure Zhang Guolao ascended to immortality.

The planned area of the Longji Mountain Scenic Area project spans 2,177 hectares, with the core scenic viewing zone covering 5,400 mu. The entire scenic area is oval-shaped. Here, the mountain ranges undulate continuously, featuring ancient thousand-year-old purple sandalwood trees that create a rugged and majestic landscape. The area houses over 7,000 mu of pristine forest vegetation, dense tree canopies that block out the sun, along with clear lakes and springs, all contributing to a pleasant natural environment. Many legendary landscapes are scattered throughout this region.

Located on the western side of Tashan Peak, this area features steep cliffs and deep valleys. In front of the cave lies a dense orchard that partially conceals the cave entrance. Legend says that after Zhang Guolao became immortal by consuming ginseng, he still feared the demon sorcery of Pushan, so he hid in this cave to practice diligently, hence the name “Immortal-Hiding Cave.”

Located on the southwestern hillside below the Immortal-Hiding Cave, there is a large rock over two meters high with a narrow top and a wider base, large enough for one person to squat on. It is said that the immortal Zhang Guolao once sat and meditated atop this massive rock. Locals call it “Immortal Stone.”

Up the slope from the Immortal Stone lies a barren area of over thirty square meters where no grass or trees grow, despite being surrounded by lush forests. Legend says that the divine donkey ridden by the immortal Zhang Guolao often rolled on this spot, preventing any vegetation from growing, thus it is called “Divine Donkey Rolling Ground.”

Legend has it that when the Queen Mother of the West hosted the grand Peach Banquet in Yaochi, all the deities brought precious treasures as offerings. The Dragon King of the East Sea also excitedly carried seafood and two celestial ginseng roots, swimming from the southeast toward the northwest. Near Yaochi, he discovered the two ginsengs were missing. Feeling embarrassed and fearing he had let down the Queen Mother, he knelt down and never rose again, eventually turning into a green mountain. It is also said that when the Ming Dynasty’s Liu Bowen severed the dragon’s veins, “his first sword chopped off the dragon’s beard and mouth, causing it to groan and dig out a pool of water (Longyin Lake),” and “his second sword cut off the dragon’s head, breaking the vein and causing the flat spring to flow (Dripping Water Spring).” Longyin Lake is situated at the northern foot of Longji Mountain. Its waters are as clear as a mirror, surrounded by mountains on three sides, especially the lush ancient Longji Ridge, creating a scene where “mountains meet the shimmering lake, and fairies dwell within,” making it an exceptionally beautiful landscape.

On the apricot-covered hillside northwest of Dafang Temple, a five-meter-tall apricot tree grows out of a crack in a boulder, slender and uniform, about the width of a bowl. With abundant blossoms and fruit, this “strange tree growing from a peculiar rock” is known as “Apricot Tree Growing from Stone.” From here, visitors can fully admire the majestic, soaring ridges of the ancient Longji Mountain that seem to rise into the clouds.

Located about one li (approximately 500 meters) northwest of Dafang Temple, Guanlongtai (Dragon-Viewing Platform) is the central point of the Longji Mountain Scenic Area. Surrounded by valleys, it sits atop a solitary peak with a massive rock inscribed with the three traditional Chinese characters “Guan Long Tai” (Dragon-Viewing Platform), accompanied by a smaller line of text that reads “Xin Si Year, Apricot Month.” The inscription date refers to the second month of the Year of the Snake, though how many years have passed since then remains unknown.

Dafang Temple within the scenic area was historically recorded to have been built during the Han Dynasty, boasting a history of over 2,000 years. It has undergone multiple expansions and renovations across the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, gradually growing in scale. The temple complex enjoys a serene, rustic environment, with towering trees and beautiful scenery. In the peak of summer, it offers a particularly cool and refreshing atmosphere, making it a rare and outstanding tourist destination in Northern Anhui. Historical records indicate that at its height, the temple housed over 50 rooms and more than 40 monks. At the front was the Mahavira Hall, and inside was the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats, complete with all Buddhist statues. During the Republican era, the temple was briefly occupied by bandits, resulting in damage to its cultural relics and associated pavilions, towers, and terraces—something truly regrettable. After the liberation, the temple was managed by the Forestry Farm of Suzhou Region. Later, during the Cultural Revolution’s campaign to “Smash the Four Olds,” most of the temple buildings, bells, drums, and other relics were destroyed, a heartbreaking loss. Today, only three rooms of the north wing, four rooms of the south wing, two damaged stone steles, one stone table, two stone drums, and a site covering just about 12 mu remain. Thanks to donations from local patriots, three modest halls and three Buddha statues have been restored. Behind the temple lies the Longyun Cave. To the south of the temple is a 60-meter-high steep cliff with a small hut carved inside for warrior monks to meditate and train. Beside the hut is the inscription “Great Buddha.” At the top of the steep cliff is a martial arts training platform, while underneath it lies the Immortal Cave. Sixty meters in front of the cave stands a small temple. About 150 meters west of the temple lies the Old Longshan Mountain, whose dragon-shaped ridge stretches approximately 800 meters. Climbing the ridge allows visitors to take in the full view of the dragon-like mountain range. To the right of the temple is a mountain spring with clear, continuously flowing water.

Address: Xincai Town, Lie Shan District, Huaibei City, Anhui Province

Lie Shan Town: Located in the southeastern part of Huaibei City, Lie Shan Town in Lie Shan District was formed by merging five original villages of Lie Shan Town with Xincai Town. It borders Su County to the east and Duji District to the north. The town covers an area of 116 square kilometers, with 51,000 mu of arable land, 62,000 mu of mountainous land, and a total population of approximately 73,200 people. It administers 20 villages and 190 villager groups. The city’s eastern outer ring road and the Hefei-Xuzhou Expressway run through the town, while local roads such as Su Huang, Xincai, Cai Si, and Qing Ning form a grid-like transportation network. The town has vast mountainous areas rich in resources, including significant reserves of limestone and coal, as well as a state-owned medium-sized water... More detailed information about Lie Shan Town ++