Tianmen Temple Scenic Area

Tianmen Temple Scenic Area

Tianmen Temple Scenic Area is a cultural tourism attraction.

Tianmen Temple Scenic Area—This scenic area spans 2 square kilometers. Major attractions include:

Tianmen Mountain: This towering and rugged mountain earned its name because, from a distance, it looks as if there is a split between two peaks resembling a gate. The mountain features grotesque rocks, ancient towering trees, and many sandalwood trees growing among the rocks and winding around the cliffs like green dragons lying on the ground. Trees growing out of rocks and rocks embraced by trees create the unique spectacle of “trees carrying steles and steles carrying trees.” There are also many steep cliffs as if cut by knives and axes, adorned with massive inscriptions such as “The Higher I Look, The More Awe-Inspiring It Becomes” and “A Marvelous Scene Opens Up,” all written by famous individuals. The outdoor scenes of the movie “The Wilderness” were filmed here. The entire hiking trail vividly embodies the features of “strangeness, danger, and antiquity.”

Tianmen Temple: Built during the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1341 AD), this temple flourished through the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It was later damaged by Japanese artillery fire during the invasion of China, leaving only ruins, but the remnants still hint at its former grandeur. Surrounded by ancient pines and elegant bamboo, the tranquil setting attracted scholars from the Ming and Qing dynasties who studied here and left behind numerous poems and essays. The most famous is a fu poem composed in the 24th year of the Daoguang reign (1844) by Xiao County Magistrate Lai Yiping. The poem is celebrated for its beautiful language, refined style, and the unique feature that it rhymes both forwards and backwards. It goes: “Before me, emerald mist gathers o’er smoke-wreathed villages; poetic zeal stirs, and wine cups clink with delight. The cliffside stream’s music blends with zither’s tones; the ranged peaks’ scenery leaves traces on silk. Springs leap through rain under rainbows’ arching grace; trees twist ‘round cliffs, embracing stones they seem to swallow. The sky-high path climbs step by upward-bound stride; mist swirls above the green gate’s rising swell.” Within the temple grounds stands an ancient ginkgo tree nearly 1,400 years old, with lush branches and leaves so broad it takes four people to encircle its trunk. Its straight and tall trunk is recognized by experts as the highest among ginkgo trees in China.

Mahua Spring: This spring boasts crystal-clear, azure water with excellent quality. Year-round, it is inhabited by groups of small freshwater shrimp, hence its name Mahua (meaning “small shrimp”) Spring. Legend says the shrimp swim here through underground springs from distant places, sparking visitors' wonder about the spring’s mysterious and beautiful origins.

Shengchang Temple: Perched atop the peak of Tianmen Mountain, this temple originally had two courtyards but has fallen into disrepair over time, leaving only remnants of its surrounding walls. The widely told local tale of “The Wolf That Ate the Monk and Starved to Death” is set here. It is said that in the past, a hungry wolf entered a monk’s room when the door was left open at dusk. After the monk closed the door and fell asleep, the wolf devoured him. But with the door shut, the wolf could not get out and eventually starved to death.

Confucius’ Book-Drying Ground: The grassy slope here is densely covered with wild plants, except for a flat area of about 200 square meters where the grass grows strangely tilted to one side. Legend says that when Confucius traveled through the states and passed this spot, a sudden downpour soaked his hundreds of scrolls. When the rain cleared, he hurriedly found this flat area to dry his books. The sage’s books remained unharmed, but the grass was flattened and never grew upright again. Hence, later generations named this place “Confucius’ Book-Drying Ground.”

Ink-Washing Pool: This square-shaped pool is about one meter wide and over two meters deep. Fed by a strong spring, it never dries up in droughts nor overflows in the rain. The surrounding stone walls and the bed of the pool are all blackened, making the water appear inky. Legend has it that Confucius once washed his inkstones here, hence the name “Ink-Washing Pool.”

Peach Blossom Cave: Located more than ten zhang above Tianmen Temple, this cave is shaded by hanging pine and cypress trees. Legend says a fox spirit once disguised itself as a beautiful woman standing at the cave entrance, holding peach blossoms to tempt the monks inside. However, none of the monks succumbed to her charms. Enraged, she threw the peach blossoms into the air, and ever since, peach trees have grown among the pines and cypresses around the cave. Every spring, the green pines glow brilliantly alongside blooming peach blossoms, creating a spectacular sight.

White Horse King Tomb: This large earthen tomb mound covers ten mu (about 0.67 hectares) and houses the remains of a hero who valiantly resisted Jin invaders, choosing death over surrender. Later generations, in honor of his loyal spirit, have continued to visit and pay respects during the Cold Food Festival, helping the site maintain its grand scale through the ages.