Scenic Beauty of Panlong Mountain

Scenic Beauty of Panlong Mountain

Scenic Beauty of Panlong Mountain

Panlong Mountain, commonly known as Old Mountain, is located about 30 li northeast of the county town. The rocks encircling the mountain curl like a dragon lying down, hence the name. A Jade Emperor Temple once stood on the mountain, consisting of two courtyards with the Queen Mother’s Hall, the Divine Official’s Hall, the Amitabha Hall, and the Kṣitigarbha Hall. To the south of the mountain were the Hall of a Hundred Sons and the Three Officials’ Hall. In the 37th year of the Republic of China (1948), all the structures were destroyed in gunfire. Today, the mountain is scattered with broken tiles and fragmented stone tablets, and the jagged, fish-scale-like rocks still remain. On the southwestern mountainside stands an ancient ginkgo tree, so thick that it takes two people to encircle it and visible clearly from 30 li away. It has since been killed by the smoke from villagers burning incense to fulfill vows, but a young ginkgo tree has been planted nearby. At the summit, a newly rebuilt temple stands majestically, housing a large Buddha statue for visitors to worship, with continuous incense offerings. It is a sacred site for sightseeing in Sihong County.