Zhanlu Mountain

Zhanlu Mountain

Namping’s Zhanlu Mountain is a provincial-level scenic area, located in Chaping Township, Songxi County. Its main peak, Zhanyun Peak, stands at an elevation of 1,230 meters and is 12 kilometers from the county seat. The mountain is covered with lush forests, where springs murmur and birds sing, often enveloped in drifting clouds and mist—displaying a breathtaking variety of scenes in spring or autumn. Zhanlu Mountain is a historically renowned mountain in China, traditionally believed to be the place where Ou Yezi, a master swordsmith of the Yue people during the Spring and Autumn Period, forged swords, and remnants of ancient furnaces can still be found today. During the Song Dynasty, the great Neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Xi built a retreat on the mountainside, using it as a place for teaching and poetic inspiration. Later, the Ming scholar Yang Ying established Xuxian Hermitage on the site, which was subsequently converted by his descendants into the Yang Family Study Hall and Zhanlu Academy to promote learning and culture. The mountain features murmuring springs, dense woods, secluded ancient paths, and a cluster of peaks. Major attractions include Zhan Peak, Jade Maiden Peak, Sword Peak, as well as the Sword-Forging Furnace, Ouye Shrine, Ouye Cave, Nine-Bend Ridge, Sword-Testing Stone, Qingliang Temple, and Zhanlu Academy—collectively known as the “Three Peaks and Sixteen Scenic Spots.” As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, Zhanlu Mountain was honored as the “Foremost Sword-Making Mountain Under Heaven.”