Putian Phoenix Mountain

Putian Phoenix Mountain

Phoenix Mountain is located one kilometer west of Putian City. It earned the name "Phoenix Mountain" due to its shape resembling a phoenix with outstretched wings, and is also known as South Mountain. The Guanghua Temple at the southern foot of Phoenix Mountain is one of Fujian's renowned ancient temples, and the scenic area features over ten other attractions. The central part of Phoenix Mountain is home to the famous "Smoke Hiding in Stone Chamber" landscape. There are numerous sea-eroded caves on the mountain where ancient people once lived in caves, hence the name "Stone Chamber Rock." During the Tang Dynasty, the eminent monk Miaoying Zen Master meditated here and was often seen riding two tamed tigers when coming and going, which is why it is also called Tiger-Taming Rock. The winding mountain path up Phoenix Mountain is paved with over a hundred stone steps, flanked by juniper trees so thick that two people can barely hug them. The rocks and pines stand like walls, interspersed with cliff inscriptions. Along the path lies a huge rock engraved with the seal script characters “Tiger-Taming Rock” written by Song Fang Zuoyue, above which is the “Stone Chamber Hermitage.” In front of the nearby Jade Emperor Hall stands a pair of intricately carved eight-immortal dragon pillars, vividly depicted and considered masterpieces of stone carving art. Behind the temple rises a seven-story square brick pagoda, exquisitely simple and uniquely charming. Nearby, there is a massive rock jutting out above the rocky cluster, about two zhang in length, shaped like a tongue, hence called "Dragon Tongue Stone." The ancient pines on the mountain grow from the rocks, lush and vigorous with sturdy trunks. Beneath the pine trees stands the Riding-the-Wind Pavilion, where visitors can take a rest and enjoy the surrounding scenery. At dawn and dusk during spring, clouds and mist often drift among the peculiar rocks, dense woods, and bushes, making the green peaks and trees appear and disappear intermittently—hence the reputation of "Smoke Hiding in Stone Chamber." On Stone Chamber Rock, there are also attractions such as Immortal Traces, Tiger Source, Curved Water Pond, Empty View Terrace, Nirvana Terrace, Sea Seal Stone, along with numerous cliff inscriptions dating from the Song Dynasty onwards.

About one kilometer northwest of Stone Chamber Rock lies another famous attraction on Phoenix Mountain — “Zhi Quan Pearl Waterfall.” The Zhi Quan Stream originates from Maitreya Rock. Its bed is scattered with oddly shaped rocks, collectively called Plum Blossom Altar. Legend has it that in ancient times, a man who grazed his cattle here was once scolded by a white-haired old man, who claimed the area was a celestial vegetable garden and that the cattle had dirtied the water source. During the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty, the Putian painter and calligrapher Chen Boxian lived in seclusion here and named it Zhi Quan (Wisdom Spring). In the middle of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, the then Putian County Magistrate He Nanjin built the Laisu Pavilion here. Today, the stream contains dozens of stone inscriptions of various sizes, designated as a cultural relic protection site of Putian City.