Wild Goose Formation Mountain

Wild Goose Formation Mountain

Wild Goose Formation Mountain (anciently known as Yanqin or Yan□) is the highest peak in Hanjiang District, Putian City, located in Aoshan Village, Sanjiangkou Town. To the east lies the sea, with rolling waves and scattered fishing boats, offering a vast sky and boundless waters. In late autumn, during low tide, flocks of wild geese gather here to forage and spend the winter, hence the name Wild Goose Formation Mountain. The mountain features unique terrain, with ridges extending to the coast, resembling the head of a giant turtle, thus also called Turtle Mountain. Hiking here in summer brings cool ocean breezes, dispelling all heat, making it a perfect summer retreat.

Since the Tang Dynasty, Wild Goose Formation Mountain has been renowned for its picturesque scenery. Huang Gongdu, the top imperial scholar of the Song Dynasty, once built a hut here to study diligently. After Huang Gongdu became the top scholar, Emperor Gaozong of Song inscribed the three characters "Dengying Pavilion" (Pavilion of Ascending to Immortality) for his study site on the mountain. Huang Gongdu wrote in his poem "Imperial Gifted Pavilion Inscription":

The towering pavilion pierces the heavens, / The imperial calligraphy shines bright. / The inner court hosts a grand banquet, / While envoys unveil the celestial words. / Oaths of loyalty make mountains and rivers firm, / The emperor's grace falls like rain and dew. / A humble scholar leans on Heaven’s treasures, / Gazing westward where clouds end.

Achievements eclipse Xiao He’s mansion, / Fame surpasses the halls of the Cui clan. / Lone loyalty upholds the nation, / One virtue aligns with the vast sky. / Gold and jade soar beyond the clouds, / Dragons and phoenixes entwine nearby. / Upon completion, congratulatory swallows swarm, / And fragile wings take flight high.

On Wild Goose Formation Mountain stands a temple dedicated to the Three Hall True Lords, known as Zhaoling Ancestral Temple. As it is built on the mountain, it is commonly called Wild Goose Formation Palace. The palace is classic and elegant, resplendent with gold and color, majestic and grand, truly a spectacular sight. The side hall enshrines Chen Yinggong, who pioneered the method of salt drying. As a result, the incense here burns strong, making it a major Taoist temple in Hanjiang, frequented by endless streams of visitors and worshippers. Inside the palace lies a worship stone with several natural cracks. At the intersection of the cracks is a slight depression with a small hole in the center. A gentle breeze blows from it, and when water is poured in, it never overflows, nor is its destination known. Legend says the stone existed before the temple was built around it, and it is called the "Dragon Eye Wind" Worship Stone.

During the Ming Dynasty, a stone pagoda was erected on Wild Goose Formation Mountain. This seven-story stone structure served as a navigational marker for night sailing ships, standing in distant correspondence with the Tower on the Sea (Taizi Tower), adding another scenic charm to the mountain’s landscape. The mountain also features historical sites such as Huang Gongdu’s Book-Drying Platform and Wild Goose Protection Summit. Beneath a massive cliff rock at Wild Goose Protection Summit, there is a spring that has never dried up even in severe droughts. Its water is clear and sweet. Lin Guangzhao, a Song Dynasty imperial scholar, named it Baoguang Spring. Huang Gong, a Ming Dynasty imperial scholar, wrote a poem about it: "The path winds thinly through obscured clouds, / Ancient temple hangs atop the cliff. / Fading sunset glistens on sea isles, / Rising tides submerge sandy fields. / Flowers bloom warm for spring riders, / High winds guide ships into the harbor. / Longing for someone, I pause again, / But Baoguang Spring is nowhere in sight."

Wild Goose Formation Mountain is wondrous in its peaks, beautiful in its sea, magnificent in its pagoda, and elegant in its temples. Countless beautiful legends are passed down among the people, cloaking it in a mysterious and legendary veil.

Hanjiang District has planned to develop this area into a tourist zone. In recent years, patriotic overseas Chinese have donated funds to renovate Wild Goose Formation Palace, giving it a brand-new look. Majestic dragon pillars stand tall, stone lions guard proudly, and the entire place shines in gold and color, solemn and dignified. In front of the palace square, Huaiqing Pavilion and Siuxian Pavilion have also been built—exquisite and graceful. At the foot of the mountain stands an archway-style mountain gate. A mountain road winds up to the peak, surrounded by green shade, pavilions and towers, with the shimmering sea and mountain hues forming an incredibly beautiful scene.

Aoshan Village: Overview of Aoshan Village

Aoshan Village, anciently known as Wild Goose Formation Village, is located in the eastern part of the town. It borders Xinghua Bay to the east, Dongqing Village to the west, Jingshan Village to the south (4 kilometers from the town government), and Houguo Village to the north (2 kilometers from National Highway 324). The Fuzhou-Xiamen Expressway has an interchange in the village.

The village covers an area of 3.6 square kilometers, comprising 8 natural villages, 24 villager groups, 1,386 households, and 5,576 residents.

The Wild Goose Formation Palace in the village is a municipal cultural heritage site, originally built during the Song Dynasty. It sits atop Wild Goose Formation Mountain, where pine and cypress trees thrive, birds sing and flowers bloom, with pavilions and towers adding splendor and luxury, leaving visitors... Aoshan Village detailed information++