Hutou Taishan Rock Scenic Area

Hutou Taishan Rock Scenic Area

Recently, I had the good fortune to visit the increasingly renowned Anxi Hutou Taishan Rock Scenic Area. Nestled among the mountains in the southwest corner of Hutou Town, the scenic area made quite an unusual first impression on me. As we entered the valley of the scenic area, we gradually felt ourselves enveloped by increasingly soft air, which began to refresh us, allowing us to enjoy the cool charm of the landscape and the delightful feeling of being surrounded by lush greenery.

As our interview went deeper, the person in charge of the scenic area introduced that since 2004, with the care and support of the local government, the scenic area has undergone comprehensive planning. It was rebuilt with active donations and fundraising from local residents and overseas compatriots. The newly built Taishan Rock now maintains the characteristics of the original structures. It features one screen wall, three mountain gates — including the Gate of Emptiness and the Gate of Non-Creation, which are archway-style double-eave hip-and-gable roof structures; and the Gate of Non-Form, which is a hall-style single-eave hip-and-gable roof structure. After entering the Gate of Non-Form, you can reach the Hall of Heavenly Kings. The hall is single-eave hip-and-gable style, with the central front enshrining the Maitreya Buddha, who is depicted with an exposed belly and a laughing face. On both sides are statues of the Four Heavenly Kings: the Eastern Guardian of the Nation, the Southern Growth King, the Western Wide-Eyed King, and the Northern Many-Hearing King, symbolizing “favorable weather and abundant harvests.” At the back of the hall is the majestic Skanda Bodhisattva. On the east and west sides of the Hall of Heavenly Kings are the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, both double-eave hexagonal pyramid-roof structures, housing the morning bell and evening drum. Behind the Hall of Heavenly Kings, corridors extend to the east and west, with a courtyard in the middle. In the courtyard is a liberation pond, reportedly the first of its kind in the entire province, according to Huang Jianjun, director of the Landscape Design Center at Quanzhou Huaqiao University. Above is the Ancestral Master Hall, also double-eave hip-and-gable style, primarily enshrining the Manifest Response Ancestral Master, along with the Temple King and the Eighteen Arhats. It also houses statues of Generals Zhu, Mosquito Swatter, the God of Literature (Kui Xing), and the Goddess Bixia Yuanjun. Behind the Ancestral Master Hall, after ascending six meters of steps, you enter the “Mahavira Hall.” In the center of the hall are enshrined the “Seven Buddhas of the Past” (namely Vipashyin Buddha, Shikhin Buddha, Vishvabhu Buddha, Krakucchanda Buddha, Kanakamuni Buddha, Kashyapa Buddha, and Shakyamuni Buddha). These seven Buddhas are the six “elders” of the Tathagata, also called the Buddhas of the Past, and are the only ones of their kind in Fujian Province. On both sides are enshrined the “Four Great Bodhisattvas” (namely Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva). The above structures form a three-courtyard layout, with the main halls situated along the central north-south axis, flanked by side halls such as scripture depositories and dining halls. Outside the rock temple to the east stand numerous stupas, including those of the First, Second, Third, Thirty-Sixth, and Thirty-Seventh Patriarchs of the Linji School, along with surrounding pavilions and shaded trees. Additionally, the road from the county road to the scenic area has been widened and renovated, with a 7-kilometer-long, 7-meter-wide cement road laid, and a new 100-meter-long walking corridor opened. The corridor circles around inside the temple’s covered walkways, stretching exactly 100 meters in length and 2.5 meters in width, twisting and turning as if leading into a natural oxygen bar. The surrounding scenery is elegant and tranquil, truly a heavenly spot on earth. The area contains precious plants such as yew, camphor, mahogany, and begonia, with staircases 1.52 meters and 1.28 meters wide. Over 2,300 stone steps have been constructed and were laid out before the Spring Festival, extending to the top of Suiping Mountain. This is currently the longest outdoor fitness hiking trail in Anxi County. Along the way, there are 28 scenic spots such as Xiepu Huaping, Sanfu Kaifu, Ehu Xiayong, Hushé Shuquan, Immortal's Footprints, and White Crane Cave Heaven, as well as various original rare tree species, including yew, camphor, mahogany, white osmanthus, horse tamarind, Masson pine, and maple trees, covering 95 families and 304 species. This year, the rare plant Combretum was spotted in the province, though some specimens remain incomplete and await identification and have not yet been counted. There are 19 orders, 46 families, and 92 species of vertebrates, including 9 orders, 24 families, and 62 species of birds. It is currently one of the most comprehensive natural scenic areas in terms of flora and fauna in the Quanzhou region.

Hutou Town: Hutou Town is a “Provincial-Level Historical and Cultural Town,” formerly known as the “Little Quanzhou.” The town has one finance and economics vocational school, four high schools, one vocational high school, and 26 primary schools, with a total of 17,557 students enrolled in 2002.

From 2001 to 2002, Hutou Town adhered to the principle of focusing on economic development, actively advancing both new industrialization and rural urbanization. The town implemented strategies for small-town construction, science and technology-driven development, governance based on law, governance based on virtue, and sustainable development. It vigorously nurtured and supported five pillar industries: steel, cement, garments, food processing, and tourism services... More detailed information about Hutou Town ++