Five Pagodas Rock

Five Pagodas Rock

Five Pagodas Rock is a cultural tourism attraction.

Guide: Five Pagodas Rock, originally named Ling Shui Rock and also known as Ling Shui Temple, is located at the northwest foot of Zimao Mountain. Zimao Mountain is one of the four famous mountains in Quanzhou, hence its widespread fame;

Introduction: Five Pagodas Rock was first built during the Northern Song Dynasty. By the Southern Song Dynasty, five stone pagodas were constructed in front of the temple, which led to it being called Five Pagodas Rock. The five stone pagodas in front of the Five Pagodas Rock Temple are of the Song Dynasty stupa-style stone structure. Each pagoda is 6 meters tall, with a square base, and the body of the pagoda has three tiers: the first tier is hexagonal and inscribed with text, the second and third tiers are drum-shaped, with the third tier featuring relief carvings of Buddha statues. The finial of the pagoda is gourd-shaped. The five pagodas stand in a row, spaced 2 meters apart from each other, aligned in front of the temple’s wall. The site is strategically located on high ground, and viewed from below, they appear quite majestic. The architecture of the Five Pagodas Rock Temple makes use of the mountain terrain and two natural caves — one above and one below — to construct the Longshui Zen Building and Dingguang Taoist Sanctuary, resembling a building floating in the air, offering a unique scenic view.

Five Pagodas Rock features three towering peaks with uniquely shaped rocks and picturesque scenery. The interplay between the mountain and rocks forms natural wonders, as evidenced by a local rhyme: “Three lions play and chase, a stone tiger opens its mouth, ninety-nine monks, and stone figures guard the water’s mouth.” At the mountaintop, three rocks stand in a row, known as the Three Lords Stones. To the west is Dingguang Rock, in the center is Zhongzhou Rock, which resembles a natural stone Buddha, and to the east is Ling Shui Rock. Beneath Ling Shui Rock lies a small well called the “Tidal Well,” which never dries up all year round. Legend says that during the Song Dynasty, when Yang Wenguang led troops into Fujian, he set up camp near Guandao Fort. Thousands of soldiers drank from this spring, yet it never ran out. Now, the words “Zheng Gong Spring” are inscribed by the well. It is said that when Zheng Chenggong rose in arms, he also stationed his troops here and drank from this spring, leading to the carving of these words. Five Pagodas Rock is rich in unique rocks and caves. According to the Nan’an County Annals, “Ling Shui Rock features towering peaks and many stone caves.” There are still five major stone caves today, among which the Tiger Cave is the largest, capable of holding over 200 people, while others can accommodate dozens. Around the caves, there are numerous rock formations such as stone people, stone horses, stone turtles, stone oxen, stone cranes, stone Buddhas, stone incense burners, stone bells, stone drums, lightning-struck stones, stone alleys, stone tables, and stone chairs. Cliff inscriptions include phrases such as “First Mountain,” “Ancient Ling Shui Zen,” “Buddha,” and “Pangu Cave,” all inspired by the rocks.

Quanzhou, Fujian