Jiuri Mountain

Jiuri Mountain

Jiuri Mountain is the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. It is located on the northern bank of the Jin River, 7 kilometers from downtown Quanzhou, 15 kilometers from Jinjiang Airport, and 15 kilometers from Houzhu Port, within Fengzhou Town, Nan’an. As early as the ninth year of the Taikang era during the Western Jin Dynasty (288 AD), Central Plains migrants who had settled in Fujian would climb this mountain every Chongyang Festival to gaze toward their homeland. Since the Chongyang Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the mountain was thus named Jiuri Mountain (literally “Nine-Nine Mountain”).

Jiuri Mountain is famed for the saying “no uncarved stone in the mountain.” There are over 70 cliff inscriptions preserved from the Song and Yuan dynasties to the present, among which the most renowned are the Prayer for Wind stone carvings from the Song Dynasty. The Jiuri Mountain Prayer for Wind Stone Carving Cluster is the largest collection of such carvings in China, often regarded as a monument to the ancient Maritime Silk Road, and is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. In ancient times, Quanzhou had well-developed maritime transport, and people would often hold “Prayer for Wind ceremonies” to ensure favorable winds for sailing. These stone carvings are important historical evidence of Quanzhou’s ancient overseas exchanges and also bear witness to the friendly interactions between the Chinese people and those of Asia and Africa.

The mountain has three peaks—east, west, and north—that form a pincer-like shape. The western peak is known as Gaoshi Peak or West Terrace because the famous Tang Dynasty poet Qin Ji once lived in seclusion there. At its summit stands a stone Buddha statue from the Five Dynasties period, giving the area the name Stone Buddha Mountain. This statue, advocated for carving by Chen Hongjin of the Five Dynasties, stands 4.5 meters tall and 1.5 meters wide, seated cross-legged with an exposed chest on a lotus pedestal. Its drapery is smooth and symmetrical. It is the earliest stone sculpture in Quanzhou. A stone pavilion was built around the statue for protection. The entire structure is made of stone, featuring a flush-gable roof, with both width and depth consisting of a single bay, forming a square shape. The eastern peak is called Jiangxiang Peak or East Terrace because Jiang Gongfu, a demoted Tang Dynasty prime minister, took refuge in the mountain and was later buried here after his death. It is also nicknamed Qilin Mountain due to its resemblance to a qilin (a mythical creature). The northern peak connects the eastern and western peaks and is called Beitai. The three peaks encircle a valley known as Baiyun Valley. Within the valley, white clouds drift from the peaks, and a serene green pond lies quietly before flowing out through the gorge to the south, forming the scenic菩萨泉 (Bodhisattva Spring).

In February 1991, UNESCO conducted a comprehensive survey of the Maritime Silk Road in Quanzhou. Upon arriving at Jiuri Mountain, experts and scholars from various countries were full of praise for this historic site and left behind an inscribed stone recording their visit, adding further luster to the mountain’s collection of stone carvings.

Transportation: Special tourist shuttle buses are available from downtown Quanzhou. For those driving, take the route toward Sanming from downtown Quanzhou—the entrance is not very conspicuous.

Nearby Attractions: Zheng Chenggong’s Tomb, Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall, Fengshan Temple

Address: North of Xushan Primary School, Provincial Highway 307, Fengzhou Town, Nan’an City, Quanzhou

Type: Historical Site

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0595-86782155

Opening Hours:

8:30-17:00

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 25.0 RMB

Fengzhou Town: Fengzhou Town is located in the eastern part of Nan’an City, bordering downtown Quanzhou. It covers an area of 56 square kilometers, including 11,500 mu of arable land and 44,700 mu of forest, with a forest coverage rate of 53.2%. The area is rich in water resources. Its main mineral resource is granite, particularly “Longshi,” known for its fine, white texture and referred to as “Quanzhou White.” Since the third year of the Yong’an era of the Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period (260 AD), when it became the seat of the first-established Dong’an County in southern Fujian, Fengzhou has a history of over 1,700 years. Over the dynasties, it has been a place of cultural richness and has produced many notable figures. For example, during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Indian monk Gunabhadra once... Fengzhou Town detailed information++