Kuixing Rock

Kuixing Rock

Kuixing Rock is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Kuixing Rock, anciently known as Zhan Rock, was named to signify "the flourishing of literary brilliance" and "the prosperity of cultural fortune." It is located at the foot of Kuifeng Mountain, five kilometers southwest of Yongchun County. Kuixing is the deity in mythology who governs the rise and fall of literary prowess, and holds supreme reverence among scholars and students. It is one of only two temples in China dedicated to Kuixing. The Shangchang Fort at the foot of Kuixing Mountain (anciently Kuifeng), was the original site of Yongchun County established in the ninth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (589 AD). "Within, a thousand households gathered within forts; without, shops lined the streets for miles." Neighbors and villagers, common folk, loved and cared for one another as one big family. In those days, the place was bustling with life, with the sounds of chickens and dogs heard everywhere, and a society where no one picked up lost items. It was a prosperous and desirable residence longed for by the people of the ancient Peach Blossom Land.

The Kuixing Rock Temple was first built in the ninth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, rebuilt in the fourth year of the Qiandao era of the Southern Song Dynasty by the eminent monk Yuanjue, and after enduring many trials, has now been fully restored. The temple features a double-eaved, hanging-roof style of ancient imitation architecture, exuding stability, generosity, and extraordinary grandeur. Inside Kuixing Rock is enshrined the statue of the deity Kuixing. Legend has it that Kuixing was the celestial literary star who descended to earth, achieving the top imperial examination rank—the zhuangyuan—three times in a row. However, due to his extremely ugly appearance, he frightened the empress upon receiving the announcement and was thus not selected. In anger, Kuixing kicked over his book stand and then threw himself into the river. Admiring his talent, people built a statue of him as a deity, praying for the bestowal of wisdom upon the human world. According to records, there are only two temples in China that enshrine Kuixing: one is the Longmen Datian Pavilion Stone Hall in Kunming, Yunnan, and the other is Kuixing Rock in Shigu Town, Yongchun County. The temple also houses statues of deities such as Guanyin, the Tathagata, and the Sacred Qing Shui Ancestor, making it a unique site that encompasses Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

At Kuixing Rock, poetic beauty abounds at every turn. Scenic spots are everywhere, including: Ten Thousand Pines Nesting Cranes, Clouds Greeting at the Mountain’s Waist, Lush Forests Draping in Green, Courtyard Bathed in Autumn Moonlight, Plum Trees Forming an Immortal Bed, Misty Vines Along Bird Paths, Cliffside Poetry Platform, Bamboo Grove and Buddhist Spring, Battle Stone Exuding Spiritual Energy, Yin-side Ritual Traces, Winding Stream for Reflection, and Kongdong Cave Leading to the Mystic.

Shigu Town in Yongchun County has made the development of the Kuixing Rock Scenic Area a key focus in boosting tourism. Experts and scholars have been invited to scientifically plan the tourism zone. The development and construction of the Kuixing Rock Scenic Area have become increasingly refined, and this millennia-old historical site of the Peach Blossom Land will shine anew, becoming an ideal destination for leisure, exploration of antiquity, and cultural exchange.

Behind the main hall of Kuixing Rock lies a shrine dedicated to a local worthy, built in honor of Yan Tingju, a left historian from the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. Legend has it that Yan was exceptionally intelligent in his youth and studied diligently here. The couplet on the front pillars of the shrine was composed when he was five years old, in response to his teacher, and there are also tales of his “selling calligraphy to trade for oysters.” After completing his studies, Yan served as an upright official, excelling in poetry, prose, and calligraphy, and was deeply respected by the locals. Kuixing Rock has become a place where people revere knowledge and celebrate literary fortune. The cliff carvings are one of the great wonders of Kuixing Rock, carved along the natural lines of massive rocks. They serve as tangible evidence of Chinese sculptural art blending with foreign influences, as well as valuable material for studying fifth-century Chinese stone carving art, possessing high artistic and historical value.

Shigu Town: Located in the western suburbs of Yongchun County, Shigu Town in Yongchun has 13 administrative villages, covering a total area of 48.28 square kilometers with a population of over 34,000. Provincial highways Sanjiao Line and Highway 305 run through the town, offering convenient transportation and relatively superior geographical and natural conditions, making it one of Yongchun’s major hometowns for overseas Chinese.

In recent years, the Shigu Town Party Committee and government have acted based on the town’s realities, leveraging their strengths, and focusing closely on the goals of “revitalizing agriculture through science and education, enriching the town through industry, invigorating circulation, and promoting coordinated development.” They have intensified efforts to adjust the economic structure, fostering sustained, rapid, and healthy economic growth in the entire town... More detailed information about Shigu Town++