Mount Dawu

Mount Dawu is located at the northern corner of Fengbian Township, Xingguo County, near the border of Ji'an and Luling, with an elevation of 1,204 meters. From its northern side, the cityscape of Jizhou can be clearly seen. For those staying overnight on the mountain, watching the sunrise at four in the morning is a must—first, a faint red glow emerges, then it seems to leap and pause three times before finally rising. The highest point is Yuè Dēng Tiān Fāng (Moon Ascends to Heaven Terrace), where temples were built during the Tang Dynasty, including the Three Immortals Hall. Behind the hall are three stone caves, named Wind Cave, Rain Cave, and Water Spring Cave. These are unfathomably deep but have now been filled in with earth and stones. The main hall bears an inscription reading “Chóng Xī Bào Gōng” (Deeply Cherish and Repay Merit), written by Master Zou Nangao, though the hall itself is now in ruins. Above the main hall’s door lintel is a horizontal plaque inscribed with “Yǒng Zhèn Jiāng Nán” (Eternally Guard the South of the Yangtze), written by the Southern Song Dynasty’s literary statesman Wen Tianxiang; the inner mountain gate still displays a plaque inscribed with “Wū Shān Xiān Jìng” (Fairyland of Mount Wu) by Zou Zhongjie of the Yuan Dynasty. The outer mountain gate once had a plaque by Scholar Xie Jin reading “Jìn Bù Dēng Tiān” (Take Steps to Ascend to Heaven), but it has now collapsed. In 2001, the outer mountain gate was rebuilt. During the Cultural Revolution, the temples were almost completely burned down. Restoration and maintenance began in 1980, and caretakers have since been assigned. Over the past two decades, the number of visitors—especially overseas Chinese from nearby townships—has been steadily increasing. The historical relics and architecture of Mount Dawu reflect the heritage of Chinese culture.