Linggu Peak

Linggu Peak

Linggu Peak is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Linchuan Linggu Peak, also known as Linggu Mountain, is located in the southeastern suburbs of Linchuan District, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province. It is about 30 li (approximately 15 kilometers) from the city center and has an elevation of over 300 meters. Legend has it that Xie Lingyun, a renowned poet of the Eastern Jin Dynasty who once governed Linchuan, resigned from office and built a Taoist temple on Linggu Peak to live in seclusion. As a result, various reconstructed sites along the mountain path, such as Doumu Palace, Zhuyun Pavilion, Chessboard Stone, and Ancient Ox Stone, are all Taoist-themed landscapes associated with Xie. However, the newly built structures on Linggu Peak today are Buddhist temples dedicated to Guanyin, which is quite a unique phenomenon. The Linggu Peak Temple in Linchuan is a “Three Teachings in One” shrine. Its main hall is divided into three sections: the front hall represents “Taoism” to uphold tradition; the middle corridor embodies “Confucianism” to promote Confucian culture; and the rear hall enshrines “Buddhism” to spread Buddhist teachings.

According to the "Comprehensive Dictionary of Taoism," Linggu Mountain is a famous Taoist mountain. It is located thirty li from the county seat of Linchuan in Jiangxi. On the eastern peak stands the Ancient Ox Stone, to the south is the Liquor-Filtering Spring, to the west are the Stone Gate Pass, the Retreat-the-Mind Stone, and the Waterfall Spring, and to the north it connects with Wen印 Peak. Halfway up the mountain, there are two wells—one in the south and one in the north—whose waters are clear and inexhaustible. Beside the wells stand Zhuyun Pavilion and Chessboard Stone, where spiritual cranes often gather. The second peak to the southwest is the site of Xie Lingyun’s Ink-Washing Pool. The Xun River meanders in front of the mountain, while to the west are Dragon-Tiger Lake and peaks such as Pipa and Yunlin, along with other mountains like Balin, Huagai, Furong, Junshan, Magu, and Yangjiao, all encircling and supporting each other in a majestic and spectacular formation. Throughout history, hermits often dwelled here, leaving behind many scenic spots and the Hidden Truth Taoist Temple (refer to Volume 3 of "Xianquan Collection," "Record of the Hidden Truth Taoist Temple on Linggu Mountain").

Linggu Peak in Linchuan has an elevation of 320.6 meters and covers an area of about 6 square kilometers. The "Records of the Universe" states: “There is a spiritually shaped stone on the mountain, hence the name.” The main peak of Linggu Peak in Linchuan is connected to the Book Town of Jinxi to the east, borders the vast and flowing Ru River to the south, and adjoins the undulating mountains of Dongxiang to the north. It stands majestically amidst the plains and is nestled beside emerald waters, making it exceptionally picturesque. The peaks of Linggu are clustered together like a barrier, with numerous cool springs and peculiar rocks scattered throughout the mountains. Renowned for its steep terrain and beautiful scenery, it has gained fame across the nation. Xu Yingying once praised: “The beauty of Linggu surpasses all in the southeast.” In the preface he wrote for his third uncle Wu Fan’s "Linggu Poetry Collection," Wang Anshi said: “In the southeast of our state lies Linggu, a famous mountain in the south of the Yangtze River. The divine presence of dragons and snakes, the patterns of tigers and leopards, the fine timber of nanmu, yuzhang, and bamboo—all refer to Linggu Peak in Linchuan. As for the mysterious forests, ghost tombs, lairs of demons, and the dwellings of immortals, monks, and wondrous spectacles, they all find their place here. The serene and pure energy, vast and profound, accumulates between heaven and earth—something unattainable by all things but bestowed upon people…” He was indeed describing Linggu Peak in Linchuan.

Scenic Spot Location

Hunan Township, Linchuan District, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province