Guangyang Mountain

Guangyang Mountain

Guangyang Mountain is located north of Dukou Village, 30 kilometers west of Shahe City. Its main peak stands at an elevation of 718 meters and is a renowned sacred site of Taoism in northern China.

Taihang Aqueduct: This aqueduct spans 101 meters, has a total length of 220 meters, and is 53 meters high. It is a mortar-built single-arch aqueduct, with the main arch being a hollow, variable-section catenary hingeless arch. There are 17 small arches, each with a single span of 6 meters. The canal wall is 2.3 meters high and 1 meter thick, with a water depth of 2 meters and a width of 2.4 meters. Construction began in November 1973 and was completed in May 1976. The aqueduct resembles a rainbow soaring across the mountaintops, and the 8,900 curved stones on the main arch each weigh 1.2 tons. Originally the widest single-span mortar stone arch bridge in China, it is now the widest in North China. With its breathtaking presence, it showcases the wisdom and strength of the people of Shahe.

Distant View of Guangyang Mountain: This mountain lies to the north among the hills. Sunlight can be seen on its eastern, southern, and western sides within a single day, hence the name Guangyang, meaning “broad sunlight.” The main peak of Guangyang Mountain stands 718 meters above sea level. Among the lush trees and scenic rocks, there are many beautiful myths and legends.

Mountain Spring Water: Legend has it that in ancient times, there was an Old Master’s Spring with a constant temperature year-round. Bathing in its waters could cure all illnesses. However, one disrespectful remark made by a young man angered the Old Master, who then moved the spring behind the mountain—this is now today’s Yingxue Lake Hot Springs.

Sanjiao Temple: During the Yuan Dynasty, there was a nunnery here that was expanded into the Sanjiao Temple during the Ming Dynasty. The temple houses Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, reflecting the inclusiveness of the Chinese people toward religion. It maintained its grand halls and flourishing incense offerings throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Small Stone Bridge: Locally called Tongtian Bridge (Bridge to Heaven). The handprints on the rock behind the bridge are said to have been left by the Old Master when he carried water and gripped the rocks.

Laojun Cave: The cave where Laozi is said to have meditated. Ancient county records refer to it as Laojun Cave or Sage’s Chamber. Laozi, whose surname was Li and given name Er (also known as Lao Dan), was a renowned philosopher and thinker of the Spring and Autumn Period and the founder of Taoism. In classical literature, he is depicted as the immortal Taishang Laojun beside the Jade Emperor, who created the elixir of immortality. The blue ox beside him, missing one horn, is said to have had it broken by the Old Master after it ate crops from Balimiao Village while he was herding.

Laojun Terrace: In front of the cave lies a flat area called Laojun Terrace, where there used to be a stone millstone and roller, said to have been used by the Old Master. Here, the scenery is serene and delightful. Xiao Pan, the magistrate of Shahe during the Ming Dynasty, visited this place and was so enchanted that he wrote a poem: “Ten thousand cliffs rise high as autumn stands still; mountain sounds and water hues flow at will. Why forsake the mortal world’s affairs? Barefoot I ride the ox and roam the cave at will.”

Hat Cave: Though the cave entrance is small, it opens into a remarkable interior. Its ceiling is shaped like a straw hat, and the walls spiral inward. When visitors turn their bodies inside, the walls seem to move as well, creating a sensation of floating and drifting toward immortality.

Cliff Inscriptions: On the stone walls are spontaneous poems and writings left by literati and poets through the ages. The stone tablet inscribed with “Lao Dan’s Cultivation Site” was written by Qiao Yu, a famous Chinese lyricist. He lived in Dukou Village on multiple occasions and composed lyrics for works such as Liu Sanjie, Red Children, and the theme song of Battle on Shangganling while residing here.

Distant View of Guangyang Mountain: “A mountain need not be high to be famous if it is home to an immortal.” Local sayings describe it as: “Fronted by crossing waters, backed by hot springs, with the Arhat Cave to the left and Qiquan Temple to the right,” “Clouds veil the cave mouth, mist locks the mystic gate, plants bloom ahead of spring, woodcutters’ songs and herders’ dances bring joy to travelers, lifting their spirits and making them forget fame or shame—it is truly a sacred land.” Throughout history, countless visitors have come here, including Yin Xi, who followed Laozi to live in Yenjiabao at the mountain’s summit, and Shen Hangguang, one of the Four Talents of South Jizhou in the early Qing Dynasty, who retreated here for many years. In the 1960s, the China Opera and Dance Drama Theater used the village as a base for immersive life experiences. Today, Guangyang Mountain continues to receive widespread praise from visitors. After thorough research, the China Laozi Research Association concluded that this is the very mountain where Laozi went after writing the Dao De Jing at Hangu Pass, solving a millennia-old mystery.