Scenic Hills by the Mountains

Scenic Hills by the Mountains

Linshan is a beautifully scenic small hill. As early as the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, the poet Wang Erjian wrote in his "Miscellaneous Poems on Historical Sites": "Since ancient times, Linshan has encircled Lincheng; its verdant hues welcome and bid farewell. Most affectionate are the willows along the official road, which sprout anew even after being broken at the Henji Bridge." From this, we can see that in those days, Linshan was covered with lush grass, and rows of green willows lined the Henji Bridge. The poem’s annotation also provides an explanation of Lincheng: "Lincheng, spanning four li in circumference, lies to the west of Linshan. Since earlier dynasties, a post station was established here, with the Henji Bridge to the north" (excerpted from "Teng County Annals · Literary Records"). This places Linshan to the east of the original Lincheng. The "Teng County Annals · Literary Records" also includes a poem by Wang Texuan about his visit to Linshan, titled "Visiting Linshan with Hu Wenxue and Zhongcai":

One doesn’t sense the seclusion of Linshan upon arrival,

yet it unfolds into a realm of spiritual beauty.

The mountain ridges suddenly part wide, winding past Yushan Ridge.

Monkeys guide you across deep streams, with melon fields along rugged paths.

Venturing further, the valley grows deeper, with cool breezes brushing both sides.

Reaching the summit of the mountain, one is greeted with an inspiring view.

To the south, South Lake stands clear, vast and stretching for thousands of acres.

Among it, the official’s green conch shell and the serene hermitage of the immortal

are surrounded by distant and nearby villages, like an unfinished chessboard.

Laughing heartily, I bid farewell to the setting sun, my heroic spirit set free.

I regret leaving my new wife’s carriage behind, failing to cherish the green shadows.

We vow to tour together on a fine night, where bright moonlight outshines candlelight.

Yet I lament the ancient King of Lin, whose tomb grass droops in vain.

A lone stone moved from the mountain—stroking it clears all worldly dust.

From this, we can imagine the splendor of Linshan in those days: a winding path climbing over field ridges, mountain stream waters crystal clear, growing deeper the further you go, with refreshing breezes bringing a sense of leisure. From the mountaintop, one could gaze upon thousands of acres of the Weishan Lake, dotted with white sails and bustling boats; eagles soaring low, fish hiding in underwater caverns, fishermen standing at the bow casting golden nets onto the lake surface, lotus leaves floating, and blossoms swaying with the waves. The entire vista of Weishan Lake spread out before your eyes. Nearby villages encircle the hills like a scattered chessboard, accentuating the mountain’s verdant beauty. Though overgrown with wild grass, the ancient tomb of the King of Lin still exudes the spirit of the mountain. One can only imagine how spiritually rich and magnificently beautiful Linshan must have been back then. Today’s Linshan is no less splendid: majestic steles stand tall above the clouds, while the Shadow City’s pavilions and terraces wind around the hills, interspersed with several ancient tombs that add an air of mystery. In 1980, during the city’s cultural relics survey, it was recorded that the Linshan Ancient Tomb Cluster is located on the southeastern slope of Xuezhuang Village, Xingren Township, now within Linshan Park, covering an area of approximately 20,000 square meters. The currently exposed tombs are all stone coffin tombs, including single-chamber, double-chamber, and triple-chamber structures. The unearthed stone reliefs feature carvings of diamond patterns, cross-ringed designs, and hanging curtain motifs. In May 1991, due to the construction of a boiler room by the Zaozhuang Mining Bureau, the Zaozhuang Museum excavated the site, clearing 23 tombs, among which Tomb M8 is a rare Han Dynasty tomb with murals in southern Shandong. However, the north and east walls had been damaged, making the original murals unrecognizable. The west wall mural measures 2.90 meters in length and 2.30 meters in width, with a pillar painted on each side and in the center, each resting on stepped column bases, with rail beams atop the pillars and plinths below. The south wall is 3.00 meters long and 1.87 meters wide, with a pillar on each side—the western pillar resting on a stepped base, while the eastern one is partially damaged—with rail beams above. The mural depicts four parallel vertical pillars in the center, connected by a horizontal beam; the lower section shows pavilions and horses, with triangular-roofed pavilions topped with tile ridges and horn-like ornaments on either side, possibly representing mythical creatures. Below the pillars are stepped high platforms, with a horse painted to the right of the pavilion, its head slightly raised, body slightly plump, and tail hanging down. The east wall retains remnants of pillars and rail beams. The painting process involved applying a 2–3 cm thick layer of grass-mixed fine mud to the smooth tomb walls, leveling it, then brushing on the images with red cinnabar. The entire excavation took over a month, and the report details the unearthed artifacts, tomb structures, and dating. Due to space limitations, they are not all excerpted here—readers may refer to the "Brief Report on the Excavation of Han Tombs at Linshan, Zaozhuang, Shandong" for specifics. Through these two rescue excavations, we’ve learned that the numerous tombs scattered across Linshan date from the early Western Han to the late Eastern Han Dynasty, forming a comprehensive Han tomb complex of varying sizes and designs, including cave-style and mural tombs, which are unique to the region and represent the first discovery of such distinctive styles in southern Shandong. This tomb cluster provides invaluable material for studying Han Dynasty burial practices and can be considered a treasure trove of Han-era tombs.

Today’s Linshan boasts even more breathtaking scenery—a television transmission tower stands atop the peak, inspiring the sensation of breaking out of Xuecheng and reaching the world. When you climb to the summit and look out, though Weishan Lake may no longer be fully visible, the crisscrossing asphalt roads spread like a spiderweb toward the urban area, with vehicles bustling back and forth like ants transporting goods for the nation’s construction. Skyscrapers of varying heights rise around the mountain. Standing at the peak and looking northeast, the magnificent new Zaozhuang city emerges, nestled within embracing mountains. Gazing in all directions from the summit, to the west lies the Beijing-Shanghai Railway, with speeding trains like dragons in motion; to the east stretches the Beijing-Fuzhou Expressway, with cars darting to and fro. All in all, Linshan can truly be described as:

Majestic steles tower above the hills, while the Shadow City’s pavilions cling to the mountainside.

Even more delightful is Linshan’s layered greenery, revealing a renewed face from its former self.