Grotto Statues of Phoenix Mountain

Grotto Statues of Phoenix Mountain

The grotto statues on Phoenix Mountain are a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Tang Dynasty statues on Phoenix Mountain were carved in the early years of the Kaiyuan era during the Tang Dynasty, funded collectively by local villagers who practiced Buddhism. The stone Buddha sits facing from the northeast to the southwest. Its body is badly damaged and unrecognizable, but the head is relatively well preserved — round-faced with delicate eyebrows, a high nose, and ears that reach the shoulders. The lines are smooth, and the carving is exquisite, reflecting the style of Tang Dynasty statuary. This Buddha statue stands 4.2 meters tall and is a treasured piece of stone carving art from the peak of the Tang Dynasty. In 1985, it was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit of Jining City; in 2006, it was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

Source: Zoucheng Government Website

Zhangzhuang Town: "Zhangzhuang Town is located in the eastern part of Zoucheng City, Shandong Province — the hometown of Mencius and a cradle of Confucian and Mencian culture. It administers 9 management areas, 74 administrative villages, and has a population of 68,000. The town stretches 20 kilometers from east to west and 17.5 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 180 square kilometers with 78,000 mu of arable land. The town center is 150 kilometers from Rizhao Port, 26 kilometers from downtown Zoucheng, and 15 kilometers from the Beijing-Fuzhou Expressway. Provincial Highway Lanji runs east-west through the town, while Yaowang Road runs north-south, with the two intersecting here. The town is situated in a mountainous and hilly area, with peaks exceeding 400 meters in elevation... More details about Zhangzhuang Town++"

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units

· First Batch of Municipal Cultural Relic Protection Units in Jining City