Longmen Mountain in Sishui

Longmen Mountain in Sishui

Longmen Mountain in Sishui is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

Longmen Mountain is located 16 kilometers northwest of Sishui County, at the border between Sishui and Ningyang counties. Its main peak, Keloubu, stands at an elevation of 576.6 meters, making it the second highest mountain in Sishui. The mountain features undulating peaks, steep cliffs, lush pines and cypresses, and murmuring streams, and is a historic scenic site.

Lingguang Temple is located on the southern foothills of Longmen Mountain. It was first built during the Han Dynasty and was renovated in the second year of the Huangtong era of the Jin Dynasty (1142 AD). Legend has it that on the fifth day of the tenth lunar month one year, the patriarch Damo Shenguang arrived here, and divine light appeared, hence the name “Lingguang Temple” (Temple of Divine Light). It is said that the temple was designed according to the Eight Trigrams of the I Ching, backed by Longmen Mountain to the north, facing Chilong Pool to the south, with Xiuling Terrace to the east connecting to the Queen Mother’s Immortal Mountain, and Bai Long Panxuan Phoenix Mountain to the west. Atop Lingguang Temple are the Beamless Treasure Hall and the Guanyin Hall, as well as two stupas: the Jueling Pagoda for the remains of enlightened monks and the Putong Pagoda. In the middle are the Mahavira Hall, Sangharama Hall, and Patriarch Hall, with the Heavenly King Hall in front, all aligned along a central axis with the mountain gate. On the east and west sides of the Heavenly King Hall are the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, respectively. Additionally, there are over a hundred rooms including a guest hall, incense room, corridors and quiet chambers, meditation woods, scripture hall, abbot’s quarters, and kitchen storage shrine. The temple once housed over a hundred monks. The abbot, four leading monks, and eight administrators managed temple affairs. Most of the temple has been destroyed, leaving only the Guanyin Hall. Three Ming Dynasty steles, one Qing Dynasty stele, two fragmented steles, and several Ming Dynasty epitaphs remain.

Longmen Spirit Mist is one of the Ten Scenic Spots of Sishui. It is located 10 kilometers north of Sishui County, on Longmen Mountain in Zhongce Town. The mountain has two peaks standing side by side, stretching across the sky like a stone gate. In summer, auspicious clouds gather, resembling mist rising from a dragon’s mouth. Ancient people named it "Longmen Spirit Mist" because clouds passing through the gate were believed to bring rain. The Ming Dynasty poet Zhang Zuo wrote in his poem “Sishi Ten Scenic Spots: Longmen Spirit Mist”: “Twin peaks in the northwest pierce the Sishui shore, / Billowing clouds resemble a dragon’s ford. / Sweet rain brings relief to the drought-stricken, / Reviving all things before spring arrives.” Inside Longmen Mountain are natural attractions such as Chilong Pool, General Stone, Chicken Crown Mountain, Story Well, and Future Fragrance. The southern foothills of Longmen Mountain once hosted Lingguang Temple, first built during the Han Dynasty and renovated in the second year of the Huangtong era of the Jin Dynasty (1142 AD), with over a hundred monks in residence. Unfortunately, most of the temple has been destroyed, leaving only the Guanyin Hall. In recent years, Longmen Mountain has undergone preliminary development, with the construction of an access road, lodgings, and terraced dams that form a series of reservoirs, greatly enhancing the mountain’s charm. Over 300 acres of economic and scenic trees have been planted, making it one of the best scenic areas in the Sishui mountain region where natural beauty meets agrotourism.

The Tomb of Prince Zouping is located on the sunny side of Longmen Mountain, west of Lingguang Temple. Historical records and inscriptions state that Prince Zouping Jing, Taicheng, was the great-grandson of Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang. Other princes buried here include Prince Zouping Zhuangding, Prince Zouping Rongan, Prince Zouping Gongjing, and Prince Zouping Kangshun—representing the fourth to ninth generations of descendants of Zhu Yuanzhang. With seven princes buried here, it is commonly known as the Tomb of the Seven Princes. The small village to the south of the tomb is thus named Wangfen (Prince’s Tomb), now renamed Longmen Mountain Villa.

The Tomb of the General is the tomb of a Ming Dynasty Auxiliary State General, located at the foot of Huilong Mountain north of Wangfen Village. It was discovered on February 20, 1993. The tomb is the joint burial site of Guancheng, the seventh-generation descendant of Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, and his second-rank wife, Lady Zhang. Valuable relics unearthed from the tomb include gold jewelry, agate and jade artifacts, an ancient Seven-Star Sword, a hexagonal porcelain pot, and the tomb epitaph.

The Ancient Apricot of Yun Gong is said to have been planted during the third year of the Tianshun era (1330 AD). Elder Yun Gong brought gold to Lingguang Temple from the Wan Shou Jie Tan in Beijing and constructed two halls and corridors. To the northeast of the Guanyin Hall, he planted seven apricot pits, from which two apricot trees grew.

These trees have survived to this day. The apricots from these trees are not only exceptionally delicious but are also said to have healing and health-strengthening properties.

In addition, the mountain also features natural wonders such as Chilong Pool, General Stone, Chicken Crown Mountain, Story Well, and Future Fragrance.