Taishan Longevity Bridge

Taishan Longevity Bridge

The Longevity Bridge is located above the Black Dragon Pool on Mount Tai in Tai’an City, Shandong Province. It resembles a bold eyebrow sprouting from the pool, seemingly exchanging glances with visitors; or like a rainbow leaping from the mountain stream, adding charm to the pool. The bridge is painted a bright vermilion red, creating a delightful contrast with the verdant mountains on both banks. As you walk across, you can overlook the breathtaking scenery of the Black Dragon Pool and gaze at the expansive beauty of West Valley — truly a feast for the eyes. This is the eye-catching Longevity Bridge.

The Longevity Bridge was built in 1924 during the time when Zhang Zongchang was the military governor of Shandong, by Zhang Peirong, the garrison commander of Yanzhou. However, it was not built for the convenience of the common people.

It is said that Zhang Peirong was notoriously henpecked. Though he was domineering in front of his soldiers, he was obedient and submissive to his wife, treating her words as divine edicts or military orders. With such a wealthy and powerful husband under her control, Mrs. Zhang indulged in extravagance and pleasure. One day, hearing that Mount Tai had breathtaking scenery and that many went there to “become immortals,” she was struck by a whim and wanted to cultivate herself to attain enlightenment and become a Buddha instantly. So, she asked her husband to acquire land on Mount Tai to build a temple.

Zhang Peirong “followed the decree” and came to Mount Tai. He found the area near the Black Dragon Pool surrounded by green mountains, shaded by lush trees, with graceful bamboo and towering ginkgo trees. A clear stream ran along the path, casting ever-changing shadows as one walked. Above were the majestic peaks of Aolai and Furong rising from the earth to the sky, and below were the serene beauty of the Black Dragon Pool waterfall and the murmuring streams. It was truly an exceptional and splendid spot — the perfect place for cultivation and immortality. Thus, he decided to build a temple here, honoring his wife as the “Wuji Real Person,” and named the temple “Wuji Temple.”

After the completion of Wuji Temple, Mrs. Zhang donned Buddhist robes and sat solemnly on a lotus throne. Zhang Peirong led local officials, gentry from various counties, and nearby villagers to bow and worship the “Wuji Real Person,” while printed copies of the Wuji Scripture were distributed across counties, with the first page featuring the divine image of the Real Person in Taoist attire. Zhang Peirong, revering his wife as a celestial goddess, felt unworthy in comparison and erected a stone tablet in his own honor outside the temple gates.

The temple was located west of the stream, so going up and down the mountain required crossing the river and wading through the stream, which was very inconvenient. So, Zhang Peirong built a long bridge on Baizhang Cliff. To please his wife and help her achieve immortality and eternal youth, he named the bridge the “Longevity Bridge.”

As for the Wuji Real Person, sitting on the lotus throne was novel for the first ten days or so, but over time, even the lotus throne became uncomfortable to sit on. Unable to endure the ascetic life of the temple, she quietly “retired” without a word.