Yuncai Mountain

Yuncai Mountain

Yuncai Mountain

Yuncai Mountain is located 2 kilometers south of Hongfanchi Town, stretching 5 kilometers from north to south, with an elevation of 474.9 meters. It is part of the western range of Mount Tai. The mountain rises abruptly, covered with lush forests and emerald cypresses, with clear springs flowing from caves and winding paths leading to serene spots, boasting exceptionally beautiful natural scenery. The mountain is home to numerous historical sites and scenic spots, mainly including Tianzhu Peak, Ziling Stockade, Nantian Temple, Penglai Pavilion, Sun-Moon Spring, Ink Pool Spring, and cliff inscriptions. Among them, Nantian Temple was built in the fourth year of the Zhi Da era of the Yuan Dynasty (1311), and was renovated during the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty. Qiu Chuji, the founder of the Quanzhen School of Taoism, once resided here. It was renowned as one of the four great temples in China, alongside Beijing’s Baiyunguan, Jinan’s Changchunguan, and Zoucheng’s Yishan Changqinguan. One of Jinan’s Seventy-Two Famous Springs, the “Sun-Moon Spring,” is located inside the Huoyang Cave at the southern end of Penglai Immortal Court in Nantian Temple on Yuncai Mountain. The Sun Spring is to the south, and the Moon Spring to the north; the two springs are adjacent but not connected. They are named for the sun- and moon-like shapes of their rocky openings. The springs are about 1 meter deep, cool and sweet, and do not dry up even in severe drought.

In the past, there was a stone-paved winding path leading to Nantian Temple on Yuncai Mountain. In the spring of 2000, the Hongfanchi Town government invested over 1 million yuan to build a 1,700-meter-long mountain-looping road that leads directly to Nantian Temple.

Nantian Temple is situated on a ring-shaped mountainside on the northern side of Yuncai Mountain. It was named after Qiu Chuji (also known as Changchun), the founder of the Quanzhen School of Taoism, who once stayed here, and his disciples built the temple, naming it Nantian Temple. At the time, it was one of the four nationally famous temples (Beijing’s Baiyunguan, Jinan’s Changchunguan, Zoucheng’s Yishan Changqinguan, and Hongfan’s Nantian Temple). The temple was established in the fourth year of the Zhi Da era of the Yuan Dynasty (1311) and was renovated during the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty. Its main structures include the Jade Emperor Pavilion, Penglai Immortal Court, Pingxu Pavilion, Changchun Pavilion, Zhenwu Temple, Sanzhen Temple, theater stage, and viewing stands.

The Nantian Temple architectural complex covers an area of about 3,600 square meters, with its main buildings divided into four courtyards arranged in a “field” pattern. The western section features the Jade Emperor Pavilion, Penglai Immortal Court, and Changchun Pavilion facing each other from north to south. The eastern section has the Sanzhen Temple and Zhenwu Temple connected front to back. The Jade Emperor Pavilion faces north and is three bays wide from east to west, with arched gates and square windows. Inside stands a statue of the Jade Emperor. Ten meters north of the Jade Emperor Pavilion is the Penglai Immortal Court. The main building in the courtyard is the two-story Changchun Pavilion, which faces south. The lower level of the pavilion has a door in the center of both the southern and northern sides—one leading to the Penglai Immortal Court to the south, and the other to the theater stage and viewing stands to the north.

The Jade Emperor Pavilion and Penglai Immortal Court face each other from north to south, with the southern courtyard being about 3 meters higher than the northern one. This section of the stone cliff is entirely built with block stones. In the middle of this stone cliff is an arched stone cave, known as the Laifu Spring Huoyang Cave, also called the Changchun Cave. The cave faces north, and in the central southern half of the cave are two spring pools—the Sun-Moon Springs. The Moon Spring is to the south, and the Sun Spring to the north; the two are adjacent but not connected. The Moon Spring is covered with a crescent-shaped hollow stone slab, while the Sun Spring is covered with a stone slab with a round hole in the center—hence their names.

The Sanzhen Temple and Zhenwu Temple on the eastern side are roughly similar in size to those on the western side.

Within the courtyards of Nantian Temple, there are over 10 stone steles erected during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, most of which document the scenery of Yuncai Mountain and the rise and fall of Nantian Temple. One inscription reads: “The forests and valleys of Yuncai Mountain are beautiful, appearing emerald from afar, with verdant trees casting deep shade, jagged cliffs standing in rows, and steep ridges encircling and winding around.” On the western side of the temple stands a stele from the fourth year of the Zhi Yuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1267), inscribed with “Nantian Temple of Yuncai Mountain.” The stele is 2.4 meters tall and 1.2 meters wide, with a turtle base and dragon head. It was written by Li Qian, the imperial edict director of the Hanlin Academy, and features exquisite calligraphy and carving. On the eastern side is a stele from the 21st year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1593), inscribed with “Record of the Construction of the Jade Emperor Pavilion at Tianzhu Temple of Yuncai Mountain.” The stele is 2.4 meters tall and 1 meter wide, with a turtle base and dragon head. It was written by Yu Shenxing, with the title engraved by Meng Yimai and the text inscribed by Qiao Xueshi. Since all three were fellow Jinshi (successful imperial examination candidates) of the same dynasty, it is also called the “Three Jinshi Stele.”

Exiting Nantian Temple and walking about 1 kilometer south through the dense forest, through the shade of the trees, you will see Tianzhu Peak standing solemnly to welcome you. To the north of Tianzhu Peak is Bijia Peak. The so-called Bijia Peak consists of three vertical stone walls of varying heights, resembling a brush rest, hence the name.

Tianzhu Peak is the highest point on Yuncai Mountain, with an elevation of 474.9 meters. At the summit stands a steep cliff, over 500 meters long and 30 meters high, with sheer, precipitous rock faces—truly “carved into a square, standing thousands of feet high.” It is also called “Seal Peak” because of its square shape resembling a seal. Locals, seeing its resemblance to an oil bamboo basket used in folk life, also call it “Oil Basket Stockade.” Yu Shenxing, the Grand Secretary of the Dongge Cabinet in the Ming Dynasty, named it “Tianzhu Peak,” meaning a pillar holding up the sky. From a distance, it looks like a towering stone pillar standing upright amidst the vast sea of clouds. On the cliff face to the north of the peak, you can see the three large characters “Tianzhu Peak” inscribed by Yu Shenxing, each one meter square, bold and unrestrained. Yu Shenxing praised the peak: “Climbing vines straight to the verdant peak, a solitary, steep peak hangs in the sky. A sign hangs where six dragons turn the white sun, its presence a single pillar leaning against the blue sky. Clouds drip morning rain on the vermilion terrace, birds fly over the purple pavilion in sunny paths. The peaks of Mount Tai are like ten thousand horses, and the clouds drifting from the west are all connected.”

There is only one way up and down Tianzhu Peak. This passage is a natural rock fissure located on the western side of the peak, with stone steps carved into both sides for climbing. The lower part of the fissure is exposed, and after ascending about 10 meters, you enter the interior, which resembles a vertical shaft. Climbing out of the shaft feels like seeing the sky again, and your field of vision suddenly opens up. The summit is a narrow ridge stretching from north to south, about 10 meters wide from east to west and about 100 meters long from north to south. The summit features smooth, flat square stones, oddly stacked rocks forming a varied stone city, and simple stone huts. Standing at the peak and looking into the distance: the Yellow River is like a belt, and the lake (Dongping Lake) is like a mirror. Nearby, the peaks of Dazhai Mountain and Ziling Stockade undulate and connect. The green trees cover the mountains in rich hues, the lush fields ripple like ocean waves, and the terraced fields are picturesque.

On the western side of the massive rock of Tianzhu Peak, Northern and Southern Dynasties-era cliff inscriptions of the four large characters “Da Kong Wang Fo” (Great Empty King Buddha) and other smaller characters have been discovered. Fifteen hundred meters south of Tianzhu Peak lies Ziling Stockade. “Ziling” refers to Yan Ziling of the Eastern Han Dynasty. According to the Cihai (Sea of Words) encyclopedia, “Yan Guang, styled Ziling, was a native of Yuyao in Kuaiji. In his youth, he studied together with Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu. After Liu Xiu became emperor, Yan changed his name and went into seclusion. Liu Xiu sent people to search for him, summoned him to the capital, and appointed him as a Gentleman-in-Attendance. He declined the position and retired.” Legend has it that Yan Ziling lived in seclusion at the southern end of Yuncai Mountain, hence the name Ziling Stockade. Ziling Stockade is 16 meters higher than the surrounding hills, with only a southeastern gate as the access point. The top of the stockade covers nearly 10,000 square meters. The summit features many attractions, including the Mountain God Temple, Goddess Temple, and many ancient stone houses that resemble small villas, exuding a quaint and elegant charm. It is said that Yan Ziling was buried here, and his tomb lies within Ziling Stockade. On the western side of Ziling Stockade, a protruding cliff strikingly resembles an elderly man with distinct facial features and a full beard.

Hongfanchi Town: " Hongfanchi Town is located at the southwestern tip of Pingyin County and is named after the historically famous Hongfan Pool spring located in the town center. It covers an area of 115 square kilometers, with 2,096 hectares of arable land, and governs 34 administrative villages. There are 8,263 households and a population of 28,016, with a birth rate of 8.29‰ and a natural growth rate of 5.43‰.

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The gross domestic product is 255.9 million yuan, an increase of 10.6% over the previous year, with the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries accounting for 98.22 million yuan, 104.13 million yuan, and 53.55 million yuan respectively, showing year-on-year increases... Detailed information on Hongfanchi Town++