Foyu Scenic Area

Foyu Scenic Area

Situated in the southeastern part of the central urban district, about 10 kilometers from downtown. The area features continuous mountain ridges, long and narrow valleys, lush vegetation, towering ancient trees, clear springs, and numerous Buddhist historical sites. It boasts excellent natural ecological resources and cultural landscapes. The area enjoys convenient transportation, with the city’s ring expressway passing through it, making it highly valuable for tourism development. It is an ideal destination for travel, leisure, vacation, and conference reception. Foyu Scenic Area is located on the southern side of the Longdong Mountain scenic area. Surrounded by mountains with overlapping peaks, it features dense forests, blooming wildflowers, murmuring springs, and ancient temples hidden within a serene and picturesque environment. Following a shaded forest path and crossing a small stream, you’ll walk about 1 kilometer to reach a spacious circular valley, commonly known as “Luoquan Valley,” which is considered the best part of Foyu Scenic Area.

On the rocky cliffs halfway up the southern side of “Nanlingtai Mountain” in the northwest, there is an ancient temple named “Bannuo Temple.” According to a stele from the Ming Dynasty's Chenghua era, the temple was established during the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, dating back over 1,400 years. The temple is enclosed by walls, forming a quiet courtyard. On the southern side of the path, there is a four-pillar, three-story wooden structure with a colorful archway inscribed with “Foyu Shengjing” (Foyu’s Scenic Paradise). Passing through the wooden archway and following the stone path leads to the mountain gate. To the east is a side room, nestled beneath a cliff, while to the west is a corridor perched precariously on a steep cliff. Below the corridor flows a clear stream in a deep ravine. Leaning on the railing and looking south, you can see towering peaks, sheer cliffs, and walls covered with green vines, wildflowers, and fragrant grasses. To the north of the corridor, a stone cliff juts out horizontally like an overhanging roof. Beneath the cliff was originally a Buddhist hall, often shrouded in light mist.

On the western stone wall of the Buddhist hall, moss grows vibrantly green, and from the crevices, spring water trickles down like jade beads, slowly sliding into a small white stone pool, forming a pool of clear water called “Luhua Spring.” Also known as “Ruxiao Spring” due to its milky, sweet fragrance resembling milk. In the past, monks used this water to brew tea. Near the spring, inscriptions on the rock wall read “Liudian Quanchu” (Kitchen of the Six Halls). Above the fine stream, cliffs hang dramatically, with several Buddha statues carved into them, most dating from the seventh year of the Sui Dynasty's Kaihuang era (587 AD) to the second year of the Tang Dynasty's Qianyuan era (759 AD). There is also the “Dagangji Hui Stele” of the Tang Dynasty, carved in the second year of the Kaicheng era (837 AD), commemorating the Venerable Dade by the monks and followers of the temple. Other carvings include the “Stone Maitreya Statue Inscription.” The cliffs also bear large-character inscriptions from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as “Linhe Youmei” (The Forest and Valley Are Especially Beautiful), “Yana Xianjing” (Fairyland in the Cliff), “Bieyou Dongtian” (A World Apart), and “Hanling Guan Zhen” (The True Abode of Spirit). Thanks to the steep and treacherous cliffs, these Buddha statues have been spared from damage and remain intact, with the inscriptions still clearly legible. To the west of the temple, the cliffs rise thousands of feet, adorned with hanging stalactites, stone flowers, and stone curtains, creating a spectacular sight.

To the east of the temple stands a solitary peak of precarious rocks. The summit forms a flat platform, which legend says was once visited by Yu the Great during his efforts to control the floods, hence the name “Yuwang Platform,” commonly known as “Fishing Platform.” There is a pavilion on the platform, surrounded by verdant cliffs, named “Huancai Pavilion,” also called “Tingpu Pavilion” (Waterfall-Listening Pavilion). To the south, under the dense shade, the “Guanyin Hall” can be faintly seen. Standing in the pavilion, with refreshing breezes and lush greenery all around, one feels a sense of peace and joy. To the east of Huancai Pavilion, on the rock wall, there is a famous spring called “Linji Spring.” About 60 meters to its north, a steep cliff rises where mountain spring water plunges down from the top, forming a waterfall with both large and small streams, spraying like pearls and flying like silk ribbons. The water falls into a crystal-clear pool at the foot of the cliff, then overflows and meanders through the winding valley. When the mountain wind blows, the sounds of the forest and the rushing water blend together, creating a roaring noise like a tsunami.

Matiyu (Horse Hoof Valley), located in the northeastern part of the Longdong scenic area, features gently rolling terrain and vast open spaces, rich in diverse and abundant plant life. It is characterized by “lush forests and a tranquil environment.” The area includes attractions such as Baiyun Nunnery, Secluded Forest, and Baiyun Cave.

Transportation Guide – Scenic Area Address: Southeastern part of the central urban district of Jinan, about 10 kilometers from downtown

Getting There: Take a taxi from downtown Jinan directly to the scenic area