Wudi Jieshi Mountain

Wudi Jieshi Mountain

Wudi Jieshi Mountain is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural relic protection unit of Wudi County.

Jieshi Mountain, also known as Wudi Mountain, Yanshan Mountain, Magu Mountain, or simply Da Shan (Big Mountain), stands at an elevation of 63.4 meters and covers an area of 0.39 square kilometers. It is a conical composite volcanic mound formed by an eruption 730,000 years ago, making it the youngest volcano in China and the only exposed one on the North China Plain. It is hailed as the "Foremost Mountain South of Beijing." In March 1999, it was designated as a provincial geological heritage nature reserve.

Historical & Cultural Background: In ancient times, the area was near rivers and the sea. During the reign of Emperor Yao, it was called Jieshi Mountain; in the Spring and Autumn Period, it was known as Wudi Mountain; during the Wei and Jin dynasties, it was called Yanshan Mountain; and in the early Tang Dynasty, it was referred to as Magu Mountain. Legend has it that a dragon horse emerged from a cave here, hence the name. The "Morning Clouds over Magu" is listed as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Wudi. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was commonly known as Da Shan (Big Mountain). In ancient times, the mountain hosted temples such as the Temple of the Goddess Bixia, the Wenchang Pavilion, the Lüzu Temple, the Guan Di Temple, the Salt God Temple, the Temple of Heaven, the Hall of the Goddess, the Kuixing Pavilion, the Erlang Temple, the Yama Hall, and the Qingliang Nunnery. At the foot of the mountain was the Guanyin Hall. These shrines enshrined deities such as the Jade Emperor and Guan Yu, as well as statues of figures like the Mad Monk, Wang Lingguan, and Zhao Lingguan. The resident monk Xinyi of Qingliang Nunnery passed away in 1950. Emperors such as Yu the Great, Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Cao Cao of the Wei Dynasty, and Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei (Tuoba Jun) left behind relics and literary works here during their visits for flood control or imperial tours. Local literati such as Liu Changqing, Lu You, and Yang Wei, the Grand Tutor of the Ming Dynasty, visited the mountain and composed numerous poems and essays, which have been passed down through generations.

In ancient times, Jieshi Mountain hosted grand religious festivals. Twice a year in April—on the 17th (a smaller fair) and the 27th (a larger fair)—devotees would gather when temple activities were at their peak. Especially on the 17th, a major temple fair focused on incense offerings. On this day, worshippers from a hundred-mile radius would come to pray, burn incense and paper, and seek blessings for longevity, career success, prosperity, and protection from illness and disaster. The 27th marked the larger fair, which also coincided with preparations for wheat harvest, drawing many farmers looking to purchase farming tools, thus attracting even larger crowds.

Volcanic Relics: Scientific research shows that Jieshi Mountain formed 730,000 years ago during the Pleistocene epoch of the Cenozoic era's Quaternary period. It is a conical composite volcanic mound created by a central vent eruption. It is the youngest such formation among rare Quaternary volcanoes in China and the only exposed one on the North China Plain. Composed of volcanic bombs, ash, lapilli, and lava, it holds irreplaceable geological significance and unique humanistic and geographical value, and is protected as a provincial geological heritage nature reserve.

Living Fossil of the Ancient Yellow River Course: Located along the ancient path of the Yellow River and within the historic domain of the Nine Rivers, Jieshi Mountain sits at the point where Yu the Great dredged the river to the sea. It is truly a "fossil" of the old Yellow River course. Over thousands of years, it has preserved and absorbed the rich cultural legacy of the ancient Yellow River region.

The Jieshi Mountain Tourist Area features an entrance gate, the Temple of the Goddess Bixia, a group sculpture of Cao Cao composing poetry while wielding a spear, and the Sea-Viewing Pavilion. Scenic spots developed include the Blessed Grottoes, the Dragon Horse Cave, as well as volcanic formations like stone forests and stone waterfalls. There is also a monument inscribed with a dedication by Professor An Zuozhang, and ancient stone carvings such as the Wordless Stele (Jieshi Gate Inscription) and the "Record of the Reconstruction of Magu Mountain Temple." A drinking horse lake reservoir has also been excavated.