Zibo Ma'anshan Scenic Area

Zibo Ma'anshan Scenic Area

Zibo Ma'anshan Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

The Ma'anshan Scenic Area is located in Taihe Town. The mountain gets its name from its saddle-like shape, with the main peak standing at an elevation of 618 meters and covering a total area of 25.6 square kilometers. It is a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit, a provincial-level patriotic education base, and a provincial-level scenic spot.

The Ma'anshan Scenic Area integrates historical culture, natural scenery, and patriotic education. Ma'anshan became famous across China for the heroic anti-Japanese defense battle of 1942. The mountain features large cliff inscriptions commemorated by founding generals such as Liao Rongbiao and Qian Jun, as well as an inscription for the War Memorial Hall (Monument) written by General —, making it a red sanctuary for patriotic education. The mountain also marks the ancient boundary between the Qi and Lu states and was often a contested military site. It houses the earliest, largest, and best-preserved Qi barracks ruins discovered in China, as well as the 2,500-year-old Qi Great Wall ruins, serving as a museum of Qi culture in China. The Jade Emperor Hall built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, along with residences of Taoist priests from various dynasties, ancient mounds, and stone tombs, bear witness to this area being the birthplace of Central Shandong Taoism, adding rich cultural heritage to this renowned anti-Japanese mountain. With its steep terrain and abrupt peaks, the area boasts magnificent and diverse natural landscapes. In the southern part of the scenic area, west of Santai Mountain, lies a reclining Buddha’s face, while to the east sits a meditating Maitreya Buddha. The massive rocks take on different facial appearances when viewed from various angles—truly a natural marvel. There are also numerous attractions such as the Heavenly Ladder, Southern Heavenly Gate, Cloud-Walking Bridge, Seven-Star Rock, and Buddha’s Light Cliff. From above, one can overlook the winding and picturesque Zishui River and the shimmering Taihe Reservoir, where water and sky blend seamlessly, highlighting the majestic beauty of Ma'anshan. The area is home to a wide variety of plant species, making it a natural botanical garden. In early spring, golden hues spread across the mountains; in May, white blossoms cover the landscape like snow; in late autumn, the mountains are ablaze with red; and in winter, ice hangs from emerald branches. The surrounding area is the town’s fruit and vegetable base, yielding abundant pollution-free produce every year, giving the entire scenic area a unique charm characterized by “lush flowers and fruits, precipitous peaks, pristine streams, heroic solemnity, and ancient barracks.”

[Attraction Name: Ma'anshan Main Peak]

The main peak is the highest point of Ma'anshan, standing at an elevation of 618 meters. This solitary peak rises steeply, and its narrow summit gives a thrilling sense of danger as if it might collapse at any moment. The Jade Emperor Hall and Bixia Temple on the summit were built in an unknown year but were renovated in the ninth year of the Xianfeng reign. They are sacred sites for worshippers within a hundred-mile radius. This spot serves both as the central attraction of the Ma'anshan Scenic Area and as the focal point for revolutionary tradition education. Attractions here include the command post, mountain defense shelters, the Heroic Millstone, the spot where heroes leaped to their deaths, and cliff inscriptions. Visitors can also admire the natural wonders of the “Santai Reclining Buddha” and “Seated Buddha.”

[Attraction Name: Battle Command Post]

Wang Fenglin, the overall commander of the Ma'anshan Anti-Japanese Defense Battle, originally named Li Fang, was sent to study at the Engineer Class of the Moscow Oriental University in the Soviet Union from 1935 to the end of 1937. In 1942, he was appointed deputy commander of the 2nd Regiment of the 1st Teaching Brigade of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Due to leg injuries sustained in battle, he arrived at Ma'anshan in October of the same year. This command post was where Wang Fenglin directed the battle. It was destroyed by Japanese forces during the fighting, and the current ruins were rebuilt in 1992.

[Attraction Name: Immortal Bridge]

The Immortal Bridge is located on the eastern side of the Ma'anshan main peak and is made of natural bluestone slabs, not artificially constructed. The western end connects to the “Ancient Fortress,” while the eastern end leads to the “Jingyang Pavilion.” Stretching over 120 meters in length, with the widest point being 8 meters and the narrowest just 0.5 meters, walking on it gives a sensation of impending collapse—hence the name “Immortal Bridge.”

[Attraction Name: Echoes in the Valley]

The area around the Ma'anshan main peak is covered with lush pines and a rich variety of plants. In spring, yellow wintersweet flowers bloom all over the mountain; in summer, the mountain blooms white with wildflowers. In late autumn, fragrant osmanthus fills the air alongside vibrant red leaves. There is also a unique welcoming tree resembling both maple and mulberry, with branches bearing triangular, pentagonal, and heptagonal leaves. Throughout the seasons, birds sing joyfully, offering delightful and refreshing views.

[Attraction Name: Forest Oxygen Bar]

Near the memorial hall, tall trees provide dense shade with an exceptionally high concentration of negative ions, creating a natural oxygen bar. The forest area is equipped with stone tables, stone steps, and hammocks, allowing visitors to rest, enjoy the cool, dine, and have fun—far from the hustle and bustle of the city, returning to nature, cultivating the mind, and refining one’s spirit.

[Attraction Name: Martyrs' Memorial Hall]

To commemorate the Ma'anshan Anti-Japanese Defense Battle of 1942, the Boshan County Government built the Anti-Japanese Martyrs’ Monument in July 1945. In 1970, the Zichuan District People’s Government constructed the Martyrs’ Shrine and Exhibition Hall. In 2003, to meet the needs of patriotic tradition education under new circumstances and further strengthen the patriotic education base, the town Party committee and government, with the care and support of leaders at all levels, district and municipal people's congress representatives, and relevant departments, decided to build the Ma'anshan Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall and Monument. It was completed and officially opened to tourists in June 2004. The memorial hall is a corridor-style building with two floors, covering a total floor area of 400 square meters. The upper floor features anti-Japanese war propaganda paintings on all four walls, while the lower floor displays a large 40-square-meter oil painting of the Ma'anshan battle, alongside a sculpture of the Feng Yizhi family’s six martyrs. The monument is shaped like an “Type 38 Rifle,” standing 11.9 meters tall to symbolize the Ma'anshan Anti-Japanese Defense Battle that took place on November 9, 1942. A former Politburo member, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Marshal — inscribed the monument’s name. Nestled among lush pines and cypresses, the structure is grand and solemn, destined to write a new chapter in promoting revolutionary tradition education.

[Attraction Name: Heroes’ Spirit]

On the hundred-meter-high cliff at the eastern peak of Ma'anshan, one can see an over ten-meter-tall head sculpture of an Eighth Route Army soldier, symbolizing the indomitable spirit of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Ma'anshan battle. Its noble righteousness commands deep respect and is known as the “Heroes’ Spirit.”

[Attraction Name: Monument]

The Ma'anshan Anti-Japanese War Monument was built on July 7, 1945, the eighth anniversary of the Lugou Bridge Incident and before the victory of the war. The front of the monument is inscribed with the words “气壮山河” (Majestic as the Mountains and Rivers) written by Xu Hualu, the former commissioner of Lushan District. One side lists the names of the martyrs who died in the Ma'anshan battle, another side features the “In Praise of the Ma'anshan Anti-Japanese Martyrs” written by Mao Zicai, the former county magistrate of Boshan, and the remaining three sides are inscribed with mourning texts for the martyrs.

[Attraction Name: Dragon Maiden Platform]

The Dragon Maiden Platform is located on the eastern side of the Ma'anshan main peak, at an elevation of 609 meters, facing the Dragon King Cliff across the river. The platform features precipitous terrain, as if carved by a knife. Legend has it that the area around Ma'anshan was once a boundless sea, and this platform was where the Dragon King’s daughter rested and enjoyed the cool—hence the name “Dragon Maiden Platform.”

[Attraction Name: “Santai Buddha”]

On the main peak of the “Santai Mountain” directly south of Ma'anshan, the eastern peak resembles a sleeping Buddha—majestic, natural, and vividly lifelike; the western peak looks like a meditating Maitreya Buddha, focused and serene, with clear lines and a strikingly realistic appearance—truly a miraculous work of nature.

[Attraction Name: Immortals’ Mansion]

“A mountain needs no great height to be famous if it is home to immortals.” Ma'anshan has long been a sacred site for worshippers from nearby villages. On the eastern side of the main peak is a natural stone gate resembling a mansion. In the late Qing Dynasty, someone installed stone rings, and due to the steepness of the mountain gate, it became known as the “Immortals’ Mansion.” This sight is meant to be admired from afar, not approached closely.

[Attraction Name: Stone Mortars and Taoist Priests’ Rooms]

Ma'anshan was once a famous Taoist mountain. The Taoists’ rooms were where the priests guarding the mountain gate lived. The stone mortars to the west were used for milling grain. On the western peak today, there is a cave that serves as the tomb of Guo Yicai, the presiding Taoist priest of Ma'anshan. Taoist Priest Guo, whose birth and death dates are unknown, was from Houcun Village, Beizhen, Zouhe Town. Backed by Ma'anshan and facing the “Santai Reclining Buddha,” the site offers beautiful scenery and is considered a feng shui treasure.

[Attraction Name: Temple of the Ten Physicians]

Located beneath the cliff of Ma'anshan’s main peak, nearby are the ruins of the “Three Officials Temple” and the “Temple of the Southern and Northern Dipper.” The Temple of the Ten Physicians is a cave divided into upper and lower levels. Below, there is a spring-fed pool believed to cure all diseases. The upper level houses statues of the Ten Physicians. Covering internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, and pediatrics, it is considered China’s earliest multidisciplinary hospital, capable of holding consultations for complex cases. Hence, it has attracted worshippers and flourished in incense offerings since ancient times. Nearby are inscribed stelae from various dynasties documenting its restorations.

[Attraction Name: Sky Ladder, South Heaven Gate]

The staircase leading to the mountain summit consists of 132 steps. Due to its steepness, resembling a ladder, it is called the “Sky Ladder.” The steepest part reaches a 70-degree angle, and the narrowest section allows only one person to pass at a time. At the top of the “Sky Ladder” is the South Heaven Gate, originally built in the late Qing Dynasty and renovated in 1992. Integrated with the Sky Ladder, it presents a grand and majestic sight and is a must-pass spot when climbing the mountain. It is known as a place where “one man could hold off ten thousand.”

[Attraction Name: Divine Eagle Rock, Spirit Lion Rock]

Beneath the western peak of Ma'anshan lies a massive rock facing south, resembling a proud, standing divine eagle. Legend says it was raised by the “Three Tai Reclining Buddha.” On the western side of the western peak, there is a peculiar rock resembling an agile lion guarding the “Three Tai Reclining Buddha,” believed to be the Buddha’s mount.

[Attraction Name: Martyrs’ Sacrifice Site]

This stele was erected in 1996 at the site where anti-Japanese martyrs of Ma'anshan jumped off the cliff. At that time, our defenders fought unitedly for two days and nights but eventually lost due to overwhelming enemy forces and lack of supplies. When the enemy reached the summit, the heroes chose death over capture and leaped to their deaths.

[Attraction Name: Bell and Drum Tower]

These are two pavilions located in the central part of Ma'anshan’s main peak, built in the late Qing Dynasty for timekeeping and sounding alarms. They were destroyed by Japanese aircraft in 1942 and rebuilt in 1992. The Bell Tower houses a cast iron bell whose deep, resonant chime can be heard for miles, while the Drum Tower to the west contains a large cowhide drum with a rich, loud sound. Together, they create the effect of “morning bells and evening drums.”

[Attraction Name: Mountain Defenders’ Bunkers]

There are five bunkers on Ma'anshan’s main peak, each capable of sheltering 2–3 soldiers with firing ports, offering good protection. The two bunkers on the eastern peak, positioned above steep steps, exemplify the saying “one man could hold off ten thousand.” It is said that Deputy Regimental Commander Wang Fenglin shot and killed Japanese Division Staff Officer Colonel Yamada from one of these bunkers.

[Attraction Name: Heroes’ Millstone]

This stone millstone is located on the eastern part of the main peak and was originally used by Eighth Route Army wounded soldiers and their families to grind grain and gunpowder. It was destroyed by Japanese aircraft in 1942 and restored in October 1999. The millstone seems to recount those heroic and moving years.

[Attraction Name: Cliff Inscriptions]

There are five cliff inscriptions on Ma'anshan: “Ma'anshan Anti-Japanese Site” inscribed by General Liao Rongbiao (later Deputy Commander of the Nanjing Military Region), former commander of the Tai'an Military District and the 1st Brigade of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army; “Blood Stains Through Millennia” by Feng Yizhi (later President of Shandong College of Arts), former director of the United Office of Four Counties—his father Feng Xuchen, wife Sun Yulan, daughters Xinnian, Luqiao, Pingyang, and sister Feng Wenxiu all died heroically in the Ma'anshan defense battle, earning the title “A Family of Loyalty”; “A Hero of the Era” by Qian Jun (later Deputy Commander of the Nanjing Military Region), former deputy commander of the 1st Brigade of the Shandong Column; the stone carving of the poem “Prelude to Water Melody” by Li Boqiu (later Deputy Political Commissar of the Shenyang Military Region), political commissar of the 2nd Regiment of the 1st Brigade of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, during his revisit in 1984; and the inscription “In Memory of Martyr Wang Fenglin” by Regimental Commander Wu Ruilin (later Vice Commander of the Navy).

[Attraction Name: Divine Turtle Mountain]

Divine Turtle Mountain gets its name from its resemblance to two turtles kissing. The upper turtle’s head faces southwest, while the lower turtle stretches its neck to kiss. From afar, the “divine turtle” appears vivid and lifelike. The Revolutionary Martyrs’ Memorial Hall is now built atop the turtle’s back.

[Attraction Name: Deer Antler Mountain]

Deer Antler Mountain is named for its resemblance to a deer’s antlers after being shed. Legend says it was formed from a divine deer that died after having its antlers cut off by a demon. With an elevation of 858 meters, during the most difficult period of the Anti-Japanese War in 1943, it and the nearby Xigu Village were the last anti-Japanese strongholds in eastern Zichuan. After Ma'anshan fell, the Japanese attacked here, but despite deploying hundreds of troops and artillery, they failed to take the mountain, which was defended by over 50 Eighth Route Army soldiers and 40 district squad members.

[Attraction Name: Lotus Mountain]

Lotus Mountain is located east of Ma'anshan, with its main peak at 640 meters above sea level. Viewed from afar, its peaks resemble a lotus flower. Before 1942, it was occupied by Tang Yun’s forces but later recaptured by our army. After Ma'anshan fell, the enemy also attacked here but failed to take it.

[Attraction Name: Ancient Qi Great Wall, Ancient Military Camp]

On the western side of Ma'anshan are remnants of the Qi State Great Wall, beacon towers, and military camps from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. This area was once the border between Qi and Lu. The village of Chengzi, surrounded by water on three sides to the south of the mountain, is identified as the site of the ancient Laiguo Kingdom. Originally located around Laizhou and Longkou, Laiguo was relocated here after being conquered by Qi, then moved further south to the current location of Laiwu City due to ongoing warfare. The ancient Qi Great Wall on the western peak remains well-preserved despite damage from war and collapse, with restorations done to its original appearance. Over a hundred ancient military camp structures remain, capable of housing more than a thousand soldiers. The remaining beacon tower, dozens of meters high, can be seen for miles along the Zishui River. A “Guzhai” (ancient fortress) connected to the camp was destroyed in wartime, but the characters “Guzhai” on the stone arch gate are still clearly visible.

[Attraction Name: “Bixia Temple”]

Bixia Temple enshrines the Goddess of Mount Tai, the most revered deity in this region. An old legend tells of Eighth Route Army soldiers marching through the Zishui area, starving and thirsty for days, when an elderly woman appeared carrying half a crock of rice to feed them. No soldier dared to eat first, so the woman served each one a portion. Miraculously, the rice never ran out, leading the soldiers to believe it was the Goddess of Mount Tai helping them. This story, passed down by my grandmother, was deeply believed in my childhood. Even today, many newlyweds visit Bixia Temple to pray for children, believed to be very efficacious.

Recommended Tour Route: Mountain Entrance Archway — Lingyun Pavilion — Tianjie (Heavenly Street) — Sky Ladder — South Heaven Gate — Eastern Peak of Ma'anshan — Western Peak — Buyun Bridge — Ancient Military Camp — Qi Great Wall — Ancient Tombs — Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall — Anti-Japanese War Monument — Provincial Key Cultural Relic “Heroic Spirit Shakes the Mountains” Monument

Contact Information

Address: Zhuer Village, Zishui Area, Taihe Town, Zichuan District, Zibo City

Phone: 0533-5352696 13386431750

Fax: 0533-5350006

Taihe Town: Taihe Town was formed on November 6, 2010, through the merger of the former Taihe Township, Ezhua Township, and Zhihe Town. It is the largest and most village-dense town in Zichuan District, Zibo City, Shandong Province.

Taihe Town covers an area of 268.7 square kilometers and governs ninety-five administrative villages. It has a population of 59,000; 125 Party branches with 2,830 Party members; and 36,721 mu of arable land. It takes over an hour to drive from the town government to the most remote village, and visiting all 95 villages by vehicle takes a full two days.

Taihe Town is located in the southeastern part of Zichuan District, situated along both banks of the Zi River, bordering Qingzhou, Yiyuan... More details about Taihe Town++