Mount Qinglong in Boshan

Mount Qinglong in Boshan

Mount Qinglong in Boshan is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

Mount Qinglong is located five li south of the town government seat of Yuanyuan in Boshan, facing Quanhetou Village across the river from east to west. The *Supplementary Chronicles of Boshan County* records: “Mount Qinglong is fifty li southeast of the county, on the eastern bank of the Zi River, where the Qinglong Cave lies, and below it is Quanhetou Village.” Jiang Xifan, a democratic revolutionary figure from Boshan and comrade of Sun Yat-sen, wrote a poem that vividly depicts the main features of Mount Qinglong: “A mountain soars abruptly east of the great river, as if a dragon soared through the sky, with ceaseless springs flowing from the source, all amidst picturesque waters and mountains.”

Stretching from north to south, Mount Qinglong is the confluence point of two eastern and western tributaries of the Zi River, with an elevation of 404 meters. The fault line of Mount Qinglong and the Zi River graben have created complex geology here, resulting in groundwater surfacing as large springs. Since the Ming Dynasty, the people of Quanhe have emphasized afforestation, making the mountain lush with vegetation. The mountaintop is dominated by Chinese juniper, while the mid-slopes feature mixed forests. The Upper and Lower Erlongwan areas at the foot of the mountain are the largest artesian springs in the upper reaches of the Zi River, with the highest flow rate in Zibo. The locals of Quanhe have long had the tradition of using spring water for cultivating yellow garlic, and in the 1980s, they introduced high-quality rainbow trout from abroad, further leveraging the spring water's potential and creating considerable economic benefits.

Legend

During the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, there was a local gentry in Quanhe Village named Zhao Duan, known for his kindness and love of nature. He often went to the springs to drink, admire the water, and play chess. It is said that when Zhao Duan drank, he always used two cups and two pairs of chopsticks. When he drank, the cup opposite him would also become empty; when he ate, the chopsticks opposite would also pick up food. After meals, an invisible person would play chess with him. One night, Zhao Duan dreamed of an old man who claimed to be the Dragon King. To thank him for his hospitality, the Dragon King offered to be friends and promised that whenever Zhao Duan had a wedding or funeral and needed pottery items, he could write a note and place it in Erlongwan, and the requested items would arrive as promised. Zhao Duan tried it and found it worked—everything delivered was of imperial quality. Later, to thank the divine being, Zhao Duan funded the renovation of the temple. This legend adds a layer of mystery to Quanhe and attracted many tourists, making tourism the village’s economic pillar. Today, relying on Mount Qinglong, Quanhe Village has built an artificial lake, installed a rubber dam, constructed a new Quanhe Bridge, and renovated dozens of restaurants to welcome visitors from all over.

There were structures on Mount Qinglong before the Ming Dynasty, which took shape during the Wanli era of the Ming and formed the current layout by the Qianlong era of the Qing. The site suffered severe damage during wars, revolutions, and the Cultural Revolution. Since the reform and opening-up period, Quanhe Village has restored the Dragon King Temple and the Three Officials Temple, and built new structures such as the Queen Mother Temple and the Great Sage Hall, making the Quanhe Scenic Area truly “a pearl in central Shandong.”

The temples on Mount Qinglong are arranged from bottom to top as follows: the Great Sage Temple, Dragon King Temple, Ten Doctors Temple, Three Officials Temple, Mount Tai Palace, Guanyin Temple, Jade Emperor Temple, White Robe Pavilion, Wusheng Temple, Lishan Temple, and Master Ma Temple. Due to the steep terrain, the highest temples appear as if suspended in midair. Because of the narrow space, all the temples are small yet exquisitely built, with very compact and logical layouts between them. Only the Great Sage Temple stands apart in a separate location, seeming out of place among the other deities. The most noteworthy feature is the statue of the Monkey King sculpted by Feng Naizao, a senior craft artist from the Zibo Fine Ceramics Factory, which is incredibly lifelike and considered a true artistic masterpiece.

Stone Carving Relics

The stone carving relics on Mount Qinglong include the following:

1. A pair of lion-shaped beasts. Located at the entrance of the temples on Mount Qinglong, carved from limestone, resembling lions, and named “Xianyun” and “Suanni.”

2. The stele written by Wang Qianzhi. Named “The Stele for the New Construction of the White Robe Temple,” authored by Wang Qianzhi, also known as Yuangji, a *ju ren* (successful candidate in the imperial examinations) of the Kangxi era in the Qing Dynasty and a classmate of Zhao Zhixin.

3. The Three Officials Palace Stele. Located in front of the Three Officials Temple, this is the largest stele preserved on the mountain. Erected during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, it is an autobiographical account by the local gentry Zhao Duan regarding the construction of the Three Officials Temple.

4. The Piercing Dragon Stele. Also known as *The Record of the Creation of the Imperial Palace*. This stele is located on the eastern side of the cliff of the Three Officials Temple, a cliff carving created in the 36th year of the Kangxi era. Legend says that rubbing this stele can turn misfortune into fortune and transform danger into safety. Due to years of rubbing by visitors, the surface of the stele is as smooth as a mirror, and on clear, sunny days, the distant mountains on the opposite side are reflected in the stele.

5. The Eight-Pillar Pavilion. Built at the entrance of the Qinglong Cave on the cliff of the mountain, it is the highest scenic spot on the mountain, constructed in the 12th year of the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty.

6. The stele written by Zhao Zhixin. Located south of the entrance of the Qinglong Cave, this is a rare stele in Boshan written by Zhao Zhixin, erected in the 54th year of the Kangxi era, with text and preface composed by Zhao Zhixin.

7. An ancient stone wall segment on the mountaintop. It is 1–1.5 meters wide, 0.5–1.5 meters high, and approximately 300 meters long. Some say it is a parallel section of the Qi Great Wall, though this remains to be verified.

Yuanyuan Town: Yuanyuan Town is located in the southeastern part of Boshan, situated in the upper reaches of the Zi River at the foot of Mount Lushan. The town covers a total area of 54 square kilometers, with 11,308 mu of arable land and a total population of 16,000.

Under the correct leadership of the district party committee and government, the town adheres to the overall strategy of “focusing on industry, adjusting agriculture, developing commerce, and strengthening the town.” It has actively adjusted the structure of agricultural production, made full use of its natural advantages, and developed distinctive features according to local conditions. The town continuously introduces high-quality agricultural varieties, guiding farmers to develop high-value cash crops to improve comprehensive agricultural benefits and steadily increase farmers’ incomes... More details about Yuanyuan Town ++