Heitie Mountain Scenic Area

Heitie Mountain Scenic Area

Heitie Mountain Scenic Area is located in Weigu Town, northeastern Zhangdian District, Zibo, covering a planned area of 2,000 mu. It consists of the Heitie Mountain scenic zone and the Panlong Mountain Tourist Resort. The Heitie Mountain scenic zone features rolling mountains and continuous peaks, with beautiful natural scenery. It is home to the famous Heitie in Shandong Province and the memorial site of the Anti-Japanese Armed Uprising — the former headquarters of the uprising, the monument, and the Panlong Mountain Tourist Resort, which was developed with an investment of over ten million yuan by Fushan Village, a strong economic village in the region. Over fifty million yuan will be additionally invested in follow-up development. The area includes lush forests, bamboo groves, towering temples, winding paths leading to serene spots, streams winding around the mountains, and an atmosphere of refined beauty, embodying the charm of a "fairyland where no mountain is too low to be famous if inhabited by immortals." It stands in echo with Heitie Mountain, the highest peak in Zhangdian District.

Seventy li north of Heitie County lies an iron mine, which has been mined since ancient times. In front of the mountain is Panlong Ridge, behind it is Iron Ox Peak, to the left is the Golden Mountain Shrine, and to the right is the Lotus Cave. At the summit is the Furnace Goddess Shrine, beside which is the Sacred Water Spring. "Around the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1796–1820), it came to be called 'Iron Mountain.' It is said that since the Shang Dynasty, people discovered iron deposits here, hence the name 'Shang Mountain.' Later, based on records of iron smelting at Shang Mountain and Heitie Mountain, the legend of the Iron Ox emerged, leading to the reasonable speculation that events took place during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Moreover, at the foot of Heitie Mountain lie the tombs of Li E’s parents, fitting well with the legend. Located about 10 kilometers northeast of Zhangdian, Heitie Mountain was historically known as 'Shang Mountain' or 'West Mountain,' with an elevation of 254.6 meters and an area of 10 square kilometers. During the time of Duke Huan of Qi, the Shang Mountain area was known for copper and iron smelting, and people gradually mastered smelting techniques, producing a large number of iron tools. This both strengthened military equipment and improved farming efficiency. However, iron smelting technology was still quite rudimentary and primitive, making large-scale smelting extremely difficult. Under such circumstances, the Iron Ox appeared on Shang Mountain. Li Fu and other smelters were conscripted to build furnaces to exorcise evils. Then came the heroic and moving scene of Li E saving her father by throwing herself into the furnace, along with a touching ballad of filial piety. Li E was revered by locals as the Furnace Goddess.

Heitie Mountain, with an elevation of 254.6 meters, is part of the remaining range of the Luyi Mountain system. It is located in Taiping Village, Weigu Town, about 15 kilometers northeast of Zhangdian urban area. It was formerly called Iron Mountain. Since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, this area has produced high-quality iron ore, spurring the prosperity of the iron smelting industry in the State of Qi. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republican era, mineral resources in this area were successively plundered by German and Japanese imperialists. Today, it remains an important raw material base for China's steel industry. The Heitie Mountain area features undulating mountains, crisscrossing gullies, and complex terrain. Before the War of Resistance, it was an "exclave" of Changshan County, under the jurisdiction of Changshan’s Ninth District. Due to the limited reach of ruling powers, as early as the period of the First Revolutionary Civil War, the peasant association here was very active. In 1927, the Special Branch of Heitie Mountain, born in the great depression of Heitie Mountain, was one of the earliest Party organizations in the Zibo area. Since 1984, the former site of the Heitie Mountain Anti-Japanese Armed Uprising has been listed successively as a municipal and provincial key cultural relics protection unit. In 1995, it was designated by the Shandong Provincial Committee as a provincial patriotic education base. The base consists of the Heitie Mountain Anti-Japanese Armed Uprising Memorial Hall, the monument, and the memorial wall, all located at the western foot of Heitie Mountain in Weigu Town, Zhangdian District.