Linqing Mountain National Forest Park

Linqing Mountain National Forest Park

Linqing Mountain National Forest Park is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a national forest park.

This scenic area is located in Longjiaquan Township, Yishui County, Shandong Province, about 15 kilometers from the county town. It borders the province’s third-largest reservoir — Yimeng Mother Lake (Bashan Reservoir). The park covers a planned area of 180 hectares with a total investment of 32.88 million yuan. Surrounded by mountains, the area boasts a beautiful natural environment and profound cultural heritage. Linqing Mountain features steep cliffs, centuries-old lush pines, murmuring streams, and a 2,600-meter cliffside plank walkway high in the mountains that is both majestic and breathtaking. Major attractions include the cliff plank walkway, Linqing Temple, a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree, a Buddhist pagoda forest, the Song Dynasty Nine Dragons Stele, Linqing Lake, Lion Cliff, Guanyin Cave, Hanxiang Cave, Chaoyang Cave, the Flying Stone, the Hermit of Lingshan, Peacock Valley, an amusement park, and more. The area is named after the legend that a high monk named Changhong during the Tang Dynasty built Linqing Temple here. Today, five ancient ginkgo trees still stand around the temple, said to have been planted by Changhong. These trees are over 1,300 years old, standing more than 30 meters tall, and remain lush and fruitful.

Linqing Temple, commonly known as Shangyuan Temple, is located 20 kilometers west of Yishui County. It can be reached by bus along Longquan Road in just half an hour, making it conveniently located. Legend has it that in the ninth year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, a high monk named Changhong came here to promote Buddhism. Seeing the lush pines and cypresses and the mountain springs flowing into clear streams, he decided to build a temple and carve Buddha statues to spread Buddhist teachings, turning the site into a sacred place for local worship. Five ancient ginkgo trees still surround the temple today, said to have been planted by Changhong, with an age of over 1,300 years, standing more than 30 meters tall, and remaining lush and fruitful. The trees encircle Linqing Spring, whose waters never dry up throughout the year. Drinking this spring water is believed to promote longevity, and the spring is connected to a storage pool whose waters are mirror-like. The Linqing Temple scenic area blends natural and cultural landscapes seamlessly. Major attractions include Linqing Spring, Tang-era planted ancient ginkgo trees, Lion Rock ancient cypresses, Lion Eye, Eagle Gate Pagoda Stone, Monks’ Forest, Welcoming Pine, Elder Subdues Tiger Stone, Flying Stone, Immortal Stone, South Heaven Gate, Guanyin Cave, Hanxiang Cave, Linyin Cave, Immortal Mansion, Buddha Pavilion, and Bixia Shrine. The entire area is surrounded by mountains on three sides, offering stunning scenery. From the mountaintop, you can take in the panoramic view of Bashan Reservoir. Visitors can also take a boat from the dam of the reservoir northward to reach the foot of the mountain with great ease. It is a perfect destination for leisure and recreation.

Shandong Linqing Mountain National Forest Park Tourist Scenic Area is located in Longjiaquan Township, Yishui County, Shandong Province, about 16 kilometers from the county town. The park covers a planned area of 380 hectares and is adjacent to the province’s third-largest reservoir — Yimeng Mother Lake (Bashan Reservoir). Surrounded by mountains, the area retains a pristine ecological environment. Linqing Mountain features steep cliffs, centuries-old lush pines, murmuring streams, birds singing, and eagles soaring. The 2,600-meter cliffside plank walkway — the longest of its kind in China — offers a grand sight high in the mountains. Walking along the ancient paths along the cliffs, visitors can admire the perilous peaks, listen to the pine waves, and gaze at the picturesque landscape of Yimeng Lake and mountains, creating a feeling of transcending the mundane. The ancient Linqing Temple, thousand-year-old ginkgo trees, Buddhist pagoda forest, Song Dynasty Nine Dragons Stele, Linqing Lake, Lion Cliff, Guanyin Cave, Hanxiang Cave, Chaoyang Cave, the Five Lords Pines, Flying Stone, the Hermit of Lingshan, peacock release events, forest playground, and the sky corridor — the longest suspension bridge in northern China, as well as the Northern China’s No.1 Guanyin — Guanyin of Lingshan — all encapsulate millennia of historical legacy within nature’s embrace, along with many beautiful and touching legends. The thousand-year-old Linqing Temple, named after the sacred spring within the temple, was first built during the Tang Dynasty’s Zhenguan era. The temple is built against the mountain with a majestic presence. Five ancient ginkgo trees from the Tang Dynasty planted in the temple courtyard grow densely and toweringly, among which one known as the “World Sub-Male” stands with extraordinary dignity. The Arhat Hall houses 500 vividly crafted arhats, showcasing the colorful spectrum of life. Linqing Spring, Guanyin Hall, and South Sea Pavilion further enhance the spiritual aura of the temple. This is a paradise created by nature, a place where immortals gather their spiritual energy. The Management Committee of Shandong Linqing Mountain National Forest Park Tourist Scenic Area extends a warm invitation to visitors from all directions with its quality services for sightseeing, leisure, and vacation.