Baijian Mountain

Baijian Mountain

Baijian Mountain is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Located in Yuankang Town, south of Linzhou City. The "Inscription on the Reconstruction of Baijian Mountain Temple" from the fourth year of the Xianfeng reign in the Qing Dynasty (1854) states: "It is a mountain of Lin County, surrounded by mountains on all sides. Among those recorded in the county annals, such as the Golden Lamp Peak of the Taihang Mountains, Huanghua, Honggu Valley, and others too numerous to list, Baijian Mountain is not included. Baijian Mountain is a mountain of the Taihang range, situated southwest of Huiting Spring, where layers of peaks rise densely, towering above the clouds, with surrounding ridges vast and open, steep as if forming a vase, visible from afar amidst the blue mist and white clouds..." Successive county annals have named Baijian Mountain as one of the scenic highlights of the Linlu Mountain area.

Embedded within the steep cliffs of the mountain is an ancient temple known as Baijian Mountain Temple. According to an inscription from the third year of the Jiaqing reign in the Qing Dynasty, the "Three Grandmothers Temple" of Baijian Mountain "has existed since the time when Fuxi ruled the world, and was called the Grandmother of Bai Mountain, who was a sister to the Two Immortal Grandmothers of Mount Tai." Fuxi refers to Fu Xi. The "Complete History of China" records: "The capital of Fu Xi was called Wangu, which is present-day Huaiyang County in Henan Province." This temple has been repaired many times to survive, especially after its renovation in the 24th year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty (1684), when a 100-meter-high protective cliff wall was built from the mountain base using bluestone, along with 2.5-meter-wide Cloud-Stepping Steps. The project is grand and awe-inspiring. In 1992, Professor Chen Chuan kang from Peking University inscribed here: "The earliest temple in China, a wonder of the Taihang Mountains."

The halls and pavilions of Baijian Mountain are situated in perilous locations, arranged rigorously, with an elegant and simple yet splendidly golden and resplendent style. Seven major halls and pavilions—the Three Immortal Grandmothers Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, Guanyin of the South Sea Hall, Two Immortal Grandmothers Hall, Ten Yama Kings Hall, Spring and Autumn Tower, and Lin Palace—and three courtyards (upper, middle, and lower) stand atop the mountain; the South Heaven Gate, Middle Heaven Gate, and Morning Heaven Gate are open and majestic; the Queen Mother’s Shrine stands on a main peak on the western side of Baijian Mountain, backed by thousand-foot sheer cliffs of Seven-Layer Rock and Eight-Layer Precipice; the North Peak Ancestral Master Temple is located on a peak on the northern side of Baijian Mountain, with naturally formed Turtle and Snake Generals standing guard at the entrance. As the ancestral temple of the local deity, the Three Immortal Holy Mothers, it houses shrines to the Three Immortal Holy Mothers and their sleeping hall. Incense smoke lingers, and visitors come in an endless stream.

The ancient white-bark cypresses hanging upside down in the cliff gorges are lush with green leaves and branches, presenting a picturesque and beautiful environment. Especially when autumn arrives, red leaves and abundant fruits create a scene of extraordinary colors. Visitors here feel as if in a fairyland, often inscribing or composing poetry to express their admiration.

Address: Yuankang Town, Linzhou City

Transportation: Shuttle bus, 10 departures per hour from Anyang to Linzhou, 30 minutes from Linzhou to the scenic area

Phone: (0372) 6911225