Confucius Mountain Scenic Area

Confucius Mountain Scenic Area

Confucius Mountain Scenic Area is located in the western part of the Mangdang Mountain range and is the only mountain in China named after "Confucius." It consists of the Confucius Temple, Guanyin Pavilion, Confucius’ Rain Shelter, Guo Pagoda, and the Cultural Sage Garden.

Confucius Mountain Scenic Area is located in the western part of Mangdang Mountain and was named to commemorate Confucius taking shelter from rain here while traveling through the various states. Though not large, it is the only mountain in China named after "Confucius." The mountain is named after a person, and since ancient times, visitors have flocked here to explore its history, leaving behind many famous poems and legendary tales. Major attractions in the Confucius Mountain Scenic Area include the Confucian Temple, Guanyin Pavilion, Confucius’ Rain Shelter, Guo Pagoda, and two Han Dynasty tombs.

Confucius’ Rain Shelter Confucius’ Rain Shelter is located on the southern slope of Confucius Mountain, southwest of the main peak of Mangdang Mountain. It is a natural cliff with a semi-cave-like stone chamber beneath it, measuring 6.5 meters in depth, 20 meters in width, and about 4 meters at its highest point. Legend has it that in the late Spring and Autumn period, Confucius and his disciples were traveling through the various states on their way from Cao to Song when they encountered heavy rain on Mangdang Mountain. They took shelter here. To commemorate Confucius, later generations carved a stone statue of him and placed it inside the cave. The statue faces south, with hands clasped and knees bent in a seated position, though the face is now damaged. There are many stone carvings outside the cave, and currently, only two fragmented Ming Dynasty steles remain on the east side of the cave, with blurred inscriptions, erected during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. In front of the Confucius Cliff is a Book-Drying Platform. Legend says that after the rain cleared, Confucius and his disciples dried their books here, hence the name. Locals say no dew settles on this platform at night, making it suitable for drying grain overnight. The Confucius Cliff is one of the ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Yongcheng, known as "Dripping Emerald Cliff."

Confucian Temple Also called the Confucius Temple. Historical records indicate that the temple was first built during the Song Dynasty. It was damaged by war in the late Ming Dynasty and was subsequently renovated in the 13th year (1674), 30th year of the Kangxi reign, the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign (1860), and the 27th year of the Republic of China (1938). The Confucian Temple faces south and is composed of the Dacheng Hall, side rooms on the east and west, and the Dacheng Gate. Inside the courtyard, there are two ancient cypresses and three stone steles. One is the "Confucian Temple Stele Inscription" written by Kong Yuyi, the 67th-generation descendant of Confucius and the Duke Yansheng, in the 28th year of Kangxi; another is the "Confucius Cliff Stele Inscription" by County Magistrate Zhou Zhengji in the 30th year of Kangxi, and the "Inscribed Stone Stele Inscription" by Kong Zhaohuan, the 71st-generation descendant of Confucius, in the 15th year of Qianlong (1750). The western cypress leans against a stele, forming the "Cypress Embracing Stele" landscape.

Guanyin Pavilion Located in front of Confucius’ Rain Shelter and to the west of the Confucian Temple, this pavilion-style building is two bays wide, with the indoor floor over a meter higher than the outdoor level. It has a southern entrance and houses statues of Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra. Three stone steles remain in front of the Guanyin Pavilion.

About 60 meters east of the Confucius Cliff are three Qing Dynasty Buddhist pagodas, arranged in a triangular formation and collectively called Guo Pagoda. Two stone pagodas stand in the front, and a brick pagoda is located about 10 meters to the north in the center. The brick pagoda is about 10 meters tall and is built in a pavilion-style imitation. The eastern stone pagoda is about 7 meters high, with a five-story, octagonal dense-eave design. Its base is 1.2 meters high and 2 meters in diameter. Above the base are five tiers made of angled eight-sided stone drums and plates. The western stone pagoda is 6 meters tall, topped with a stone bottle finial. Its structure is similar to the eastern stone pagoda.

Official Website:

www.mangshan.net

Scenic Area Services:

1. Parking: Free for the first 20 minutes; small vehicles 10 RMB (under 10 seats), medium vehicles 15 RMB (10–30 seats), large vehicles 25 RMB (over 30 seats); parking hours: summer 08:00–18:00, winter 08:30–17:30

2. Guided Tours: 100 RMB per tour for attractions included in Combo Ticket A or B

Scenic Area Phone:

0370-5970777

Precautions:

1. It is recommended to wear lightweight sports shoes and casual clothing.

2. Bring relevant documents, an umbrella, and motion sickness medicine if needed, as day tours do not include meals—feel free to bring some snacks (though the scenic area also has food for sale).

3. High heels are not recommended. Bring sunscreen as needed, and it’s advised not to wear skirts when climbing, as it can be inconvenient.