Xinyang Lingshan Scenic Area

Xinyang Lingshan Scenic Area

Xinyang Lingshan Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Xinyang Lingshan Temple, a national 4A-level tourist attraction, is located 45 kilometers south of Sepu in Luoshan County, Xinyang City, Henan Province. It is the only temple in China where monks and nuns worship together and was designated as an imperial temple during the Tang and Ming dynasties. The thousand-year-old Lingshan Temple was first built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, boasting a history of over 1,500 years. The temple was renamed “Lingshan Temple” during the Tang Dynasty. After Emperor Li Longji’s daughter, Princess Huanggu, passed away, the emperor visited to offer incense and designated it as an “imperial temple.” Later, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty conferred the title “Imperial Temple.” The area features majestic mountain terrain, lush forests, and a temple nestled within.

Lingshan Temple

Lingshan Temple, located in Luoshan County, Xinyang City, is a renowned Buddhist site in China.

There are seven temples and three nunneries on the mountain, including Lingshan Temple, Golden Summit Temple, Middle Buddha Temple, White Buddha Temple, White Cloud Temple, Dragon Fang Temple, and Precipitous Stone Temple, as well as Yuantong Nunnery, Fuquan Nunnery, and Yanshou Nunnery. The long-standing Buddhist culture of Lingshan makes it a rather unique temple complex where both monks and nuns reside. Princess Jianning of the Tang Dynasty once became a nun here, making this system a remarkable phenomenon in Chinese Buddhist history. Emperors of the Song and Ming dynasties visited Lingshan multiple times.

Lingshan, originally called Bashan, derived from its eight main peaks. Its highest peak is Bazhan Mountain, standing at 827.7 meters above sea level. In ancient times, people mistakenly believed it to be the highest peak in the county. Due to the similar pronunciation of “Ba” (八) and “Ba” (霸), Bashan later became commonly known as Bazhan. It was said that “whenever clouds cover the peak, rain is sure to follow,” which proved true. One of the peaks, called Little Lingshan, naturally matched the mountain’s name. Since both “Ling” (灵) and “Ba” (霸) share the same “rain” radical, the name Bazhan gradually gave way to Lingshan.

Lingshan combines the “majesty of Mount Tai, the serenity of Mount Lu, the peril of Mount Hua, and the beauty of Mount Huang.” The mountain features peculiar rocks and steep cliffs, offering a world of its own. Lingshan has six major scenic areas and 108 attractions. The six areas are: Lingshan Temple Scenic Area, Xiaoyao Cave Scenic Area, Golden Summit Scenic Area, Dragon-Phoenix Auspicious Forest Scenic Area, Dragon Fang Temple Scenic Area, and Jiuli Falling Geese Lake Scenic Area, covering a total area of 61.5 square kilometers. Dongzhai Bird Nature Reserve and Jiuli Falling Geese Lake are located here, making it a well-preserved eco-tourism destination.

Lingshan Climate

Lingshan has a warm and humid northern temperate climate, with distinct seasons, synchronized rainfall and heat. The average annual temperature is around 15°C, with an average of 1.7°C in January and 27°C in July. The annual average rainfall is 1,149.7 mm, the frost-free period averages 227 days, annual sunshine is about 2,120 hours, average ground temperature is 17.6°C, relative humidity is 71%, winters are cold, and summers are free of extreme heat.

Scenic Area Introduction

Lingshan Scenic Area is connected to Jilong Mountain to the east and neighbors Jigong Mountain to the west. It includes six major scenic areas: Lingshan Temple Scenic Area, Xiaoyao Cave Scenic Area, Golden Summit Scenic Area, Dragon-Phoenix Auspicious Forest Scenic Area, Dragon Fang Temple Scenic Area, and Jiuli Falling Geese Lake Scenic Area, covering a total area of approximately 61 square kilometers. To the west, it is 40 kilometers from the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and National Highway 107, 50 kilometers to the east from the Beijing-Kowloon Railway, 10 kilometers to the north from Nanxin (Xinyang)-Ye (ji) Road, and the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway runs at the foot of Lingshan. Four highways intersect here: Luoshan–Lingshan, Wujia Slope–Lingshan, Jigong Mountain–Lingshan, and Dawu–Lingshan.

Lingshan, originally called Bashan, derived from its eight main peaks. Its highest peak is Bazhan Mountain, which ancient people mistakenly believed to be the highest in the county. Due to the similar pronunciation of “Ba” (八) and “Ba” (霸), Bashan later became commonly known as Bazhan. It was said that “whenever clouds cover the peak, rain is sure to follow,” which proved true. One of the peaks, called Little Lingshan, naturally matched the mountain’s name. Since both “Ling” (灵) and “Ba” (霸) share the same “rain” radical, the name Bazhan gradually gave way to Lingshan.

Lingshan was formed during the Mesozoic Cretaceous period (150–70 million years ago) and is composed of granite bedrock. The mountain range is continuous, with overlapping ridges and valleys, and an average annual temperature of 13–15°C. The daily temperature difference between mountain top and base in summer is 7°C, and the nightly difference is 15°C. The area is rich in natural resources. There are over 1,000 types of plants, most notably Lingshan Cloud Mist Tea, a premium variety of Xinyang Maojian — one of China’s top ten famous teas. Other highlights include chestnuts and Chinese kiwifruit, both highly nutritious and economically valuable, as well as valuable medicinal herbs such as eucommia, platycodon, and Thunberg fritillary bulb. There are 1,067 species of animals across 190 families, including 169 bird species. The scenic area is an important part of the provincial-level Dongzhai Forest Farm Bird Nature Reserve. Protected species include the critically endangered black stork and the vulnerable white-eared night heron. Mammals mainly consist of wild boars, goats, wolves, leopards, and large Indian civets.

Natural landscapes abound in the mountains. Peculiar rocks and steep cliffs take on diverse forms, creating a fascinating scene. Secluded valleys with dense forests and flowing streams, hanging waterfalls and pools that inspire awe under the sky, clear starry nights with dust-free winds, deep lakes where falling geese gather, and serene scenery bathed in green. According to incomplete statistics, Lingshan has 36 large and small waterfalls, 72 caves of various sizes, and 108 notable strange rocks and cliffs. Among them, the “Goddess of Wisdom” resembles the Greek goddess Athena; the “Precipitous Stone” is mysterious, massive, and thrilling, considered the most spectacular stone in the world; the “Camel” looks up to the sky, huge and lifelike, vivid and amusing; Xiaoyao Cave is a wonder of interconnected and stacked chambers; the Immortal Cave is perched precariously with a uniquely shaped roof, rarely seen in the world; the Silver Cave Waterfall combines grandeur, mystery, peculiarity, and danger, truly one of a kind. Jiuli Falling Geese Lake is embraced by mountains, with a winding shoreline and shimmering reflections between lake and mountain. The Lingham Mist floats ethereally, exuding a divine aura. The Eight Mountains Divine Brush Peak is said to be characters written by heaven, divided into yin and yang, with neat strokes and a miraculous structure, leaving people in awe... Walking through the valley to hear the murmuring stream, or climbing to the mountaintop to watch the clouds race by, the entire Lingshan feels like a magical world.

Cultural Significance

Lingshan is a renowned Buddhist sacred site. In ancient times, there were 13 temples of varying sizes, two of which remain today. Among them, Lingshan Temple has a history of 2,000 years and is one of the earliest temples built after Buddhism was introduced to China. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, it was designated as an imperial temple. Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty visited to offer incense, appointed the then abbot Chen Dayong as the Golden Splendor Zen Master, and personally inscribed the plaque “Shengshou Chan Temple” for the great temple. There are currently seven main halls and over 30 monks and nuns. On the first day of the third lunar month, the temple fair attracts a continuous stream of worshippers and tourists. Its strategic location and unique natural scenery have fostered a rich historical culture. In ancient times, because the Jiuliguan Pass southeast of the mountain, along with Pingjing Pass and Wusheng Pass in present-day Xinyang, were collectively known as one of the “Nine Passes” of the world, they were the only routes for northern merchants entering the Central Plains from Chu. To the east of the mountain lies the famous ancient Chu-Yu Road, making it a strategic battleground throughout history. Some took the mountain as their stronghold, becoming bandits; others sought refuge from warlords or imperial persecution.

The beautiful scenery and unique landscapes of Lingshan have also given rise to a wealth of related cultural tales, with almost every attraction and rock having its own legend. These stories and legends enhance the already stunning and mystical natural scenery. Another notable feature of Lingshan is the widespread belief that it is highly responsive to prayers, considered extremely efficacious. Though not scientifically proven, many believe in its powers, and stories of answered prayers abound — some even travel thousands of miles seeking fortune or blessings.

With its abundant tourism resources and high potential value, Lingshan attracts visitors from all over the world, receiving around 300,000 tourists annually. In June 1994, it was designated as a provincial scenic area, and in August 2007, it was approved as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction by the China National Tourism Administration. Currently, the area is undergoing accelerated development and construction. With the rapid growth of the local economy, the pace of Lingshan’s tourism development will greatly increase, and in the near future, Lingshan is sure to rank among the world’s famous mountains.

March Lingshan Ancient Temple Fair: The Lingshan Temple Fair originated in the Tang Dynasty, flourished in the Ming Dynasty, and has a long and enduring history. It is the oldest and most vibrant temple fair in southern Henan. Lasting one month (from the 28th day of the second lunar month to the 28th day of the third lunar month), the fair is held at a high standard, with rich content and distinctive features. It combines “mountain worship, sightseeing, folk customs, and folk art.” The fair began when Princess Jianning of Emperor Li Longji became a nun at Lingshan Temple, promoting Buddhism, expanding the temple, and initiating the temple fair tradition. Su Shi of the Song Dynasty visited Lingshan and witnessed the grandeur of the fair, praising it in his poetry: “The Lingshan gathering has not yet dispersed, the radiance of the Eight Divisions still shines.” Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang visited Lingshan three times on the first day of the third lunar month, and on his third visit, he designated Lingshan as the “Imperial Mountain” and Lingshan Temple as the “Imperial Temple,” marking the peak of the temple fair. During the fair, incense burning at Lingshan Temple intensifies, and worshippers flock in overwhelming numbers, fully showcasing the culture of Henan and Chu. Today, the Luoshan County People’s Government and Xinyang City Tourism Bureau jointly promote the “Lingshan Temple Fair” brand, elevating its standards, scale, formats, content, and uniqueness. The fair lasts over a month, with peak attendance exceeding 30,000 visitors, yielding significant social and economic benefits.

Local Specialties

The scenic area has commercial streets and half-side streets with shops. Most tourist goods are handicrafts, including bamboo items (such as bamboo tableware, musical instruments, fans, umbrellas, cups, canes, birdcages, etc.), wooden products (such as handicrafts and decorations), plastic products, stone products, and ceramics (such as Buddha statues and Buddhist ritual implements).

After 2000, Luoshan County’s tourism products include premium Xinyang Maojian tea (such as Sino-Japanese joint venture Xinlin Tea and Lingshan Cloud Mist Tea), Xinyang chestnuts, valuable medicinal herbs (such as platycodon and eucommia), and high-quality wild vegetables (such as shiitake mushrooms, black fungus, mountain mushrooms, daylilies, and pearl greens).

Address: Lingshan Town, Luoshan County, Xinyang City

Type: Mountain & Temple

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–3 hours

Phone: 0376-2255109; 0376-2255299

Official website: http://www.xylingshan.com/index.html

Opening hours:

7:00-17:30

Ticket information:

Gate price: 65.0 yuan

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