Zhenlei Mountain Scenic Area

Zhenlei Mountain Scenic Area

Making the Zhenlei Mountain Scenic Area even more perfect has been the aspiration and focus of the successive Party committees and government leaders in Pingqiao District in recent years. Since 2004, the Party committee and government, led by then District Party Secretary Wang Ronghong and District Governor Zhang Mingchun, have placed the development and utilization of the Zhenlei Mountain Scenic Area as a top priority in rapidly advancing Pingqiao’s economy. A fully functional Zhenlei Mountain Scenic Area, in addition to the beautiful natural landscapes left by nature, the cultural and historical sites from various dynasties, and unforgettable legends, will offer visitors modern amenities such as a commercial-tourism street, villa complexes, performance squares, residential new villages, wetland parks, and agritainment experiences—leaving them with wonderful memories during their leisure and travel here.

The Zhenlei Mountain Scenic Area is located south of Pingqiao District, covering an area of 19.2 square kilometers. To the west, the Dongshuang River and Du River, which flow from south to north, converge here before entering the Hai River. To the south, roads lead southeast to another famous attraction, Mount Jigong, and westward to the national-level scenic lake—Nanwan Lake. To the east lies Ling Mountain, the boundary mountain between Luoshan County and Pingqiao District, whose peak is home to the sacred Buddhist site—Ling Mountain Temple. To the north is the 200-meter-wide Shi River, with the bustling and vibrant downtown area of Pingqiao District lying across the river. A modern bridge connects the two sides. Nestled by mountains and water, the Zhenlei Mountain Scenic Area boasts an elegant environment and is an ideal destination for leisure and tourism.

Zhenlei Mountain. Located on the southern side of the Shi River in downtown Pingqiao, it belongs to the Ling Mountain Range, accounting for one-fourth of the range. At the invitation of District Party Secretary Wang Ronghong and District Governor Zhang Mingchun, in January 2005, renowned calligrapher and district-level official Li Chun’en wrote a poem titled “Ode to Zhenlei Mountain” to evoke nostalgic feelings among overseas fellow townsmen.

For thousands of years, nature has bestowed upon us the beautiful Zhenlei Mountain, and people throughout the dynasties have created some captivating landscapes here, leaving behind unforgettable legends. Blessed with natural advantages, Zhenlei Mountain is covered with azaleas, dotted with orchids, and features vast tea plantations on its slopes.

Historical records indicate that the natural attractions of Zhenlei Mountain include the “Thunder Swamp Emitting Clouds” at the mountain’s summit, the double-peaked, breast-shaped peaks to the northwest, the Wufeng Cave six li south of the western river confluence, ginkgo trees three people can barely embrace, the Sacred Spring in the mountains, and other springs. Cultural sites include the Leifeng Temple at the summit, Shengquan Temple in the mountains, the Zhenwu Temple and the San Yue San (Third Moon Third) Temple Fair, as well as tea plantations. Unforgettable legends include the Hidden Dragon in the Stone Swamp, the Tale of the Nipple Mountain, the Place Where the Crow Taoist Attained Immortality, the Zhenlei Mountain Stockade Used to Fend Off Bandits, and the Wanshou Stockade for Taking Refuge.

“Thunder Swamp Emitting Clouds.” At the summit of Zhenlei Mountain, there are two stone swamps with clear and constant water levels. On overcast days, clouds emerge from the swamps, and when rain is imminent, floating clouds envelop the area. Due to this peculiar sight, it is said that a dragon dwells within, and when people throw stones into the swamp, they make a resounding noise like thunder. Hence, it is called “Thunder Swamp Emitting Clouds,” and it is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Xinyang.

Breast Peaks. Located to the northwest of Zhenlei Mountain, their unique shape has led locals to call them Nipple Mountain. Travelers who have visited Zhenlei Mountain and seen Nipple Mountain will never forget their mother’s nurturing love, no matter how far they go, and their gratitude only deepens.

Wufeng Cave. Situated six li south of the Dahuotou Mountain at the western river confluence on the western side of Zhenlei Mountain. Legend says that the Crow Taoist attained immortality here. Outside the cave is a scripture-reciting stone, with an immortal’s bed on the left and a wooden fish platform on the right, and flagpole holes on both sides of the cave. Later, bandits hid abducted women in the cave, prompting authorities to seal it off.

Zhenlei Mountain Stockade. Located at the southern foot of Zhenlei Mountain, remnants of the old stockade still existed in 1935. The stockade was built during the Xianfeng and Tongzhi eras (approximately 1851–1875) to fend off bandits. The Xianfeng and Tongzhi periods coincide with the Taiping Rebellion, which started in 1851 and was suppressed by Emperor Xianfeng by 1856. Another account says that locals built the stockade during the Xianfeng and Tongzhi eras to take refuge from disasters, indicating it was built by villagers to protect against bandits rather than peasant rebels.

Wanshou Stockade. Located at Shengquan Temple, it was built in the early Qing Dynasty. In November 1933 (the 22nd year of the Republic of China), Dong Zhengxiu renovated it, allowing it to accommodate 700 people.

Century-old Ginkgo Tree. This tree stands to the right outside Shengquan Temple and is over a hundred years old—so large that it takes three people to encircle it. With a straight trunk and extensive shade, it was unfortunately destroyed in 1958 during the Great Leap Forward’s steel production campaign. Today, anyone standing before its millstone-sized, flat-ground stump can’t help but reflect. This massive stump witnessed the dense forests and towering trees that once covered Zhenlei Mountain before 1958. Fortunately, not long after, two ginkgo saplings sprouted from roots about ten meters away near the Sacred Spring. These two ginkgos now stand over ten meters tall, with diameters of over 30 centimeters each. Growing in an era that values ecological balance, vegetation protection, and harmony between humans and nature, they are expected to thrive.

Sacred Spring. In front of Shengquan Temple, spring water flows continuously from rock crevices, remaining clear and sweet all year round, even during droughts. It irrigates the rice paddies at the mountain’s base, producing rice of superior quality compared to other regions. All the springs of Zhenlei Mountain flow uninterruptedly into the Shi River. The reason the springs here are called “sacred water” is that, like other sources of the Shi River, they possess unique benefits. Tea brewed with this water is sweet and fragrant—Northern Song Dynasty literary figure and artist Su Dongpo often used Shi River water to brew his tea. Rice cooked with it is fragrant, and utensils used with this water remain free of residue or scale, staying clean as new. Long-term consumption of water from the Shi River source helps prevent the formation of various types of kidney stones. The beer brewery at the foot of Zhenlei Mountain, which produces over 200,000 tons of beer annually, uses water sourced from the Erhe Kou area west of Zhenlei Mountain to brew its Jiugongshan-brand beer. Thanks to the unique quality of the water, Jiugongshan-brand beer has consistently maintained a top-tier position in China’s beer industry.

Leifeng Temple. Located at the summit of Zhenlei Mountain, the “Thunder Swamp Emitting Clouds”—one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Xinyang—is situated right in front of the temple.

Shengquan Temple. Situated at the northern foothills of Zhenlei Mountain, the temple is named Shengquan (Sacred Spring) due to the high-quality water in front of it. It was rebuilt during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Emperor Qianlong ruled from 1735 to 1795, a period of 60 years. In 1752 and 1762, he spent enormous sums to celebrate the 60th and 70th birthdays of his mother, Empress Xiaoshengxian. The rebuilding of Shengquan Temple likely occurred during this time—over 250 years ago. The character “Sheng” (sacred) in the temple’s name conflicted with the taboos of Empress Xiaoshengxian, so to avoid offense, it was changed to “Sheng” (victory), also during that period. Due to historical reasons, the front hall of Shengquan Temple has vanished without a trace. However, from the remaining foundations and the base of the three-person-embracing ginkgo tree at the entrance, it is evident that the temple was once a grand and bustling place with a continuous stream of worshippers.

San Yue San (Third Moon Third) Temple Fair. After the reform and opening-up, every year on the third day of the third lunar month, locals spontaneously gather at the northern foot of Zhenlei Mountain to participate in this longstanding temple fair. During the event, the mountain is packed with people and bustling with vendors. Historical records indicate that the fair was held at the Zhenwu Temple, which enjoyed great popularity.

Tea Plantations. The neat, expansive tea plantations on the southern and northern slopes of Zhenlei Mountain are a feast for the eyes. Historical records state that in the late Qing Dynasty, locals planted tea at the mountain’s base, producing tea of excellent flavor. While Northern Song Dynasty literary figure Su Dongpo could only brew non-local tea with the sacred water of the Shi River, we can now easily enjoy the delicious tea of Zhenlei Mountain brewed with its unique water—resulting in a refreshing and aromatic tea experience.

Attraction Location

Zhenlei Mountain Scenic Area, Pingqiao District, Xinyang, Henan Province