Daxiongshan Immortal Valley

Daxiongshan Immortal Valley

Daxiongshan Immortal Valley is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Located in the Daxiongshan Scenic Area of Dengfeng City, Henan Province, Immortal Valley boasts pleasant scenery, clear mountains and waters, and serene winding paths, resembling a paradise on earth. This is the hometown of Emperor Yao and the site of Shuiyu Temple, the historical granary of Shaolin Temple.

The name "Dengfeng Lovers' Valley" comes from a beautiful legend: it is said that during the Xia Dynasty, Daxiongshan was originally a barren, treeless mountain, and the surrounding people suffered from years of drought and hardship. The compassionate Dragon Mother, with the help of her dragon sons, opened springs and brought water to the area. As a result, Daxiongshan became lush and picturesque, transforming into a renowned geomantic treasure. Starting from the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the status of Shaolin Temple rose unprecedentedly. The royal family granted vast fertile lands, and Shuiyu Temple was established on Daxiongshan as a subordinate temple of Shaolin, named after its location by the Mayu River.

Shuiyu Temple was not only a subordinate temple of Shaolin but also an important granary for the temple. Historically, Shaolin stored grain here and provided relief to people during famines. Many other monks also flocked to the area, leading to the establishment of numerous temples. Among them was Meihua Temple, whose abbot, Yinjue, was known for his virtuous deeds and high prestige. He saved a distressed young woman named Li Xiumei, who vowed to repay his kindness. Disguising herself as a man, she became a Buddhist nun and developed feelings for him. In the evenings, she often took her master, Yinjue, to this valley for relaxation, which gradually turned into romantic encounters. Yinjue could not resist the affection and eventually left the temple to marry her. When they left the valley, he composed a poem: “In this rugged, desolate valley of scattered stones, the master and disciple often came to relax. The heartless rocks aided human love—leaving the monk’s life, I’ll never forget Lovers’ Valley.” Unbeknownst to them, a young novice overheard and spread the story, making Lovers’ Valley famous across the region. Young women seeking love visit the valley to strengthen their bonds and eventually marry. Couples who quarrel or argue come here and invariably leave hand in hand, smiling and reconciled.

Address: Xuzhuang Town, Dengfeng City, Zhengzhou, Henan Province

Opening Hours:

8:00-18:00