Golden Palace Mountain

Golden Palace Mountain

Golden Palace Mountain

Jiahe Town in Yunxi County is situated at the border of Hubei and Shaanxi provinces. Originally named Liuzhu City, it was renamed Jiahe during the Ming Dynasty due to its location between the Jinquan River (also known as Jiahe River, stretching 126 kilometers) and the Han River. In the Qing Dynasty, a checkpoint was set up here, called Jiahe Pass, and the town became commonly known as Jiahe Town. For centuries, it has been well-known for its role as a vital transportation hub between the Qin and Chu regions.

Located 76 kilometers from Yunxi County, Jiahe Town is celebrated for its unique natural landscape of "three mountains flanked by two rivers," formed by its geographical position. This is evidenced by a poem left by the great Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu titled “Passing Tianqiao Plank Road,” which reads: “The Tianqiao plank road stretches three hundred zhang, / Await rest by the willow pools. / A rainbow bridge spans the cliffs for four thousand years, / While sails have already passed Golden Palace Mountain.” The Golden Palace Mountain mentioned in the poem faces today’s Jiahe Town across the Jinquan River.

Golden Palace Mountain is part of the Qinling Mountain range. Its ridgeline extends from west to east like a dragon emerging from water, gradually descending over 200 meters between the Han River and the Jinquan River — a truly spectacular sight. The mountain is steep and rugged, accessible only via a winding path. Legend has it that in ancient times, the Taoist deity Zhenwu (the Perfect Warrior) once passed by this mountain. As dusk fell, he sat in meditation to rest, and upon waking, found himself inside a grand hall. He exclaimed, “Could this mountain actually have a golden palace?” Hence, the mountain got its name. In the 20th year of the Qing Emperor Qianlong’s reign, locals built Panlong Temple at the spot where Zhenwu once meditated to commemorate the event. It was gradually expanded into an imposing Taoist architectural complex, with structures such as the Golden Palace Hall, Dragon Head Incense Altar, Spirit Palace, Scripture Depository, Eight Trigrams Tower, Thunder Light Hall, and Zhenwu Hall successively added. A replica of the Dragon Head Incense Altar was also constructed. As a result, Taoist worship flourished here for a time, and the site earned the reputation of being a “Little Wudang.” At its peak, it housed over 100 Taoist priests. However, as time passed, the ancient buildings were completely lost. The remaining Panlong Temple was later destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, leaving only the Spirit Official Hall, which now serves as a school dormitory. The area beneath the teaching building, where the Zhenwu Ancestor was once enshrined, still sees active worship, with frequent sounds of firecrackers. The former Taoist chants and drum music have been replaced by the sounds of students reading aloud.

Walk along Jiahe Town, cross the Tongjiaba Bridge, and after a five-minute walk, you’ll arrive at the foot of Golden Palace Mountain. Pass through a Ming-Qing style imitation ancient street, then follow the 226-step plank walkway. Traverse the 40-meter-long, 3-meter-wide mountain ridge gallery that hugs the mountain and the water, and step up to the 24-step platform of the Jiahe Pass Grand Pavilion. Continue upward for another hundred steps or so to reach the Dragon Head Incense Altar, a place for praying for peace that becomes especially lively on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. The area around the altar features pavilions and towers. Upon reaching the mountaintop, the Jinquan River to the left of Golden Palace Mountain appears blue, while the Han River to the right looks yellow — a striking “two-colored waters, clear and turbid” natural spectacle that captivates many visitors. Gazing into the distance, you’ll see the vastness of the Qinling Mountains, the immensity of the Han River, the beauty of the Jinquan River, and the uniqueness of Jiahe Pass. The ancient town, nestled between mountains and water and shrouded in mist, features stilted houses, river-view towers, Golden Water Pavilion, and Jiahe Pass, resembling the poetic charm of Phoenix Ancient Town in western Hunan. Additionally, the “Taiji Diagram” created on the mountain is also worth seeing. This plant-based Taiji diagram is formed by planting two types of young trees — golden locust and pine — covering a total area of 0.6 square kilometers. 8,000 pine trees form the yin fish, while 8,000 golden locusts create the yang fish, creating a vivid and clear contrast. From afar, you can admire the Qinling Mountains, the Han River, the beauty of the Jinquan River, the uniqueness of Jiahe Pass, and the ancient town nestled between mountains and water, all enveloped in mist, along with sights like stilted houses, river-view towers, Golden Water Pavilion, and Jiahe Pass, reminiscent of a small town in western Hunan.

The Golden Palace Mountain Scenic Area boasts profound Taoist and landscape cultural heritage. Jiahe Town plans to restore the ancient temple complex, develop attractions such as the Han River Goddess statues, pavilions and towers, antique arch bridges, and mountain gate archways. A new reservoir fishing village will also be built, with added fishing and water recreation activities. With the stepped development of the Jinquan River and Han River within Jiahe, the water level will rise close to the mountain. At that time, Golden Palace Mountain will become a celestial mountain realm. The area aims to create distinctive tourism experiences themed around “observing the clear and turbid waters, appreciating the yin-yang Taiji, and contemplating the philosophy of life,” attracting more visitors to explore its beauty.