Zanhuang Stone Pillar Mountain

Zanhuang Stone Pillar Mountain

Stone Pillar Mountain is located in Yuantou Town, Zanhuang County, in the middle section of the thousand-mile Taihang Mountain Range. It lies fifteen kilometers south of Zanhuang County and sixty kilometers from the provincial capital, Shijiazhuang. To the east, the mountain borders the vast fertile plains of North China; to the west, it rises behind the undulating peaks of the Zanhuang mountain range; to the south, it faces the Wangwu Mountains, and to the north, it connects with the Heng Mountains. The area enjoys convenient transportation. With an elevation of 599 meters, it is the highest peak in the southern part of the county and serves as the watershed between Zanhuang and Lincheng counties. Historically, it was regarded as an official mountain. The mountain gets its name from its towering, pillar-like rock formations that rise sharply into the sky, as if hewn by axe and knife. Composed mainly of siliceous sandstone, the mountain features several hundred acres of lush, verdant cypress forests growing halfway up its slopes. The mountaintop is unexpectedly flat, resembling a heavenly terrace, which is why it is also known as Tiāntái Mountain (Heavenly Terrace Mountain). The area enjoys distinct seasons, with an average annual temperature of around 14°C. It boasts rich vegetation, beautiful scenery, and a pleasant climate.

Stone Pillar Mountain has been a Buddhist sacred site since ancient times. During the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, Master Renchang founded a temple here, establishing the renowned “Eight Temples of Tiāntái,” which attracted a great many worshippers. The mountain also features the remnants of the Kèláng Fort, a several-li-long fortress built during the Ming Dynasty, as well as the legendary stockade where the rebel leader Dou Jiande was said to have stored grain. During the War of Resistance against Japan, the nunneries gradually fell into disuse, and during the Cultural Revolution, the cypress forests were heavily logged. In the 1980s, the county designated Stone Pillar Mountain as a scenic area, established a management office, and restored landmarks such as the Báiyī Nunnery and the Mítuó Nunnery. Since then, the landscape has been protected and gradually revived.

The main peak of Stone Pillar Mountain soars high into the clouds, flanked by sprawling ridges and steep cliffs. The rugged beauty of its rocks and the serenity of its caves are striking. When viewed head-on, the main peak resembles a Bodhisattva Guanyin seated upon a lotus throne. Opposite this peak stands another that looks like a child bowing in reverence — together, they present a breathtaking scene of a “Child Worshiping Guanyin” for visitors to admire. The mountain is covered in dense, wave-like green cypress forests, with yellow wax leaves turning fiery red in the frost, and old trees sprouting fresh branches, creating a vibrant atmosphere all year round.

Transportation Guide

Scenic Area Address: Within Yuantou Town, Zanhuang County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province

By Bus: Take a bus from Zanhuang County headed to Yuantou Town, then transfer to a minibus to reach the mountain.