Chenghai Divine Mountain

Chenghai Divine Mountain

Divine Mountain is located within the jurisdiction of Guanshan Neighborhood Committee, Chenghua Subdistrict, Chenghai District. The mountain stands eleven zhang tall and spans over seven hundred steps in circumference. Though not high, it features steep peaks and valleys, lush trees, beautiful scenery, and numerous historical relics, making it one of the ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Chenghai, known as “Verdant Hills of Guan Mountain.” In the second year of the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1568), when Chenghai County was first established, the county seat had not been built. Magistrate Cai Nan chose Guanshan as the site for political discussions. During this period, taking advantage of its natural terrain, he developed ten scenic spots: the Mirror-like Courtyard Hall, the Three-Tiered Osmanthus Pavilion, the Misty Immortal Cliff, the Mist-Shrouded Jade Cave, the Reflection of the Zen Tower, the Ever-Springing Cold Spring, the Morning Rising of the Sea Wheel, the Western Cliff Precipice, the Rainbow Bridge and Flowing Waters, and the Sparse Bamboos of Dragon Hollow—forming a spectacular sight. Later generations added Eight Lesser Scenic Spots, collectively known as the Eighteen Scenic Wonders of Divine Mountain. Literati and scholars from all over came in droves, composing numerous poems in praise of the mountain.

Since the reform and opening up, many scenic spots on Divine Mountain have been renovated, rebuilt, and expanded, becoming even more vibrant and colorful, and turning the area into a popular tourist destination for visitors from home and abroad. At the northern foot of the mountain lies Guanshan Academy, built in the sixth year of the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1572), and the earliest academy established in Chenghai. In front of the academy is a pond where red-leaf plants grow, called the Red Leaf Pond. Above the academy’s entrance hangs a plaque inscribed with: “The Gate of Rites opens at Guanshan, following in the steps of the Deer Cave Academy; the Shore of Virtue ascends along the clear waters of Cheng, drawing inspiration from the Apricot Altar in both nobility and beauty.” Walking to the eastern foot and descending beneath Tongxian Rock, a spring gently flows from a small outlet. The spring water is clear, cool, and sweet. A well has now been built around it, and tea brewed with this sweet spring water is highly praised, earning the reputation of being the “First Spring of Tongxian Rock.”

Slightly above and to the left of Tongxian Rock, there is a bare footprint, said to be left by an immortal. Southeast of the mountain, there is a rectangular stone with a smooth surface. At its smaller end, there is a rock protrusion resembling a pillow. Legend has it that an immortal once rested on it, and it is called the “Immortal’s Sleeping Bed.” The western foot of the mountain is home to the ancient Guanshan Hermitage, also known as Stone Buddha Temple, built in the eleventh year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1638). The main hall is a natural stone cliff, on which there is a lifelike relief carving of the Goddess of Mercy. At the summit of Divine Mountain stands the Lingyun Pavilion, built during the Qing Qianlong era (1787), commonly known as the Kuixing Tower, dedicated to the God of Kuixing. In recent years, structures such as the Osmanthus Pavilion, the Kṣitigarbha Pavilion, and the Wenzhang Pavilion have also been built on the western slope. The two bodhi trees at the foot of Divine Mountain are said to have been planted during the Xianchun era of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Guanshan Community: Introduction to the Guanshan Community Neighborhood Committee

Guanshan already had more than ten small villages during the Song Dynasty, which gradually merged into a single village during the Yuan Dynasty. Named for lying at the northern foot of Divine Mountain, with lush forests and peculiar rocks, it earned the name “the most scenic among the mountains of the region.” A long street runs through the village, shaped like a fish’s spine, giving it the nickname “Guansong.” Located in the lower reaches of the Han River, it borders the urban area of Chenghai to the east, the Han River to the southwest, and Stone Mountain and Divine Mountain to the north. Covering an area of 5.6 square kilometers with a permanent population of over 14,500, it currently belongs to Chenghua Subdistrict, Chenghai District.

Blessed with beautiful surroundings where mountains stand like colorful screens and waters flow like jade belts, Guanshan boasts the Divine Mountain Scenic Area, which integrates Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and… Detailed information about Guanshan Community ++