King Tang Mountain

King Tang Mountain

King Tang Mountain is located in Shimen Township, Wenxi County, at the foot of the Zhongtiao Mountains, with an elevation of 1,752 meters, making it the highest peak in the southern part of the Zhongtiao Mountain range. Originally known as Tiaoshan in ancient times, it was renamed Jingshan according to the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing). In 1600 BC, an army was dispatched from here, and after the Battle of Mingtiao, the Xia Dynasty was overthrown and the Shang Dynasty was established, laying the foundation for the Shang’s 600-year reign. The mountain was sanctified and renamed King Tang Mountain. King Tang Mountain is the birthplace of the culture of King Tang of Shang. Looking back at the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization, figures such as Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang stand out. Among all cultural and historical scenic areas themed around King Tang culture, this is the only one in the country. The Yuncheng King Tang Mountain Scenic Area, formerly known as Tiaoshan or Jingshan, witnessed the tyrannical rule of King Jie of the Xia Dynasty in its final years, which brought great suffering to the people. Many turned to Cheng Tang for refuge, and he subsequently established his base on this mountain. After seven years of recuperation, military training, and preparation, he launched an expedition against King Jie in 1711 BC from here, overthrowing the Xia and founding the Shang Dynasty—the first slave society in Chinese history. To commemorate this wise ruler, later generations built a temple on the former military camp’s star-gazing platform. There is also an ancient and moving local legend about King Tang Mountain: after King Tang unified the realm, a severe drought lasted for seven consecutive years. A minister divined that the only way to bring rain was through human sacrifice. King Tang decided to sacrifice himself to save his people. He tied straw around his body, climbed onto a pyre, and as the flames roared, just as he was about to be burned, sudden heavy rain extinguished the fire, and the people rejoiced. Since then, the highest mountain in Wenxi County has been named “King Tang Mountain” in his honor.

King Tang Mountain is the birthplace of both the culture of King Tang of Shang and the feng shui culture of Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty. Among the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization, figures such as Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang are preeminent, and among all cultural and historical scenic areas themed around King Tang culture, this is the only one in the country. Here, towering mountains, lush pines, undulating peaks, and uniquely shaped rocks abound. It is a provincial-level nature forest reserve, boasting exceptional natural tourism resources. Moreover, the area is rich in cultural relics and historic sites. Notably, the Temple of King Tang at the main peak was initially built during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and expanded and renovated during the Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The temple structures were all meticulously built from mountain stones, giving them a simple, sturdy, and distinctive appearance. Despite millennia of wind and rain, they still stand firmly on the cliffs. With its unique cultural relics of the King Tang era, King Tang Mountain can be regarded as an outstanding cultural tourism resource of the Yellow River ancestral heritage.

The Temple of King Tang at the main peak was initially built during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and expanded and renovated during the Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The temple structures were all meticulously built from mountain stones, giving them a simple, sturdy, and distinctive appearance. Despite millennia of wind and rain, they still stand firmly on the cliffs.

Phone: 0359-7022107

Address: Wenxi County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province

Shimen Township: A township under the jurisdiction of Wenxi County. Established as Shimen Commune in 1958 and became a township in 1984. Located in the hinterland of the Zhongtiao Mountains in the southeastern part of the county, it is 42 kilometers from the county seat. It covers an area of 174.4 square kilometers, with a population of 9,000. The county road to Tanqu County passes through the area. It governs 10 village committees: Shimen, Liujiazhuang, Baijiatan, Houchuan, Houjiao, Yupo, Qingshan, Xiping, Hengcheng, and Zhanshang. The area is rich in mineral resources, primarily copper. The main agricultural product is wheat. ... More detailed information about Shimen Township++