Qijiang District’s Shizi Mountain

Qijiang District’s Shizi Mountain

Shizi Mountain, also known as Feilong Xianshan (Flying Dragon Immortal Mountain), stands majestically not far north of Gaoqingchang in Guofu Town, Qijiang. It faces the Guofu Three Gorges, with the Luzhuan Gorge to the north and the Jiulong Gorge and Xianfeng Gorge to the west. At its highest point, the mountain reaches an elevation of 1,294 meters and earned its name due to its resemblance to a crouching lion. On the stone wall in front of Tianbao Fort on Shizi Mountain there is a carved inscription of four powerful and bold characters reading “Feilong Xianshan.” Legend has it that a dragon once flew here and hid in a cave on the mountain, hence the name “Flying Dragon Immortal Mountain.” It is said that Shizi Mountain is a mystical and spiritually potent place, capable of aiding those in distress, dispelling illness and evil, and safeguarding the local region.

Viewed from afar, the mountain resembles a mighty lion with its head facing east and its tail pointing to the sky. From its summit, one can gaze into the distance or look down upon the rolling, misty mountain ridges that stretch out like an ocean in motion. Looking down, the valleys, roads, rivers, fields, villages, and houses unfold like a vibrant, colorful scroll.

This mountain stands firmly against the skyline, with rugged rocks, overlapping peaks, and evergreen foliage all year round. It combines elements of danger, beauty, grandeur, and uniqueness, and is home to several ancient relics, making it one of Qijiang’s renowned mountains.

The Lion Head and Lion Tail areas feature steep slopes and cliffs, with a stone gate at each perilous spot, known respectively as the Great Gate and the Small Gate. The Great Gate bears the inscription “Tianbao Fort,” flanked by two lines: “Donated jointly by the Anxian Regiment of Fujia Tai, repaired in the Xinyou Year by Shao Kuaiyan” and “Donated jointly by the Anxian Regiment of Fujia Tai, renovated in the Wuxu Year by Shao Yangchun.” Stone steps from the ancient Chongqing-Guizhou Road lead up through the Great Gate.

Legend has it that Shi Dakai, the Wing King of the Taiping Rebellion, personally led a team to survey the terrain on Shizi Mountain during his campaign into Sichuan. The Qing army mustered forces several times larger than the Taiping troops to besiege them. Due to heavy fog, the Qing army could not discern the situation and did not attack. Some say divine intervention protected the stone fort and the Taiping forces. Later, people named the stronghold “Tianbao Fort,” and the name was engraved above the Great Gate.

Not far above Tianbao Fort lies the Lion Head, inside whose open mouth there used to be a Guanyin Hall, now long ruined. The stone statue of Guanyin on the cliff has weathered over time, but the four characters “Ci Guang Pu Zhao” (Compassionate Light Shines Everywhere) and a couplet—“Sweet dew from willow branches is freely given; Fragrance from the lotus throne spreads in spring”—remain clearly visible. There is also a stone tablet on the cliff inscribed with “Guanyin Hall Stele,” dated the 30th year of the Qianlong reign (1765). It is said that residents at the foot of Shizi Mountain were mostly wealthy because the Lion Head “spits gold” and the Lion Tail “excretes silver.” Jealousy led to the construction of this temple to block the lion’s mouth and subdue it. The lion’s mouth also faces the Chicken Cockscomb Temple and Zhongling Temple in Xinjian Village, appearing as if it intends to swallow them.

Not far from Tianbao Fort, atop the mountain, lies a temple called Feilong Chan Temple (Flying Dragon Zen Temple). The temple has three bays, with plain stone walls and tiles, giving it a simple and serene appearance. Inside the hall are several vividly sculpted deities. Above the door is the inscription “Feilong Chan Temple,” and on either side is a couplet: “The ancient temple’s Buddha turns with the rising sun; the virtuous monks dwell where white clouds fly.” Outside the temple, two stone tablets are embedded in the wall: “Da Shan Cai Hua” (Great Goodness and Colorful Transformation) and “Tong Jie Shan Yuan” (Together Forming Good Connections), both recording donations for the temple’s construction, dated the 18th and 29th years of the Republic of China (1929 and 1940), respectively. Feilong Chan Temple was once highly popular, and most visitors to Shizi Mountain today also come here to burn incense.

Not far in front of the Lion Head are two pillar-like rocky peaks resembling human figures, which are particularly eye-catching and visible from both Guofu and Gaomiao areas. It is said these peaks represent two bald-headed monks playing with the lion, and that standing atop them allows one to hear beautiful celestial music. Legend says there is a stone chamber beneath the pillars housing a pair of golden lions, the mountain’s protective treasures, ensuring it will never collapse.

Shizi Mountain features numerous stone carvings, bold and majestic in style, with exquisite craftsmanship. In front of Tianbao Fort, there is a cliff carving of the four large characters “Feilong Xianshan” along with a dragon design, though unsigned—some attribute it to Shi Dakai, the Wing King of the Taiping Rebellion, though this is unverified. Other carvings can be found at the Guanyin Hall near the Lion Head, the Feilong Chan Temple at the mountain’s summit, and the Guanyin Rock along the road to Shiyanyan Reservoir.

Address: Gaoqing Village, Guofu Town, Qijiang District

Phone: 023-48430002

Information source: Dengkou County Tourism Bureau