Zituan Mountain

Zituan Mountain

Zituan Mountain, named for the frequent purple haze lingering over its peaks, is recorded in the *Luan'an Prefecture Annals* as follows: “The Zituan of the Song Dynasty and later is the same as the Baodou of the Tang Dynasty and earlier.” In ancient times, there was a saying, “Southern Wuyi, Northern Baodou,” and today over a hundred poems praising Zituan remain. The religious culture within the scenic area is primarily represented by Taoist culture, mainly centered on the Baiyun Cave of Zituan Mountain, along with Buddhist cultural relics at the ruins of Yungai Temple.

With an elevation of over 1,500 meters, Zituan Mountain features undulating ridges, layered peaks, towering pines and cypresses casting dense shade, murmuring springs, and rare birds. In spring and summer, the air is fragrant with blooming flowers and singing birds; in autumn, the mountains glow with red leaves while pines and cypresses appear even more vibrant; in winter, the landscape is adorned with silvery frost and jade-like brilliance. The area has developed unique and breathtaking natural landscapes, cultural attractions, and beautiful legends, such as One-Line Sky, Solitary Stone Bridge, Flying Rock, Decapitated Turtle, Official Seal, Heavenly Scripture, Thousand-Year-Old Turtle Probing Water, Cloud Ladder, Baiyun Temple, and Zituan Cave, all of which captivate and inspire endless admiration.

Located at the foot of Zituan Mountain and beneath Baiyun Temple, Zituan Cave is known as the “Number One Cave of the North” due to its spectacular karst formations and vast interior. The cave boasts countless interconnected chambers, twisting passages, and unfathomable depths, shrouded in mystery. It houses a variety of stalactites and stalagmites that form over a hundred scenic spots, including vividly shaped formations such as the Gecko, Kissing Fish, Peach Immortal and Pomegranate, Bean Mountain and Rice Mountain, Songhua River, Southern Heavenly Gate, Five-Dragon Wall Head, Eternal Lamp, Seven-Tone Bell, Journey to the West, and Forbidden City—each striking and majestic, drawing visitors into their enchanting world.

The scenic area includes nearly ten attractions, such as Zituan Cave, Baiyun Temple, Ciyun Temple, Nanji Garden, Yungai Temple, and Fushui Spring. At the foot of Zituan Mountain lies a limestone (bluestone) karst cave, whose entrance often gathers purple mist like a canopy—hence the name Zituan Cave, from which the mountain also derives its name. Since ancient times, it has been praised as “Peak Cluster Embracing Beauty.” The mountain features crisscrossing ridges, steep cliffs, lush greenery, harmonious birdsong, perennially flowing mountain streams, radiant sunrise and sunset glows, and winding roads leading to the summit. Zituan Cave at the mountain’s base offers adventurers a chance to explore its mysteries; atop the peak stands Baiyun Temple, built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, renowned for its exquisite wood and brick carvings; northeast of the mountain lies the ruins of Yungai Temple, evoking a sense of historical nostalgia; Nanji Garden cultivates Zituan ginseng, a top choice for visitors seeking souvenirs; and Fushui Village, less than 5 kilometers from Zituan Cave, produces natural mineral water with a daily flow of 200 tons, rich in zinc, strontium, and lithium—ideal for health and longevity. Zituan Cave, nestled at the mountain’s foot, has a narrow entrance barely wide enough for one person to crawl through. At sunrise and sunset, the sunlight often illuminates the cave mouth, creating a dazzling display of purple mist gathering like a canopy. A new entrance has now been created nearby for easier access. Inside, the cave twists and turns, forming a vast, labyrinthine network of unpredictable depth. Over 1,000 meters of the cave have been developed for exploration. The caverns vary in width and height, with the highest point reaching 50 meters and the lowest under 3 meters; the widest area can accommodate a thousand people, while the narrowest barely allows side-by-side passage. The cave maintains a comfortable temperature year-round, cool in summer and warm in winter, with the sound of trickling springs adding to its charm. Zituan Cave is a natural limestone karst cave formed 5 million years ago, featuring well-developed karst landforms and unparalleled wonders. Its stalactites and stalagmites create dozens of unique formations. Starting from the entrance, the cave showcases 36 scenic spots in sequence: Gecko, Kissing Fish, Immortal Peach and Pomegranate, Bean Mountain and Rice Mountain, Songhua River, Lion-Tiger Mountain, Frog Ridge, Southern Heavenly Gate, Tongtian River, Carp Spirit, Luojia Mountain, Jade Maiden Basin, Jiuhua Mountain, Jade Emperor’s Throne, Sea-Calming Bell, Seven-Tone Bell, Eternal Lamp, Journey to the West, Five Elements Mountain, Turtle Spirit, Scholar Worshiping the Pagoda, Sky-Supporting Pillar, Five Dragons Converging, Forbidden City, Southern Qing Palace, Water Curtain Cave, Stone Horse, Eight Immortals Temple, Zituan’s Two Fairies, Fireworks Field, Two Immortals’ Pool, Old Master’s Slope, Heavenly Flower Palace, and more. The Kissing Fish is particularly remarkable, with each fish measuring 5.6 meters long—geologists believe they are fossilized primitive fish from an ancient tectonic shift, holding high scientific value. The Jade Maiden Basin features a natural stone lid with a small hand-sized opening; reaching inside, one can touch an ever-flowing spring. The Seven-Tone Bell is a 2.5-meter-high, 0.3-meter-diameter stalactite column that produces different musical tones when struck at various points. Baiyun Temple, located atop Zituan Mountain, was first built during the Northern Wei Dynasty and expanded during the Ming, Qing, and Republican eras. It remains a county-level cultural relic protected site. Covering 800 square meters, the temple faces south and consists of front and rear courtyards with brick-and-wood architecture. Its corridor preserves numerous exquisite Qing Dynasty wood and brick carvings, well worth careful appreciation. The ruins of Ciyun Temple, adjacent to Yungai Temple, is another Buddhist site. Ciyun Temple was initially constructed in 983 (the seventh year of the Song Taiping Xingguo era), renovated in 1144 (the third year of the Jin Huangtong era), and restored again in 1547 (the 26th year of the Ming Jiajing era). Nanji Garden, located at the mountain’s base, is the origin of the premium Zituan ginseng. Local legend says the Southern Pole Star Immortal once gathered ginseng and refined elixirs here, giving the garden its name. The area features flat terrain, fertile soil, and terraced fields, surrounded by steep cliffs, lush pines and cypresses, dappled shade, and murmuring streams. Northeast of Zituan Mountain lies the ruins of Yungai Temple, adjacent to Ciyun Temple and nestled among cliffs, forests, and ever-flowing streams.

Admission Fee

Admission: 25 RMB

Location

Qiaoshang Township, Huguan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province

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