Zhushan

Zhushan

Zhushan, originally named "Pig Mountain," is located in Wenfeng Township, Jialing District, Nanchong City, about sixty kilometers from the city center.

There is a magical legend about how it got the name "Pig Mountain": it is said that in the early days, the Jialing River frequently flooded, causing great loss of life and property to the people living along the river, and making it especially difficult for them to cross the river—many lost their lives to the waters. When Lu Ban, the master carpenter, learned of this, he built a pagoda on Mount Heming on the opposite bank of the river (said to be today’s White Pagoda) to subdue the river, and also planned to construct a stone bridge over the Jialing. Building a stone bridge naturally required a large amount of stone, and transporting it manually would have been extremely laborious. So, Lu Ban used his magical powers to turn the stones into a pair of “piglets,” driving them from the quarry toward Guozhou City. It is said that all the waters under heaven are governed by the Dragon King, and since Lu Ban had not consulted him before building the bridge, the Dragon King became very angry and transformed into an old man with white hair to block the way. One day, as Lu Ban was driving the “piglets” toward Guozhou and reached Shehong Temple not far from the city, he encountered the Dragon King in the guise of the “old man.” The “old man” asked, “Master, why are you in such a hurry? Where are you going?” Lu Ban replied, “Driving pigs into the city to sell.” The “old man” pretended to be very surprised and pointed at the “pigs,” saying, “What pigs? These are clearly just a pile of rotten rocks!” It is said that matters of the gods are known as “heavenly secrets,” which must not be revealed—if someone exposes the truth, everything will revert to its original form or vanish like mist. As soon as the “old man” spoke, the pair of “piglets” immediately turned into two earthen hill mounds. Since then, this hillside has stood in front of Shehong Temple in Wenfeng Township, and people have called it “Pig Mountain.”

The mountain stands by the river, thrusting boldly into the sky. Facing the Big Dipper toward the city and looking south toward Qingju, it boasts uniquely beautiful scenery. Starting in 1973, cadres from the former Nanchong municipal party and government began planting Masson pines on the pebble-covered hillside. Decades later, these pines have largely matured, transforming the once-barren slope into a lush, green expanse bathed in sunlight. In recent years, people have also built the Qilin Pavilion on the mountain—simple, elegant, and uniquely styled. On one side of the mountain lies an ancient Han tomb that visitors can enter and explore. To meet the needs of tourism development, pathways, pavilions, and tea gardens have been added to the mountain, which has also been renamed “Zhushan.” It has gradually developed into a scenic area that combines natural beauty with cultural attractions. Every spring, visitors flock here for outings. Wandering among the verdant cypresses and lingering amid the mountain views and ancient tombs brings great joy. Climbing to the Qilin Pavilion, one can take in the distant mountains and nearby river—the river breeze brings a refreshing coolness, offering a truly uplifting experience like “ascending this tower fills one with a boundless sense of ease, forgetting all honors and disgraces, with wine in hand facing the wind, one is filled with boundless joy.”