Tongshan Scenic Area

Tongshan Scenic Area

A famous ancient cultural scenic spot in Sichuan. Located in Guangfu Town, Zhongjiang County, it derives its name from being situated in the historical Tongshan County.

The Tongshan Scenic Area is a historic site where, in the 22nd year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, the Tong Supervisory Office was established to mine copper and mint coins, hence the name "Tongshan," also referred to as "Ancient Tongshan." It is said to be the place where Deng Tong of the Former Han Dynasty minted coins, and ancient mining caves still exist today. Ancient Tongshan is surrounded by mountains, with the Yu River flowing around it, offering beautiful scenery. It is the hometown of notable figures such as the Northern Song ministers and literati Su Yijian and Su Shunqin, as well as the Ming Dynasty scholar Wang Weixian. The area is located in Guangfu Town, about 40 kilometers south of the county seat. Within Tongshan, there are the Orange Liang Rock Tomb Cluster, which is listed as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit and dates back about two thousand years, and the Yu River Cliff Carvings (including the rare and precious “Beauty Drying Autumn Harvest” depiction), created during the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

The ancient Yaoshi Temple, Guangluban, Meipo Slope, and the Eight Scenic Views of Tongshan have attracted literati throughout various dynasties for sightseeing and commemoration, leaving behind a wealth of steles, poems, inscriptions, and stone carvings. These include the ancient maxim “Wind Fire Family Hexagram” inscribed by Sima Guang; the “Ascend Golden Gate” inscription by Yu Shinan, a calligrapher of the early Tang Dynasty; and the famous poem “Song of Guangluban” written by Du Fu, the Sage of Poetry of the Tang Dynasty, when he passed by Yaoshi Temple. This place is not only a concentration of ancient epigraphic relics but also a distinguished cultural and scenic destination.