Weiyuan Laojun Mountain

Weiyuan Laojun Mountain

Weiyuan Laojun Mountain is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Sichuan Province.

Laojun Mountain is located in Zhenxi Town and consists of Big Laojun Mountain, Little Laojun Mountain, Zhaiziyan Rock, Hekou Reservoir, and others. It lies 22 kilometers from the county seat and is renowned for its long history, profound cultural heritage, and spectacular, rugged natural scenery.

Since the establishment of Weiyuan County in the Sui Dynasty, Big Laojun Mountain has been the boundary between Weiyuan and Rong counties. It was part of the land granted by King Wu of Zhou during the Western Zhou to the Duke of Rong, also known as Rongde Mountain. Legend says that Laozi once refined elixirs here, and the Tang-Song era Taoist sage Chen Tuan (alias Fuyaozi, posthumously honored as Master Xiyi by Emperor Taizong of Song) practiced Taoism here, hence it is also called Xiyi Mountain. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, Laojun Mountain has become a sacred site for Taoism and a famous scenic destination. The “Qing Dynasty Weiyuan County Annals” refer to it as “Laojun’s Alchemy Stove,” making it one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Weiyuan. With an elevation of over 800 meters, the mountain is majestic and steep, featuring sheer cliffs that rise sharply into the clouds, embodying the precipitous beauty of Huashan Mountain. There is only a narrow, steep, winding path from the foot to the summit, and climbing requires the use of both hands and feet. On the southwestern cliff of the mountain are four engraved poems, four niches of Tang and Song dynasty statues, three cliff inscriptions, and three inscribed characters. Among the cliff carvings, the statue of Laozi and his attendant guardian deity are relatively well-preserved and representative. The joint Buddhist-Taoist niche sculpture is extremely rare in Sichuan. The most outstanding of the poems is one by Zhao Xi, a late Qing Dynasty Hanlin scholar and poet from Rong County: “A fleeting thought cast me into this world in a former life, / I drift above the mortal realm, riding the wind back. / When autumn comes, I transform into a crane for three thousand years, / Standing alone atop Rongzhou’s highest mountain.” The three inscribed characters are “Smoke and Rosy Clouds” (烟霞), “Cloud Ladder” (云梯), and “Elixir Cliff” (丹岩). On the southwestern side of the mountain is an ancient cave, said to have been where Laozi lived while refining alchemy; it is called the “Immortal Cave.” South of Big Laojun Mountain lies Master Lu Cliff, which features four niches of Tang dynasty cliff carvings. The mountain also preserves remnants of the ancient fortress of Jisheng Fort.

Zhaiziyan Mountain Fortress is situated at Yan Changhe Dam along the road to Laojun Mountain and was built during the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty. Currently, a section of the fortress wall and a stone chamber remain, along with the Moon Gate, ruins of the Yang Family Courtyard, and more than ten stone inscriptions such as “Tianbao Pavilion,” “Flower-Viewing Terrace,” and “Sleeping Owl Bridge.” Among them, the square-shaped character “Owl” (约 two meters across) halfway up the mountain is the largest discovered inscription in Weiyuan to date. In the river below the fortress lies a mushroom-shaped boulder perched on a solid rock base, appearing as if it might topple yet standing firm like bedrock—it's called the “Ox Heart Stone.”

Little Laojun Mountain is located about 6 kilometers east of Big Laojun Mountain. It is sharp and elegant, with a summit area of less than 50 square meters. The entire mountain resembles an eagle poised to take flight. At its base lies Hekou Reservoir, where the water is crystal clear and rippling. At the source of the reservoir is a spring, as thick as a bowl, gushing out from a crevice—this is the famous “Dragon Cave Spring.” Nearby attractions include the Character Tower, the Monument to Fallen Soldiers of the Anti-Japanese War, and Bifo Cave. Town West is also known for its local specialties of pickled radish and peanut candy.

Weiyuan Laojun Mountain Cliff Carvings (Weiyuan County)

Protected Area: 30-meter extension beyond the mountain's base.

Construction Control Zone: 70-meter extension from the protected area.

Source of Information: County Chronicles Office

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units