Laoye Mountain Scenic Area in Changzhi

Laoye Mountain Scenic Area in Changzhi

Laoye Mountain Scenic Area in Changzhi

A key cultural relics protection unit of Shanxi Province. Laoye Mountain is renowned both at home and abroad for being the main battlefield of the Shangdang Campaign. The three... (segment truncated)

Laoye Mountain, originally named San?jiu Jian, is located approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Changzhi City and falls under the jurisdiction of Shanglian Township. It lies between 36.27 degrees north latitude and 113.46 degrees east longitude. To the east, it borders the Bajin Railway and the Jintai Highway, providing direct access to Taiyuan; to the south, it overlooks the ancient town of Yuwu, once a strategic hub known as the “thoroughfare of Shanxi”; to the north, it neighbors Xiangyuan County, where the sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard; and to the west, it leans against towering, majestic mountains, making it a truly auspicious site. The mountain features three peaks standing in a row: one called Línshān (Qilin Mountain), one called Língshān (Spirit Mountain), and one called Xúlíngshān (Xu Ling Mountain). According to the naming convention for multiple adjacent peaks — referred to as “?jin” — this group is collectively called “San?jiu,” meaning “Three Peaks.” Owing to the local people’s deep affection for the mountain, it is commonly called “Laoye Shan” (Old Master Mountain). The mountain is rich in vegetation, and locals also refer to it as “Lǜshān” (Green Mountain). Among these, the western peak rises abruptly from the ground, its main summit (commonly called “Huoshan,” or Fire Mountain) standing at 266 meters above sea level, making it the highest among the surrounding ridges. Hence, Laoye Mountain is also known as Qilin Mountain.

During the Anti-Japanese War, the Eighth Route Army, county brigades, guerrilla forces, and militias, all composed of Communist Party members, relied on Laoye Mountain as their base and engaged in a long, unyielding, and heroic struggle against the invaders. After Japan’s surrender, this area became the main battlefield of the Shangdang Campaign.

In mid-to-late September 1945, Liu Bocheng, Commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military District, and other leaders led troops to liberate the five counties of Xiangyuan, Tunliu, Lucheng, Huguan, and Zhangzi. In early October, at Laoye Mountain, they intercepted over 22,000 reinforcements heading for Shangdang — consisting of three armies and eight divisions — commanded by Peng Yubin, commander of Yan Xishan’s Seventh Army Group, and Hu Sanyu, commander of the Artillery Corps. After four days and three nights of fierce fighting, the enemy forces were completely annihilated. This played a decisive role in securing the final victory of the Shangdang Campaign and stands as a shining example of our forces defeating a better-equipped enemy with inferior gear, and achieving a complete victory against greater numbers with fewer troops.

To this day, only one Lotus Relic Pagoda remains, its surface scarred with visible bullet holes. The pagoda stands 13 meters tall and is a nine-story, square, dense-eave structure. To commemorate the revolutionary martyrs, in 1964, the Laoye Mountain battlefield site was designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit. To honor their past valor, a memorial pavilion was erected in 1986 along with a memorial stele. The inscription on the stele details the battle, the heroic deeds of the revolutionaries, and their arduous journey.

In ancient times, Laoye Mountain was the setting for legendary tales of mythic proportions. The “Huainanzi” records: “Emperor Yao ordered Yi to shoot down nine suns on San?jiu Jian,” where the suns were said to perch. Due to such legendary events, the mountain was esteemed during the Tang and Song dynasties, becoming a sacred site associated with deities. Later, numerous legends and poetic tributes emerged. Over time, temples and altars were built on the mountain.

In ancient times, the three peaks of San?jiu Jian were believed to be capable of influencing the weather — bringing rain when needed or sunshine in due season. Historical records state that in years of drought, people would come here to pray, and often within days, rain would fall. Nearby villages, including Shangdian, Zhongdian, Xiadian, Nandian, Beidian, Dongcun, Xicun, and Licun, all had residents who regularly made pilgrimages to the mountain. The streams flowing down the mountain were crystal clear, attracting visitors. However, during wartime, many of these cultural sites were destroyed, leaving few traces behind. Fortunately, the main peak still retained some remnants. On May 24, 1965, the Shanxi Provincial People’s Government designated it as one of the first batch of key cultural relics protection units in the province.

Contact Number: 0355-7675066

Address: Laoye Mountain, Shanglian Township, Tunliu County, Changzhi City

Scenic Area Related Facilities: At the entrance of the scenic area at the foot of Laoye Mountain, there is a parking lot. The nearest gas station is in Tunliu County. Tunliu County has a People’s Hospital. Banks in Tunliu County include Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and Postal Savings Bank.

Transportation: During the tourist high season, there are shuttle buses from the county town to Laoye Mountain, averaging one every half hour. There are also buses from Changzhi City to Laoye Mountain, passing by Yuwu Industrial Park, Laoye Mountain Ecological Park, Millennium White Pine, and Shangdang Journalists’ Forest along the way. Normally, there are no buses, but you can take a taxi from Tunliu County to get there, which costs around 50 yuan.