Mount Yishen

Mount Yishen

Those who have visited Zhangjiajie Forest Park often say that its fantastical beauty and charm lie in its peculiar mountains, pristine waters, and serene forests. Similarly, in Tunliu, there is also a scenic area that wins visitors over with its unique mountain terrain—Mount Yishen. Located south of Tunliu County, Mount Yishen stands 1,021 meters high. Though it lacks towering, precipitous peaks, its winding and twisting ridges resemble a coiled dragon, shrouded in clouds and mist, appearing and disappearing in a fantastical beauty. To the west of Mount Yishen lies Phoenix Mountain, on which stands the Temple of Wang Bo-dang. Wang Bo-dang was a general of the Wagang Army, a peasant rebellion force during the late Sui Dynasty. A native of Xunyi in Rongyang, he was once granted the title of Marquis of Langya by Li Mi. In the 14th year of the Daye era, when Li Mi was defeated by Wang Shichong,

he and Li Mi surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, but later rebelled against it together. When he fled to the Jianqian area of Mount Yishen, he was shot dead by pursuing Tang troops. He was buried at Wangmu Ridge at the foot of Mount Yishen. The locals, admiring his loyalty and righteousness, built the Temple of Wang Bo-dang on Phoenix Mountain in his honor. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Emperor Xiaowen passed through this area and, seeing the misty, undulating mountain ridges that resembled a moving serpent or dragon, bestowed upon it the name Mount Yishen. On the mountain stands the Temple of Emperor Xiaowen of Wei. The temple faces south and is built in a traditional quadrangle layout, complete with a stage and side rooms. From afar, Mount Yishen appears indistinct, like a soaring dragon wreathed in clouds, now visible, now hidden.