Lüshi Baofeng Mountain

Lüshi Baofeng Mountain

Lüshi Baofeng Mountain is located in the southern part of Guihua Village, Xiaoshentou Township, about 25 kilometers east of Lüshi City. Also known as Baopen Mountain, Baofeng Mountain features precipitous cliffs, dense forests, and verdant slopes stretching for dozens of miles covered with pine and cypress trees that remain green all year round. Even a slight breeze can send rustling sounds echoing through the entire valley.

The Baofeng Mountain Taoist Temple was first established during the Yuanshi era (1–5 AD) of Emperor Ping of the Han Dynasty. It consists of three mountain gates and 12 individual structures, arranged across three courtyards, with four halls in each courtyard. The ancient buildings span five dynasties: Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, though most date back to the Tang and Song periods. Three inscribed stelae from the Ming and Qing dynasties recount the temple’s restoration efforts at the time. The mountain is also home to 12 scenic sites, including the Maitreya Pagoda, the Eight-Dragon Water Mother Hall, the Ten Kings Hall, the Queen Mother Hall, the Five Sacred Mountains Hall, the Thousand Buddha Hall, the Huang? Ten Thousand Gods Hall, and the Glazed Hall.

On the cliffs there lies a huge rock weighing over 3,000 jin (approximately 1.5 metric tons), measuring 4.3 meters in length and 1.8 meters in width. Shaped like a turtle, it is called the “Turtle Rock.” According to an inscription on a stele, “when one person lies on it, the rock moves; when more people do, it remains still,” making it a marvel. In harmony with the Turtle Rock are other uniquely shaped rocks such as “Stone Statue Greeting Guests,” “Dragon Probing the Sea,” and “Stone Ape Measuring the Sun.” The mountain forest is also home to intriguing natural formations like “Sisters Sharing Roots,” “Brothers Standing Together,” “Couple in Blossom,” and “Mother and Child in Embrace,” all sparking the imagination.

The Maitreya Pagoda is a Tang Dynasty structure and the oldest building on Baofeng Mountain. It was repaired during the Song Dynasty and now stands at a remaining height of about 7 meters. The solid, square, two-story pavilion-style pagoda is built with finely cut bricks and features imitation wooden bracket sets. Black glazed reliefs were added to the eastern and western sides of the base during the Song Dynasty restoration, demonstrating exquisite craftsmanship. For thousands of years, it has stood firmly against the elements, surviving lightning strikes that partially damaged it, yet it still proudly towers atop Baofeng Mountain.

The Jade Emperor Tongming Hall features an intricately designed octagonal dome, showcasing unique architectural artistry. The Thousand Buddha Hall originally housed thousands of Buddha statues, over a thousand of which remain today. Each statue has a distinct expression and looks remarkably lifelike. The Huang? Ten Thousand Gods Hall covers nearly 40 square meters and contains Yuan Dynasty murals spanning over 30 square meters. Painted directly on a base of rammed earth using traditional fine-brush heavy-color techniques, the murals depict over a thousand deities from the heavenly, earthly, and aquatic realms. The lively expressions, smooth brushwork, and vibrant colors make this a rare and magnificent mural of the pantheon.

Although Baofeng Mountain is a Taoist site, the deities worshipped there differed significantly between the Ming and Qing dynasties. During the Ming Dynasty, the mountain enshrined the Jade Emperor, Eight-Dragon Water Mother, Queen Mother, Five Sacred Mountains Goddess, River God, Earth God, Ten Thousand Buddhas, and Guanyin. In the Qing Dynasty, the deities included the Jade Emperor, the Three Teachings, Queen Mother, Guanyin, Guan Yu, Goddess, Spirit Official, and Dragon King.

Phone: 0358-8231149

Fax: 0358-8221639

Address: Lüshi District, Lüliang City, Shanxi Province