Xiangyan Panoramic View

Xiangyan Panoramic View

On the south gate of the drum tower in the city center of Zhongwei, there is a plaque inscribed with “Facing Xiangyan.” It refers to Xiangshan Mountain, located in the southern part of Zhongwei. During the Ming Dynasty, the Xiangshan area was part of the fiefdom of Prince Qing, the 16th son of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. By the Qing Dynasty, it had been incorporated into the jurisdiction of Zhongwei County.

Xiangshan’s peaks rise and fall continuously, extending endlessly. Its main peak stands at an elevation of 2,361 meters, thrusting majestically above the surrounding mountains with a grand and imposing presence. At the summit lies a natural flat platform where, in ancient times, the “Xiangyan Temple” was built. Later, as more and more worshippers came to burn incense and pray, the temple gradually became known among visitors and locals as the “Xiangshan Temple.”

The Xiangshan Temple has undergone multiple renovations over time, growing increasingly grand and spectacular. Looking around the temple, one sees overlapping mountain ranges and peaks all lying below, evoking the very feeling of “standing atop the highest peak, viewing all other mountains as small.” Gazing northward, one takes in the vast expanse of desert, the Yellow River stretching like a silk ribbon, villages scattered like stars, and roads crisscrossing in all directions—offering travelers a breathtaking, soul-refreshing view. The Qing Dynasty poet Song Ji praised the scene in his poem "Climbing Xiangyan": “The ancient temple in the border town stands towering; I could spend all day here and not wish to leave. Gazing down at river and mountain, my vision expands—I feel as if standing atop the Rain Flower Terrace.”

Ningxia Zhongwei