Golden Mountain Ridge

Golden Mountain Ridge

Golden Mountain Ridge, with an elevation of 2,310 meters and covering an area of about three square kilometers, stretches from east to west. Its northern slope is flat and covered with thatch grass, serving as a natural pasture where the mountains glow golden in the morning and evening sunlight. The southern slope features dense forests of pine and fir in the valleys, with clusters of willow and birch trees that cast deep shade over the moon. It is said that nearby Dayun Temple once attempted to transplant pine and cypress trees to various locations in the southern mountains, but none survived. Finally, when the main hall of the temple was oriented toward Golden Mountain Ridge and small pine trees were brought back from there, they thrived and remain lush to this day. Deeply grateful, the monks built a mountain god shrine along the path where they carried the saplings back (the shrine still stands today) to honor the spiritual energy of Golden Mountain Ridge. They pay homage there on the second and sixteenth of every month.

Why does Golden Mountain Ridge possess such spiritual energy? Legend has it that after Guanyin Bodhisattva used her willow branch to drip water from her pure vase and create the “Sacred Pool,” she remained concerned about whether the water might flood the surrounding people. Amid her busy schedule, she rode a cloud to Lu Ya and paused at the summit of Golden Mountain Ridge. Looking down at the sacred waters, she saw that the pool’s level was neither too high nor too low, and the water was clear and pristine—this put her mind at ease, and she was just about to return when she noticed the mountaintop was windswept and barren, devoid of even a blade of grass. With a gentle touch of her fingertip, she transferred the grasses from all the surrounding mountains to the summit of Golden Mountain Ridge. Since then, the ridge has been covered with golden-hued vegetation. From atop Golden Mountain Ridge, one can enjoy a full view of the Sacred Pool.