Heilong Temple Mountain Forest

Heilong Temple Mountain Forest

Heilong Temple Mountain Forest is a cultural tourism attraction.

Heilong Temple Mountain Forest

Heilong Temple Mountain Forest derives its name from the Heilong Temple. The entire mountain forest is located over 20 kilometers from the county town and is managed by the Heilong Temple Forest Farm. The farm’s administrative area spans the first to sixth gullies of Heilongbei Mountain, covering a mountainous area of 36,310 mu.

“Heilongbei” is the colloquial name; in reality, it is the northern foothills of the main peak of Liubingtai, the second highest peak in Tianzhen. In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, natural birch forests covered the first to sixth gullies. As these were natural public forests, they were repeatedly cut down by local residents, occurring twice during the Republican era alone. However, the birch forests regenerated time and again, including white birch, red birch, mountain poplar, mountain willow, mountain apricot, small-leaved poplar, green poplar, and mountain elm. The shrub vegetation comprised over 30 species such as Lespedeza bicolor, hazel, wild rose, lilac, yellow rose, rose, and peach thickets, as well as alpine meadow grasses like sheep fescue. There were also fungal plants such as pine mushrooms, birch mushrooms, field mushrooms, giant puffballs (some as large as washbasins), poria cocos, poria spirit, and polyporus umbellatus. The entire mountainside was dense with trees, with shrubs and grasses woven together like a carpet. Viewed from afar, the dark green undulations resembled a black dragon, hence the colloquial name “Heilongbei.” Around 1940, during the puppet Tianzhen County government period, over 100 mu of spruce trees were planted.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, there was always one forest ranger assigned to oversee this mountain forest. In 1960, the state-owned Heilong Temple Forest Farm was officially established to manage the regenerating birch forests. Artificial cultivation of small-leaved poplar began, and species such as larch and Korean pine were planted on the mountain. As a result, Heilong Temple Mountain Forest received better management and regeneration, with the forested area increasing to over 36,000 mu. Within the forest lies the site of the Heilong Temple, not far from which, halfway up the mountain, are two “Dragon Eye Springs.” These springs are close to each other, never drying up in drought nor overflowing in flood. The monks of the temple and the livestock grazing in the mountains could drink from them endlessly, leading people to say they were the “dragon eyes” of the Black Dragon. Each of the six gullies has clear streams seeping through. Among the woods and grasses live over 20 species of birds and animals, including black-winged eagles, mountain swallows, magpies, red-billed crows, sparrows, great tits, yellow buntings, pheasants, partridges, half-pheasants, lizards, snakes, badgers, weasels, owls, stripe-backed mice, roe deer, mole rats, mountain foxes, woodpeckers, rock pigeons, francolins, and rabbits. Visiting the mountain in summer and autumn, one enjoys fragrant flowers, birdsong, babbling streams, dense greenery, and fresh air—truly delightful.

“Heilongbei” is home to the Heilong Temple. The Black Dragon King enshrined in the temple was renowned throughout the county before liberation for its “efficacy” in praying for rain. Its status was higher than that of dragon kings in other temples—that is, when the Black Dragon King made an outing, he was carried in a large sedan chair borne by eight people, whereas those of other temples used chairs borne by only four or two people. In 1929, during a severe drought, the 28 villages east of the county town jointly prayed for rain. The Black Dragon King was carried out in an eight-man sedan chair, gathering at Daqiao and Baojiatun villages before entering the county town. The county magistrate crossed the “river” barefoot to welcome the entourage into the town for a ceremony. At noon, after dining at local households, the 28 villages’ prayer groups left the town, conducting rituals village by village until returning to Heilong Temple. It is said that light rain fell in the eastern part of the town.

The Heilong Temple was demolished during the Cultural Revolution. Some bricks, tiles, and a millstone remain at the site. The “Heilong Twin Springs” are located on the eastern slope of the temple ruins. Shaded by trees, the springs are crystal clear.

Address: Over 20 kilometers from the county town, Tianzhen County, Datong City, Shanxi Province