Guan Mountain

　　To the east of Xihe County, a mountain winds its way from the southeast, turning majestically to stand tall toward the east. Covered year-round with lush cypresses, the area boasts serene scenery and beautiful landscapes—this is Guan Mountain. At the summit of Guan Mountain, the terrain is open and spacious, and at its highest point stands Chaoyang Temple.

　　At the summit of Guan Mountain, the terrain is open and spacious, and at its highest point stands Chaoyang Temple. The temple was first built in ancient times and was reconstructed during the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty. It features the Three Pure Ones Hall and the Lingxiao Pavilion, which rises several zhang high and has an imposing structure. The deities enshrined here include the True Martial Emperor, the Eight Immortals, the Medicine King, and the Three Officials, among others. In the second year of the Tongzhi reign (1863), when Taiping Rebellion general Cao Canzhang and Lai Yunguang laid siege to Xihe County, the buildings of Chaoyang Temple were completely destroyed, leaving only one ancient cypress tree. In the first year of the Republic of China (1912), Chaoyang Temple was rebuilt, with the Lingxiao Pavilion alone taking seven years to complete. The structure features carved beams and painted rafters, with upturned eaves. The main hall enshrines the True Martial Emperor, with the Three Yang Ancestors on the right, and the rear hall is dedicated to Guan Yu, the God of War. Later, the Heavenly Tower and Heavenly Gate were added. In 1962, Chaoyang Temple was destroyed by fire. In recent years, devotees have raised funds to rebuild the temple. There are now six temples with 22 rooms and 35 alchemy rooms. In 2004, it was approved by Gansu Province as a Taoist activity site in Xihe County.

　　A theater stage was built on Chaoyang Temple. Every year on the Dragon Boat Festival, a temple fair is held, drawing large crowds of visitors to the mountain, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

　　In recent years, the Xihe County Party Committee and County Government have designated Guan Mountain as a key leisure and tourism base. They hired professional design institutes to plan the development, increased investment, and revitalized the appearance of Guan Mountain. Classical-style structures such as the mountain gate and pavilions are being built on the mountain, the mountain road has been paved, and the area has undergone conversion from farmland back to forest. Guan Mountain has been preliminarily positioned as a botanical garden. According to the plan, the Guan Mountain Botanical Garden will consist of a Bamboo Garden, Rose Garden, Peony Garden, Peach Garden, Willow Garden, Crabapple Garden, Cedar Garden, Sophora Tree Garden, Fragrance Garden, Plum Garden, and Apricot Garden. Currently, seedlings for all gardens have been planted. Here, hundreds of flowers bloom vibrantly, trees thrive competitively, and rare plants vie in beauty.