Ziyun Rock

　　Ziyun Rock, also known as Ziyun Chan Temple, is located in Gaokeng, Yinan’ou, Shima Town, Longhai City, Zhangzhou, Fujian Province. Originally called Shipi Rock, it was first built during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty. Facing west and situated eastward, it enshrines the Three Jewels Buddha and Guanyin Bodhisattva. During the Ming Dynasty, scholar Lü Binxī from Chengyi hid in the temple to study. Due to the purple clouds that gathered in the sky above the rock temple, he later passed the imperial examination at the prefectural level. To commemorate the place where his success began, he contributed funds to renovate the temple and commissioned golden statues of the Buddha. It is said that purple clouds covering the summit are an auspicious sign, hence the name Ziyun Rock.

　　Blessed with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and picturesque scenery, Ziyun Rock has been a retreat for scholars and dignitaries throughout history. Historical figures such as Ming Dynasty censor Shen Yuan, second-rank imperial examinee Lu Qi, imperial examinee Gao Kuan, selected scholar Gao Wensheng, and metropolitan censorate inspector Lü Chunchui all studied here and achieved fame.

　　Due to the changes of time, the temple has experienced cycles of prosperity and decline. After three reconstructions during the Qing Dynasty in the Kangxi, Qianlong, and Guangxu eras, the reconstruction steles still remain. In 1987, the Chan temple was renovated again. To this day, the temple stands majestic, the Buddha statues solemn, and the mountain rock even more beautiful. The temple site is now a county-level cultural relic protection unit.

　　Ziyun Rock features layered green mountains, uniquely shaped rocks, and refreshing springs. With lush pines and bamboos, fruit tree forests, blooming wildflowers, and verdant grass, it enjoys a mild climate that is warm in winter and cool in summer, remaining green all year round—like a fairyland. Since ancient times, it has been a famous scenic destination and is now the main attraction of Ziyun Rock Park, drawing visitors and worshippers along its mountain paths.

　　Ziyun Rock boasts many scenic highlights: “Ancient Banyan Embracing the Moon,” also known as “Welcoming Guest Ancient Banyan,” is located on the western side of Gaokeng Village at the foot of Ziyun Rock. Nestled among verdant pines and bamboos and behind the huge rocks by Zhaitan, there stands an old banyan tree with a long history. Growing from a crevice in the rock, the banyan is robust with thick roots. On moonlit nights, its shadow reflects in the pond, creating a scene of the ancient banyan embracing the moon, where water and sky merge into one. The view captivates the heart and lifts the spirit. There is also the “Hall Tiger Cave,” commonly known as “Tiger Hall Tiger Room,” a natural large cave next to “Ancient Banyan Embracing the Moon” that can accommodate over a hundred people. Known in ancient times as a haunt for tigers, it later became a summer retreat for visitors and a shelter during air raids in the war against Japan. At that time, residents of Shima sought refuge in the villages around Gaokeng, and this cave was considered the safest. (Later demolished due to construction, only ruins remain.)

　　There is the “Golden Rooster Pecking at Stone” located beside the mountain path. The “Training Plaza” is a newly developed area in front of the mountain gate of the ancient Ziyun Temple. Before dawn, the plaza is crowded with people practicing martial arts and exercises, hence its name. The “Big Tree Clamping Stone” is a unique sight near Ziyun Temple, where tree branches hold a stone. This stone was lodged there in the early 1940s when Japanese planes bombed Gaokeng Shipu, sending debris flying and embedding the stone in the tree. The “Sweet Spring Water” feature includes springs on the rock and wells in Gaokeng, known for their clear, sweet water that never dries up even in severe drought. Visitors love the sweet water of Ziyun, and residents of Shima often form long queues to hike up the mountain in the early morning and evening to collect it. The “Scenic Mountain Form” offers views from the sides of the temple: looking west down the hill, you can see “Red Snake Emerging from the Cave.” Further west along the mountain ridge, you’ll find the scenic spots “Fairy Casting a Net” and “Beauty Admiring Her Reflection.” The “Mountain Path Scenery” takes you from the temple up to DazhaWei Summit, where you can watch the sunrise, see the point where the Long River meets the sea, take in views of famous mountains in all directions, overlook the entire panorama of Shima, visit the ruins of the two strongholds used by the Ming Dynasty national hero Zheng Chenggong in his resistance against the Qing, and admire various oddly shaped rock formations such as Stone Oxen, Stone Turtles, and the Fairy’s Bed.