Nanhai Temple

　　Nanhai Temple, situated south of Guide City, is one of the "Eight Ancient Scenic Spots." The mountain looks like a dragon lying in wait. In front of the mountain are the Guanyin Bodhisattva Temple of the South Sea, the Three Pure Ones Palace, and the Queen Mother’s Taoist Palace, while at the summit stands the Wenfeng Pavilion. Stone archways and Buddhist pagodas are tucked among weeping willows and pine trees, while temple halls and palace walls are nestled between streams and rocky cliffs. A small bridge winds across the mountainside where streams murmur softly, ancient trees tower overhead casting deep shade. On auspicious days and festive occasions, visitors flock here in great numbers.

　　Historical Legends

　　It was first built in the late Ming Dynasty, constructed along the mountain ridge from east to west. The mountain is said to resemble a dragon, believed to be the location of a dragon vein. The local tale widely circulated is that the Ming Dynasty chancellor Liu Bowen sent men to sever this dragon vein.

　　There is a magical legend about this ancient mountain: At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Chancellor Liu Bowen discovered nine moving dragon veins across the country. Among them, the one on Meizi Mountain was the largest. Because the mountain is shaped like a dragon, it is said to be the site of a dragon vein. This mountain was shifting downward, and if the dragon’s head reached the banks of the Yellow River and drank its waters, then Guide—a place known for its refined aura—would surely give birth to a “true dragon” (i.e., an emperor). When Emperor Hongwu Zhu Yuanzhang heard of this, he was both startled and alarmed. Since his empire had been hard-won through the efforts of countless soldiers, he feared losing it. He quickly dispatched his trusted minister and then-chancellor Liu Bowen to Guide to cut off the dragon vein. The person sent was originally from Qingtian, which later gave rise to the story of “Qingtian Severing the Dragon Vein.” As they dug to sever the vein, something strange occurred: every day, the spot that had been excavated would quietly close up again at night. After several days with no progress, they were at a loss. Eventually, upon the advice of a wise figure, they built a Guanyin Bodhisattva Hall midway up Meizi Mountain and enshrined the Goddess of Mercy to suppress the dragon’s head, after which they successfully severed the vein. During the excavation, red soil—still moist—was unearthed, and locals believed it to be the dragon’s blood flowing from the broken vein. Looking down, you can see the saddle-shaped gap where the dragon vein was cut—it’s as deep as a three-story building.

　　Since then, this ancient mountain has drawn countless visitors from all over the world, who come to examine the remnants of the severed vein and listen to the wondrous tale of the “Qingtian Severing of the Dragon Vein.”

　　Cultural Background

　　During the “Great Leap Forward” in 1958, under the slogan of “eliminating superstition,” not a single one of Guide’s Nanhai Temple, the Town God’s Temple, the Confucian Temple, or the Wenchang Temple was spared from demolition. Treating ancient relics as “superstition” was a tragedy of that particular era. In 1985, the public pooled funds to rebuild the Bodhisattva Hall, Wenfeng Pavilion, and other structures including pavilions, terraces, towers, and gazebos. Behind the pavilion, a stone tablet was erected inscribed with the four grand characters “人文蔚起” (Humanities Flourish), reflecting the cultural aspirations of the people of Guide. Mr. Zhang Yinxi wrote a poem: “Lingering palaces and lofty halls stand in varied heights, a belt of misty smoke sets off the evening glow. The boundless void fosters a serene heart, while murmuring streams accompany forest crows.”

　　The Nanhai Temple scenic area is celebrated as “The Sound of Streams at Nanhai” among Guide’s “Eight Ancient Scenic Spots.” Ascending Meizi Mountain allows you to not only enjoy the sweeping views and admire Guide’s beautiful pastoral scenery but also to witness the remnants of the “Qingtian Severing of the Dragon Vein.” It is a tourist destination where Taoism, Han Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism coexist harmoniously.