Xianju Mountain

　　Xianju Mountain Scenic Area is located in Xianju Township, Dongbao District, Jingmen City, Hubei Province, covering an area of 50 square kilometers. The scenic area is rich in tourism resources and features numerous sites with profound cultural heritage. It includes attractions such as Xianju Lake Scenic Area—known as the “Little Three Gorges”—the Sigou Waterfall Cluster, Fanwang Fort, Xianglong Cave, and Xianju Pagoda Forest, as well as captivating legends like the “Fairy Maiden Cave,” “Mother and Son Cave,” “Nezha Wreaking Havoc in the Sea,” and “Sisters’ River.” There are also historical relics from the Three Kingdoms period, such as the Xianju Horse-Catching Cave, Horse Hoof Rock, and the ancient Shizikou Post Station, along with red revolutionary sites including Jingmen’s first Soviet government, the Political Department of the Red Ninth Army, and Tianxing Fort. Additionally, there is the site of Xianju Temple, which rivals the fame of Jingmen’s Dongshan Pagoda and Dangyang’s Yuquan Temple, as well as the thousand-year-old Xianju Old Street, ancient soapberry trees, and well-preserved historic structures like the 300-year-old Cai Family Memorial Archway and Qing Dynasty-era traditional houses.

　　　　Xianju Mountain Scenic Area is situated in Xianju Township, Dongbao District, Jingmen City, Hubei Province. Xianju Township is beautiful and mysterious. In ancient times, it was known for its lush green mountains, clear waters, and stunning scenery, believed to be a gathering place for immortals due to its heavenly ambiance. Hence, it earned the name “Xianju,” meaning “Abode of Immortals.”

　　　　Xianju Mountain Scenic Area spans 50 square kilometers. The area is rich in tourism resources and features numerous sites with profound cultural heritage. It includes attractions such as Xianju Lake Scenic Area—known as the “Little Three Gorges”—the Sigou Waterfall Cluster, Fanwang Fort, Xianglong Cave, and Xianju Pagoda Forest, as well as captivating legends like the “Fairy Maiden Cave,” “Mother and Son Cave,” “Nezha Wreaking Havoc in the Sea,” and “Sisters’ River.” There are also historical relics from the Three Kingdoms period, such as the Xianju Horse-Catching Cave, Horse Hoof Rock, and the ancient Shizikou Post Station, along with red revolutionary sites including Jingmen’s first Soviet government, the Political Department of the Red Ninth Army, and Tianxing Fort. Additionally, there is the site of Xianju Temple, which rivals the fame of Jingmen’s Dongshan Pagoda and Dangyang’s Yuquan Temple, as well as the thousand-year-old Xianju Old Street, ancient soapberry trees, and well-preserved historic structures like the 300-year-old Cai Family Memorial Archway and Qing Dynasty-era traditional houses.

　　　　Xianju Mountain Scenic Area is not only rich in cultural and natural attractions but also features a high concentration of sites. Xianju Lake is an artificial lake, divided into South Lake and North Lake. Xianju South Lake is located 2 kilometers south of Xianju Township and contains four islands, offering a landscape where mountains rise from the water and water mirrors the mountains. Xianju North Lake, situated 1.5 kilometers west of the township, is the largest manually constructed double-curved continuous arch dam lake in Hubei Province, built with seven arches and eight piers. The lake water is crystal clear and is home to a well-preserved “Carp Spirit” rock formation, two orange islets, the legendary “Fairy Maiden Cave” and “Mother and Son Cave.”

　　　　The Horse-Catching Cave is located in Culian Village, 4 kilometers west of Xianju Township. It can be accessed by boat from Xianju North Lake and is a relic from the Three Kingdoms period. The Xianju Pagoda Forest is situated in Group 1 of Fawang Village by Xianju South Lake. Originally home to over 100 pagodas, some were destroyed during the construction of the South Lake Reservoir and the Xianju Pyrite Mine. Today, only three pagodas remain, built during the Qianlong and Daoguang reigns of the Qing Dynasty. These six-story pagodas, each about 7 meters tall, are constructed entirely from whole stone slabs. Fanwang Fort is located in Group 2 of Fawang Village, approximately 4 kilometers from Xianju Township.

　　　　The site of Xianju Temple is located in Group 2 of Fawang Village, about 6 kilometers southwest of the township. According to the Jingmen Prefecture Records, the temple was originally built during the Sui Dynasty, just two years after Yuquan Temple in Dangyang. It was rebuilt in the spring of the first year of the Hongxi era during the Ming Dynasty. The temple was built against the mountain, featuring spectacular architecture amidst steep cliffs and layered peaks, and was once a bustling place of worship. Later, it suffered damage from bombings by Japanese invaders and destruction during the Great Leap Forward’s steel production campaign. Today, only three stone Buddha statues remain. The Xianju Temple Gully Waterfall is located in Group 1 of Fawang Village, about 7 kilometers southwest of the township. This waterfall forms a nine-tier cascade along the mountain terrain, stretching 2 kilometers in total.

　　　　The Cai Family Filial Piety Memorial Archway is located in the old street of Xianju. Carved from stone, the archway was built in November of the 12th year of the Qianlong reign. Despite centuries of weathering, it remains well-preserved, with vividly carved patterns on its plaques. It is now a provincial-level key cultural relic protection site.

　　　　To further promote tourism development, Xianju Township, with strong support from Jingmen City and Dongbao District, established a Rural Tourism Development Co., Ltd. The company is mainly responsible for tourism reception, organizing various events, and negotiating tourism development investments. It has signed contracts with ten travel agencies—including Haiyan, Zhongjia, and Youth Travel—for the launch of one-day Xianju tour routes and has opened direct tourist bus services from Jingmen to the Sigou Waterfall. It is an ideal destination for leisure and adventure.

　　Source: Official Website of the People's Government of Hubei Province