Longwang Mountain in Ankang

　　   The summit of Longwang Mountain is open and shaded by ancient trees, with one temple and one shrine: the temple is Longxing Temple, built during the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty. The architectural complex is quite large and the temple is very popular among worshippers. The Ancestral Master Shrine, located about a hundred meters away, was built in the first year of the Ming Dynasty’s Tian Shun era (1457 AD). It is known for its highly accurate divinations. During the San Yue San Temple Fair, which lasts several days every year around the third day of the third lunar month, pilgrims number over ten thousand.

　　   A local saying goes: “Observe the clouds on Longwang Mountain, and you’ll know the weather—rain, shine, or storm.” In the old days, people believed that dragons controlled the rain, and during severe droughts, they would bathe, fast, gather in groups, and hike up the mountain to pray for rain. Standing atop the mountain and looking around, the picturesque river town unfolds before your eyes, making it a true gem of Jinzhou. According to local elders, during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, the leader of the White Lotus Sect, Qi Wangshi (wife of Qi Lin), once occupied this mountain to preach and train troops to resist Qing forces. When the Qing army laid siege and attacked, they destroyed temples and nailed people to the walls, devastating the once-pristine landscape. The site was later restored during the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty.