Wushi Mountain

　　Introduction? Mother–Son Camphor Trees – Ancient Post Road – (General Yue Fei’s Horse-Riding Trail) – Stone Gate in the Breeze – Alpine Beach – Fuhui Temple – Tang Dynasty Ginkgo – Giant Rocks Encircling the City (Stone Great Wall) – Panoramic View of the Golden and Qu River Plains (sunrise · city lights) – Sweet Spring of the Mountain Temple.

　　Dear visitors, welcome to Wushi Mountain in Quzhou, a city renowned for its landscapes and wonders. This is a scenic area that combines natural scenery, cultural heritage, and geological formations.

　　Wushi Mountain (formerly known as Wuzhi Mountain) has an elevation of 521 meters. It lies at the northern foothills of Hushan (761m), an extension of the Huaiyu Mountain Range, where it meets the southern edge of the Quzhou–Jinhua Basin. The mountain sits at the junction of Jiangshan, Changshan, and Kecheng counties, featuring highly diverse geological and landform features. The Changshan National Geopark is located on the southwestern foothills of Hushan, while Jiangshan’s Paleontological Reserve is situated on the southeastern side. The mountain is surrounded by giant rocks forming a wall-like formation stretching for dozens of kilometers, rising up to 250 ren (approximately 80–100 meters). On the mountain, you can still find Buddhist and Taoist temples such as “Fuhui Chan Temple,” “General’s Hall,” and “Three Pure Ones Taoist Temple.” In the first year of the Jiulong era of the Tang Dynasty (889), Master Tongji built a hermitage here, naming it “Fuying Monastery.” In the third year of the Kaibao era of the Song Dynasty (970), a temple was constructed, and in the ninth year of Xiangfu (1014), an imperial plaque was bestowed. This left behind the thousand-year-old legacy of Fuhui Chan Temple on Wushi Mountain, which is now one of the officially approved Buddhist sites by the Religious Affairs Bureau. The mountain also preserves two ginkgo trees planted by Master Tongji himself during his time. These trees have now stood for over 1,100 years. Additionally, relics from the Song and Yuan dynasties include the “Ci Yun Pagoda,” the “Qian Qian Ji? λ?” (untranslatable proper name), the “Wu La Shan Qiao Kou,” the “Pa La Shan Qiao Kou,” the “Ao Wu Wu? τ?” (untranslatable proper name), and the “Qian Qian Ji? τ? Χ?” (untranslatable proper name), all showcasing rich historical and cultural features. Every year, the period around the Double Ninth Festival draws many visitors to hike on Wushi Mountain. People come here from nearby cities such as Quzhou, Jiangshan, and Changshan, making it one of the most influential hiking destinations in the region.

　　The scenic area spans approximately 20 square kilometers. The mountains are lush with trees and bamboo groves, while the lower areas showcase picturesque Jiangnan-style farmland, shimmering lakes, and a scene straight out of a painting. Historical records from various dynasties in Quzhou describe: “Wushi Mountain extends for ten li, rises 250 ren high, and is encircled by giant rocks like a city wall.”

　　Wushi Mountain (Natural Ecological Scenic Area) is a tourist destination that combines natural ecology with historical and cultural landmarks.

　　[Mother–Son Camphor Trees] The peculiar cluster of camphor trees along the path is the Mother–Son Camphor Tree group from the Song Dynasty. The thickest and oldest tree in the center is the mother tree, surrounded by four smaller ones — its offspring. For hundreds of years, the mother and her “children” have grown together from the same root, inseparably close — a truly rare sight.

　　[Ancient Post Road] The ancient post road here, with its cobblestone surface, is part of the route connecting Quzhou to Fujian, Jiangxi, and Anhui. On both sides of the road are the “General’s Hall” and the “Horse-Riding Trail,” believed to be remnants of General Yue Fei’s military presence during the Song Dynasty. According to the *Huizhou Prefecture Records* from the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty, both Yue Fei and Zhang Jun inscribed poems on the cliffs of Wushi Mountain. Yue Fei’s inscription reads: “By imperial order I hasten to the capital, then return westward. I lodge briefly in this secluded cliff, tour the heights above, and take in the wondrous landscape. With aspirations to serve my country, I hope to sweep away the cunning foe, restore our nation, and welcome back the two emperors from the desert, bringing boundless glory to our sagely ruler. Written on the 3rd day of the 10th month in the 20th year of Shaoxing.”

　　Zhang Jun’s inscription reads: “In the cyclical year Bingyin of Shaoxing, Qinghe’s Zhang Jun passed here and listened to Yan Shi play the zither, and thus wrote this.”

　　[Stone Gate in the Breeze] Once you climb here, you’ll feel the refreshing mountain breeze. Even in the hottest summer, this is a cool paradise. This is one of the classic ancient scenes of Wushi Mountain, actually a natural wind gap. The front of the mountain faces the vast plains of the Quzhou–Jinhua Basin, and this single peak juts abruptly upward, turning the mountain hollow into a vent for air convection — hence the constant cool breeze.

　　[Alpine Beach] Dear visitors, the stones beneath your feet are actually hailstone pebbles, and their hardness confirms that this area was once a beach hundreds of millions of years ago. The rocks on the hill opposite, in geological terms, consist of sedimentary rocks, mudstones, as well as mixed igneous and sedimentary formations. Geologically speaking, this entire region was once a vast beach. Thanks to nature’s artistry, what was once a sandy shore hundreds of millions of years ago is now highland terrain — a key site for understanding the evolution of geological landforms.

　　[Fuhui Temple] Aside from its natural and geological attractions, Wushi Mountain boasts rich cultural and historical heritage. The ancient temple before you is the Tang Dynasty Fuhui Chan Temple. It consists of a temple gate tower, bell and drum towers, the Mahavira Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, the Taigong Hall, and the scripture depository — totaling five sections. Built against the mountain, the temple complex features layered halls, grand and solemn in appearance, resembling the great Indian monasteries. The temple suffered severe damage during the Cultural Revolution but has since been partially restored by local devotees. Buddhist activities among the public remain vibrant. Every year from the 24th to the 29th of the seventh lunar month, the Fuhui Temple Fair is held, attracting thousands. This fair has been held continuously for nearly a thousand years.

　　[Tang Dynasty Ginkgo] These ginkgo trees are remnants of the Tang Dynasty when Master Tongji, founder of Fuhui Temple, planted them at the hermitage. Three ginkgos remain today, over 1,130 years old. Known also as the “Husband and Wife Ginkgos,” these are the largest in Quzhou. One of the trees stands 38 meters tall with a trunk diameter of 5 meters. Interestingly, these “couple” ginkgos bear formations resembling human sexual organs — a marvelous sight. According to the mountain caretaker, the three ginkgo trees together yield over a thousand kilograms of ginkgo nuts every year.

　　[Giant Rocks Encircling the City] This is a spectacular geological phenomenon. To the east of the ancient temple, on the eastern ridge, giant dark rocks stretch southward and northward. They are lined up like a parade along the ridge, resembling an endless section of the Great Wall. How did this natural geological wonder form? That remains a mystery — perhaps visitors would like to guess.

　　Dear visitors, standing atop the viewing platform among the massive rocks offers a view of one of Wushi Mountain’s six major sights: “Evening View of Qu City.” From here, you can watch the city lights twinkling like fireflies, and car headlights snake along the roads. It’s also one of the best spots to watch the sunrise. The Qing Dynasty poet Ye Shuxun wrote in his poem *Viewing from Wushi Mountain*: “Gazing afar into autumn’s hazy blue sky, at dawn the mist clings to hair like dew. Flowing clouds fill the valleys like seas; the rising sun steams through the colored clouds over the hills. A single breath calms all beings; for a hundred years how many have leisure to gaze? Below, the clamor of life quiets, only the solitary mountain crows come and go.” Wushi Mountain is equidistant from Quzhou, Jiangshan, and Changshan. On clear days, you can see Qu City from the mountaintop.

　　On the southern side of the Giant Rocks Encircling the City sight, there is a stone cave door. Visitors may climb the cliff from here. Please follow the constructed walking trails, which twist and turn through cliffs, strange rocks, and unusual trees — allowing us to enjoy the pleasure of returning to nature together.

　　[Fuhui Holy Spring] Look at this clear spring of water — it’s the sweet spring that monks and pilgrims drank from in the past. It never dries up, even in severe droughts, flowing year-round. The monks call it the “Fuhui Spring.” Cup a sip, and taste its refreshing, sweet purity. You may wish to pray for either “blessing” or “wisdom,” but legend says you may receive only one. Feel free to try. Even during the annual temple fair, when thousands gather, the spring continues to flow abundantly. The spring feeds into the Heavenly Pool, forming a five-mu (approximately 0.33 hectares) water surface. This clear pool has served as a liberation pond for temple fish throughout history. When the moon hangs high, the mountain temple, ancient trees, and moonlight create a picturesque scene. One of the ancient “Eight Scenic Poems of Wushi Mountain,” titled “Mountain Temple Bell,” reads: “As dawn nears, the temple bell rings sparse; the monastery’s eaves echo with incense. Clouds fill the valley like a sea; the rising sun steams over the hills. A single breath stills all things; for a hundred years, who has leisure to gaze? Below, the clamor ceases; only the mountain crows fly to and fro. I recall the nobility of Chang’an, where orioles sing brightly as they approach the imperial palace.”