Huangcheng

　　  Huangcheng is located at the foot of the Western Hills in Xihe County. In ancient times, it was called Nanshan (South Mountain) or Fenghuangshan (Phoenix Mountain), but today it is known as Huangcheng. It has been developed into the Huangcheng Forest Park. The mountain is tall, broad, and majestic, stretching four li from the base to the summit. Huangcheng and Guanshan face each other from afar, overlooking the county town.

　　  Huangcheng is a famous mountain. During the Song Dynasty, it was called Nanshan. The mountain once featured Twelve Connected Forts, built by Song general Wu Jie to defend against the Jin invaders. Today, only three forts remain, though the ruins of the others can still be seen. To the northwest of the mountain lies a natural…

　　  platform, now called Shangcheng (Upper City). In the Southern Song Dynasty, it was known as Gaobao (High Fortress), and during the Western Zhou period, it was the Quanqiu site, while in the Later Han era, it was known as Rongqiu City.

　　  Nowadays, by taking the winding mountain road up, passing through the mountain gate and long pavilion, you are greeted by lush green trees and blooming wildflowers on both sides—truly a refreshing and captivating sight that makes you linger and forget to leave. As you reach the mountaintop, within the ancient fortress, you can admire the unique architecture of Xiling Temple. Xiling Temple consists of three courtyards in one complex: the front courtyard’s main hall is a two-story high pavilion with double eaves, majestic and imposing. The central hall is the Heavenly King Hall, housing the Four Heavenly Kings and the Maitreya Buddha. The rear courtyard is the Bodhisattva Hall, enshrining the Three Great Bodhisattvas. Xiling Temple is an officially open Buddhist site recognized by the Xihe County Government.

　　  In recent years, the Xihe County Party Committee and County Government have designated Huangcheng as a key leisure and entertainment venue for the county town. They have carried out comprehensive planning, increased investment, constructed a mountain gate and pavilions, widened and paved the mountain road, and newly built and paved the road from Huangcheng to Wanxia Lake. Additionally, they have established the Quchi Stele Forest and the cypress garden botanical area. With its beautiful appearance, Huangcheng is becoming another leisure and recreation destination for the residents of Xihe County.