Hechuan Yunmen Mountain

　　Situated within Yunmen Town, it lies about 15 kilometers from the county seat. The Jialing River flows along the mountain’s base, and the peak rises to approximately 400 meters above sea level. The mountain stretches in a winding fashion, beginning in Fengming Village on the outskirts of Yunmen Town in the west and extending to Quhuzui in the east, spanning 5 kilometers in length. Viewed from across the river, it is surrounded by fortress walls, with ancient temples nestled among dense forests that resemble a lush canopy. The temples on the mountain were initially built during the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty, with the main temple located at the front of the mountain and a smaller one at the rear. The large temple houses four halls: the Mahavira Hall, Guan Yu Hall, Guanyin Hall, and the Grand Stele Tower. During the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, landlords, gentry, and merchants built a fortified mountain stronghold here to escape religious turmoil. They constructed four city gates, dug nine rainwater storage pools, and relocated ten thousand people to the mountain, making it extremely bustling at the time. According to inscriptions on stelae: “At night, ten thousand lamps shine brightly, their greenish glow reflecting as fireflies hanging in the sky.” Notable attractions include Yangshan Bay, Luohun Bridge, Monk’s Tomb, and Baiyun Cave. In Yangshan Bay, there are stone carvings of the characters “Yang Shan” (Promote Goodness), each four meters high and wide. At the main gate, there are bold, regular-script characters reading “Yunmen” (Cloud Gate), inscribed in large characters by Xu Changxu, a calligrapher from Fengdu. On the stone beam beside the Jianjin Gate, seven large characters are carved: “Who Rules These Lands and Rivers?” During the Republican era, it was a popular destination for folk pilgrimages and incense offerings, as well as a favored summer retreat.

　　Yunmen Mountain features a tableland-like landform, with steep cliffs along the river that are particularly majestic and precipitous, while the mountaintop and foothills are relatively flat, offering picturesque pastoral scenery. Today, the scenic area offers a range of tourist facilities including shooting, archery, model aircraft, fishing, bonfire parties, Buddhist activities, the Ghost Kingdom Palace, tea gardens, dance halls, hotels, and restaurants. Being there, strolling through the pine forests, enjoying the flavors of outdoor barbecues, or engaging in sightseeing and camping holidays makes for an unforgettable experience.

　　Today, the scenic area offers a variety of tourist facilities such as shooting, archery, model aircraft, fishing, bonfire parties, Buddhist activities, the Ghost Kingdom Palace, tea gardens, dance halls, hotels, and restaurants. Visitors can stroll through the pine woods, savor the aftertaste of outdoor barbecues, and enjoy tourism, sightseeing, camping, and vacationing – all of which are deeply captivating.

　　Address: Within Yunmen Town, Hechuan District, Chongqing