Shimu Mountain Scenic Area

　　Guide: Situated at the foot of Swan Peak, an extension of the Kuaiji Mountain Range, beside the Dongzhu Highway in Dongyang City, in the central part of Zhejiang Province, 10 kilometers from downtown Dongyang. It is widely renowned for its reputation as “Dongcheng and Shimu stand side by side, their breathtaking scenery rivaling Fangyan; the serene Buddhist temple boasts profound roots, while cultural heritage shines like stars.”

　　The scenic area integrates religious culture with landscape tourism. The Tongmu Temple, initially built in the second year of the Rui’gong era of the Song Dynasty (989 AD), has endured the test of time. Architectures such as the Heavenly King Hall, Guanyin Hall, and Shimu Hall are simple, solemn, and majestic. In the center of the scenic area stands a monument commemorating the assembly point of the anti-Japanese propaganda team. Amidst the forest, springs, and clouds, as well as on cliff inscriptions, one can find poetic inscriptions by celebrities and scholars throughout history.

　　Sword Testing Stone and Recumbent Lion Stone are located between Tianmen and Jinshi Pool. The Sword Testing Stone features a vertical crack running down its middle, straight and smooth as if cut by a sword, hence its name derived from the local legend that Hu Gong’s divine sword-splitting power opened this fissure. The Recumbent Lion Stone lies to the northeast of the Sword Testing Stone, standing over ten meters tall with a rectangular base about one meter thick. Its top resembles a majestic lion kneeling, seemingly ready to leap eastward to greet the sunrise.

　　The Hundred Steps Ridge, stretching from Lilin Right Pavilion to Tianmen, is the only path to Tongmu Temple. It consists of 403 steps, each two meters wide, built with assorted stones. To its west rise perilous cliffs covered with creeping vines, while to its east looms a sheer precipice dotted with dense undergrowth. Handrails have been installed on both sides.

　　The Soaring Clouds Wonder is found on the steep slope in the midsection of Swan Peak’s wing. Towering pines block out the sun, and huge rocks lie scattered across the area, including the Soaring Clouds Cave. Formed by several rocks, the cave is about four meters in circumference and of unfathomable depth. People dare not enter, but at dawn and dusk, clouds and mist can be seen billowing out from within, creating a spectacular sight.

　　The Dragon Pool Suspension Bridge hangs over the cliffs in front of the Jinshi Dragon Pool. It is 70 meters long, 1.2 meters wide, and 35 meters high. Constructed with steel cables and wooden planks, the bridge is flanked by steel wire mesh railings. As visitors walk across, the bridge gently sways, offering thrills amid the danger, hence its nickname “Carefree Bridge.”

　　The Tongmu Zen Monastery is located at the foot of Swan Peak and was built during the Northern Song Dynasty. It earned the name “Tongmu Temple” due to the abundance of tung trees along the nearby Xixi Stream. Behind the monastery lie, in sequence, the Master-Disciple Bridge, Heavenly King Hall, Guanyin Hall, and Shimu Hall.

　　The Dragon Mountain Stone Forest is situated on Longshan Hill southeast of Tongmu Temple. Numerous towering rocks rise from the ground like a forest, interspersed with lush cypresses. Visitors looking up at these majestic formations may feel as though witnessing the mythical Gonggong striking the heavens. The Divine Turtle Guarding the Mountain is located near Shengqi Cave east of Tianmen. It vividly resembles a giant turtle crawling atop a massive rock, gazing down at the movements in the valley. Legend says a thousand-year-old sea turtle from the Qiantang River was moved by Hu Gong’s spirit of serving the people and transformed into a stone turtle to guard the mountain gate eternally.

　　Ancient Apes Listening to the Waves is located on the rocky cliff by Jinshi Pool. Looking north from the walking trail, visitors will see a rock resembling the head of an ape, as if listening intently to the sounds of the mountain stream. Lion and Elephant Standing Majestically marks the entrance to the entire scenic area, where two mountains stand opposite each other—White Elephant Mountain to the east and Lion Mountain to the west. Their shapes are vivid and lifelike, facing each other across the stream like gate guards. Near the base of White Elephant Mountain lies a small village with two thousand-year-old camphor trees, their branches lush and full of vitality.

　　The Swan Hatching Its Young is located in the northwest of the scenic area. Swan Peak resembles a soaring swan with its wings spread, and behind its tail are nine small hills arranged in a fan shape, much like a mother swan hatching her cygnets. The belly of Swan Peak is home to the ancestral tomb of Ming Dynasty’s Minister Zhang and is surrounded by touching folk legends. The Cliffside Stone Railings were built in the late Southern Song Dynasty. Stretching from Tianmen to Zuodong Bridge, they hover over the cliffs west of Jinshi Pool, spanning over 200 meters in total. Composed of 85 stone slabs embedded into stone pillars, the railings are covered in mossy traces, appearing like a coiling dragon lingering in the valley. Transportation: There are no direct buses to the scenic area from downtown. Visitors can take a local taxi or hire a private car to get there.

　　 Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province