Shima Mountain Park

　　Located at the southern end of Erheng Street in Liangping County, Chongqing, connected to the Ring Road and adjacent to the Chongqing-Yichang Expressway to the north, it is a comprehensive park integrating tourism, leisure, entertainment, and sports fitness. It is named "Shima Mountain" (Stone Horse Mountain) because its shape resembles a galloping horse and is one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Liangshan."

　　The park covers an area of 260 acres, with the highest elevation at 562.84 meters and the lowest at 468.3 meters, a relative height difference of 94.54 meters. The park is divided into seven major scenic areas. The main entrance area is located at the southern end of the Shima Road axis in Liangping County and serves as the primary gateway into the park. A spacious black-and-white granite square, colorful fountains, cascading waterfalls, and exquisitely carved reliefs create a surreal and captivating atmosphere. Looking up, three green ribbons of pathways lead up alongside 299 wide steps that seem to pierce the sky, flanked by lush trees and adorned with vibrant flowers. The uniquely designed European-style garden gate and the mist-enveloped viewing platform are truly picturesque. Ascending the steps, you’ll see the bustling Shima Road and stunning European-style architecture. The Shima Guiyun (Stone Horse Returning Clouds) area is located at the tail of Shima Mountain, which is the main peak and the highest point in the park. Here, you can greet the morning sunrise and evening clouds. From this vantage point, you can admire the towering Wenfeng Pagoda, the picturesque "Gao Liang Song Cui" (Tall Sorghum Standing Verdant) natural landscape, vast fields shimmering like lakes and seas, thousands of homes resembling small boats, and the national highway snaking out like a dragon—all offering a panoramic view of the county’s beauty. Large stone sculptures themed around the stone horse, with graceful postures, adorn the cliff face, revitalizing one of the ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Liangping: "Shima Guiyun." The Children’s Activity Area is a paradise for kids. It features whimsical architecture and play equipment such as swings, seesaws, slides, electric trains, miniature cars, bumper cars, and high-altitude bicycles, allowing children to play freely and engage in a variety of colorful activities. The Cultural Entertainment Area centers around the Lansheng Building, which is built along the mountain slope and adapts to the terrain. It serves as a comprehensive hub for cultural and recreational activities. From the top of the building, visitors can enjoy the picturesque scenery within the park and the spring plowing scenes outside. The Lansheng Building houses various indoor games and recreational facilities where visitors can engage in fitness, aerobics, karaoke, dancing, and other cultural, sports, and entertainment activities. The Cultural Leisure Area is located in the eastern part of the park, centered around the Shima Academy. The academy features collections of paintings, potted plants, and small-scale museum exhibits, exuding a rich cultural ambiance. To the south of the Shima Academy stands a pavilion where visitors can sit and overlook the bustling spring farming scenes outside the park—hence the name "Yi Lan Chun" (A Glimpse of Spring). The academy focuses on cultural leisure activities such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, providing a space for personal enjoyment. There is also a teahouse where visitors can take leisurely strolls amid the picturesque surroundings, play cards, compete in chess, sip tea, and chat, allowing the stress and fatigue of work to melt away. In autumn, sitting in the Xingyun Pavilion offers views of the park’s red autumn leaves and the golden fields stretching endlessly beyond. The Water Scenic Area lies east of the entrance area, centered around Baima Lake. By the lake, the Chunxiao Pavilion is built over the water, while the Wangyue Pavilion to the west forms a scenic counterpart. An elegant zigzag bridge divides Baima Lake into two sections of varying sizes and functions—the larger western section is ideal for bumper boats crisscrossing the waters, while the smaller eastern section, together with the Chunxiao Pavilion and zigzag bridge, forms a serene area for fish-watching and fishing. Graceful weeping willows line the lakebanks, crystal-clear waters ripple gently, birds sing and flowers bloom on the shores, creating an enchanting scene. The Mingzhong Temple Scenic Area is located west of the entrance area.

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　　Mingzhong Temple: The Mingzhong Temple on Shima Mountain in Liangping is an ancient site in eastern Chongqing. Originally built during the Qing Dynasty, it was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. In 2005, reconstruction began under the auspices of Liangping’s Shuanggui Hall. According to the design plan, the new Mingzhong Temple spans over 50 acres and features a unique style, with halls and pavilions built along the contours of the mountain and original stone carvings preserved. The temple complex includes a grand mountain gate, the Mahavira Hall, and the Guanyin Hall across three levels, along with an outdoor large Buddha statue sculpted along the mountain terrain. A seven-story Mingzhong Pagoda has also been erected, housing a 7-ton bell inside. In May 2006, the reconstruction of the temple’s bell tower was completed, and the long-absent sound of the Shima Mountain Mingzhong Temple bell once again echoed through Liangping County.