Jingquan Mountain Scenic Area

　　    Jingquan Mountain is situated three kilometers southeast of Shangzhou City and has historically been known as the "Little Huashan of Shangzhou" and the "Mogao Caves of Shangzhou." With an elevation of 808.8 meters, the mountain resembles a giant seated Buddha when viewed from afar. At its mid-slope lies a spring that neither dries up nor overflows. For thousands of years, it has been famed for being still, clear, pure, and cool, hence earning the beautiful name “Jingquan” (Quiet Spring), from which the mountain gets its name. Since the early Tang Dynasty, local people have carved caves into the mountain to worship Buddha, making it a renowned Buddhist sacred site in Shangluo.

　　    The mountain is named for its lush greenery and the ever-present, non-drying spring. Jingquan, or “Quiet Spring,” takes its charm from this very spring. Originally, it was just a well. This well has a mouth as wide as a basket and is several zhang deep. Below the well lies a spring eye that continuously discharges water, but the water rises only to the mouth of the well where it forms the spring. For millennia, it has never dried up or overflowed, and people admire it as the “Divine Spring.” Every spring, those who go for outings consider it a delight to drink its water.

　　    At the foot of Jingquan Mountain lies the Temple of Lord Luo. Behind the temple, a steep stone stairway path leads up to Jingquan Mountain, known as “Luo Gong Bian” (Lord Luo’s Path). It is the only perilous route to the mountain, requiring climbers to ascend 330 steps. The mountain is composed of red and white gravel, and with every step, grains of sand roll underfoot, adding a special sense of pleasure for visitors.

　　    In the 20th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1755), Magistrate Luo Wensi, aiming to enhance the scenery, funded the construction of the “Bushan Pavilion.” About eight or nine zhang away from the pavilion lies the “Gan Yu Pavilion” (Sweet Rain Pavilion); beyond the “Seven-Star Bodhisattva Cave” is the hanging “Seven-Star Bodhisattva Tower”; further ahead is the “Dragon God Pavilion”; and within a deep rock recess, a “Hundred Sons Cave” was carved following the mountain’s contour. Thus, pavilions and towers complement each other, caves and springs reflect one another, all set against the backdrop of blooming flowers, verdant bamboo, pine, and peach trees on the eastern and western peaks, occasionally accompanied by the call of deer and birdsong—truly forming an earthly “Paradise on Earth.”

　　    Literati and poets throughout the ages, having toured Jingquan Mountain, have composed eight scenic highlights for the mountain: “Winding Steps Amidst Clouds,” “Purple Pavilion Soaring in the Void,” “Cave Sealing Morning Mist,” “New Moon Over Western Cliff,” “Apricot Blossoms on Spring Hills,” “Pine Woods in Sunny Snow,” “Dragon Peak Embracing Greenery,” and “Stone Spring Where Fish Leap.”

　　    The Jingquan Mountain tourist area enjoys convenient transportation. At the foot of the mountain are temples, while the mountain itself features attractions such as grottoes. In 1985, Jingquan Mountain and the Guan Di Temple at its base were listed as key cultural relics protection units by the Shangluo Municipal Government, making it currently the premier destination for vacationing, tourism, and summer retreats in Shangzhou. In recent years, the Jingquan Mountain tourist attraction has continuously strengthened its infrastructure. Projects completed include the construction of the scenic area water supply system, roof repairs for the Hall of Guanyin Who Grants Children and the Hall of the God of Wealth, as well as fire safety facility maintenance. With the rise of the Western Development Strategy and holiday tourism, plans are underway to build, on the foundation of existing historical and cultural landscapes, a modern park integrating production, scientific research, and eco-tourism, with a focus on technology training, modern agriculture, water recreation, and the breeding of rare birds and animals.

　　    Scenic Area Address: Three kilometers southeast of Shangluo City, Shangluo, Shaanxi Province

　　    Transportation: Within Shangluo City, take bus routes 1, 10, etc., and get off at Jingquan Mountain Station