Fogui Temple Ecological Tourist Park

　　Fogui Temple Ecological Tourist Park is located on Ziyun Mountain in Xudong Village, Taoyang Town, 3 kilometers south of Lintao County. Its peaks belong to the Luyashan Mountain Range and it is a major part of the national AA-rated Luyashan Forest Park in Lintao County.

　　According to Volume 6 of "Sou Shen Ji" (In Search of the Supernatural) and the Qing Dynasty's Chen Ruping’s "Minzhou Xuzhi Interview Record: Chronicles of Auspicious and Strange Events", it is recorded: “In the 26th year of Qin Shi Huang, there appeared twelve giants, each five zhang tall with feet six chi long, all dressed in foreign attire, seen in Lintao.” Legend has it that because the twelve giants were too tall to enter the city of Lintao, they headed south. Curious locals followed them, and when they reached the foot of Ziyun Mountain south of the city, the giants suddenly vanished. The followers, even more intrigued, searched Ziyun Mountain and discovered the giants’ footprints on a flat area but saw no giants themselves. They therefore believed the immortals had returned here. Since then, incense offerings at Ziyun Mountain have never ceased, and a temple was later built during the Tang Dynasty and named “Fogui Temple”.

　　According to Volume 26, Chapter 6, “Scenic Sites” section of the "Lintao County Annals", it is recorded: “Fogui Temple (also called Fogou Temple) houses the Qixia Pavilion, where Ming Dynasty scholar Pan Guangzu studied. It features eighteen arhat statues and Tang Dynasty murals in the grottoes, which were destroyed during the ‘Cultural Revolution’.” Remaining relics include the Damo Cave and a few murals, making it a cave temple combining Buddhism and Taoism. After the reform and opening-up period, locals spontaneously restored and developed the site. It now includes over ten temples and shrines of various sizes, such as the Three Great Ancient Buddha Halls, Twelve Dharma Kings Hall, Reclining Buddha Hall, Sanqing Temple, Hunyuan Pavilion, and Wenchang Pavilion. These sites are maintained year-round with regular worship and management.

　　Folklore has it that Ziyun Mountain’s Fogui Temple is also associated with ancient myths and legends such as “A giant python is nothing to fear, but a flying dragon is truly worrisome; things happen in threes—Liu Bowen beheaded the dragon veins three times,” and “Three steps back, ninety-nine Buddhas converted.” These myths and legends add a layer of mystique to Fogui Temple. The site has long been a place of active worship, especially during the annual mountain fair on the 18th day of the fourth lunar month, when worshippers from a radius of over 10 li flock here to chant scriptures and worship the Buddha, creating a grand religious occasion. Additionally, Ziyun Mountain boasts unique terrain, surrounded by three mountains that naturally form a valley. Its paths are shaped like a “cock’s comb,” with cliffs and precipices everywhere. Coupled with its serene valleys, murmuring streams, and lush vegetation, it is referred to by locals as the “Little Huashan.”

　　For this reason, leaders at all levels in Lintao County have placed great importance on the tourism development of Ziyun Mountain’s Fogui Temple. In 2002, the Party Committee and government of Taoyang Town, in line with the county’s overall tourism development plan, positioned Ziyun Mountain’s Fogui Temple as an ecological tourist park. Through methods such as “auctioning barren hills, converting farmland back to forests, and comprehensive treatment,” the “Fogui Temple Ecological Tourist Park” was established. In 2004, a coordination committee for the construction of the Fogui Temple Ecological Tourist Park was formed, consisting of relevant leaders from the county’s four main administrative bodies, heads of county-level departments, key officials from Taoyang Town and Xudong Village, as well as members of the public. Over the years, guided by the concept of “a thousand-year-old ancient temple, ancient legends, landscape scenery, farmhouse inns, leisure fishing, fruit and vegetable picking, stall-fed cattle and sheep, and free-range chicken and ducks,” the Fogui Temple Ecological Tourist Park has raised funds from various sources to intensify development efforts. So far, it has completed an overall plan, invested over 200,000 yuan to green 1,000 mu of barren hills, convert 200 mu of farmland back to forest, and implement comprehensive management of 1,200 mu of small watersheds. More than 20 types of trees have been planted, including spruce, black locust, Chinese arborvitae, apricot, brownberry, and sweet nectarine, all with survival rates above 80%. It has also invested 200,000 yuan in infrastructure development such as road repairs, 150,000 yuan in restoring historical sites and constructing the Twelve Dharma Kings Hall, and 100,000 yuan in building a 1,000-square-meter fish and duck farming pond, poultry farm, and livestock farm. In 2004, 500 ducks were released, along with 300 mixed fish, 3,000 grassland free-range chickens were raised, and 150 small-tailed Han sheep were stall-fed. Currently, the development of Fogui Temple Ecological Tourist Park has taken on a preliminary shape.

　　Future development directions are as follows: Following the overall goal of making Lintao the “back garden of Lanzhou,” and taking the opportunity of Luyashan Forest Park being designated as a national AA-rated scenic area, the focus will further emphasize the ecotourism development philosophy of “a thousand-year-old ancient temple, ancient legends, landscape scenery, farmhouse inns, leisure fishing, free-range chicken and ducks, and rural life.” Five key tasks will be prioritized: First, further refine the overall plan to ensure it is ambitious, high-standard, distinctive, and fully realized from the outset. Implement the plan step-by-step, set annual development goals, and strive for significant progress within 3–5 years. Second, enhance infrastructure such as roads and drainage channels according to the plan. Develop a relatively flat dedicated eco-tourist route to Fogui Temple and construct a mountain loop trail that meets safety and tourism requirements. Complete 2 kilometers of drainage channel lining. Third, accelerate ecological development, focusing on converting farmland back to forest and greening barren hills. Following the principle of using trees to frame the scenery, plant seedlings and flowers that match scenic area aesthetics to beautify the environment and elevate the quality of sightseeing. Fourth, expand stall-fed livestock and free-range poultry operations, establishing the Fogui Temple brand for free-range chicken and ducks. Fifth, collect and organize folk legends and historical tales, uncover cultural heritage, and expand external promotion to raise the profile of Fogui Temple’s cultural tourism.

　　In short, Fogui Temple Ecotourism holds immense development potential. Developing this ecotourism site will significantly boost Lintao’s tourism industry. We will spare no effort to support it through project-driven initiatives, aiming to grow it rapidly and robustly. We sincerely hope for strong backing from all sectors of society and welcome collaboration from business partners. With united efforts, we aim to transform Fogui Temple Ecological Tourist Park into a renowned destination for “cultural ecology, sightseeing, and leisure vacation.”