Shouyang Mountain

　　Shouyang Mountain gained its fame from the story of Bo Yi and Shu Qi, the two sons of the ruler of the ancient Guzhu Kingdom (present-day Lu County, Hebei), during the late Shang and early Zhou dynasties. The brothers yielded the throne to each other, traveled together to the Zhou realm, and later, upon hearing that King Wu of Zhou was attacking King Zhou of Shang, they tried to stop him by pleading from horseback. When their advice was ignored, they refused to eat the grain of Zhou in protest and migrated westward to Shouyang Mountain. There, they survived on wild ferns before eventually starving to death on the mountain, which led to its reputation as a renowned mountain in the Longyou region. As early as the Qin and Han dynasties, when a county was established here, it was named Shouyang County.

　　The earliest record of Shouyang Mountain in Weiyuan can be found in the words of Zhuangzi, referring to Bo Yi and Shu Qi traveling west to Qiyang and witnessing King Wu of Zhou’s campaign against the Yin dynasty: “I have heard that in ancient times, virtuous men, when encountering a well-governed world, would avoid holding office; when faced with a chaotic world, they would not cling to life. Now that the world is in darkness and the virtue of Zhou is declining, to join Zhou would only sully my person. It is better to withdraw and preserve my integrity.” The two then traveled north to Shouyang Mountain and eventually died of starvation. Furthermore, Ban Zhao (also known as Cao Dagu), a scholar of the Eastern Han Dynasty, commented on the “You Tong Fu” (The Rhapsody on Hidden Communication), stating that “Bo Yi and Shu Qi starved on Shouyang Mountain, which is located in Longxi Shouyang.”

　　Weiyuan County was established in the late Qin and early Han periods and was named Shouyang County, under the jurisdiction of Longxi Commandery. The county was named after the mountain. It wasn’t until the 17th year of the Datong era during the reign of Emperor Wen of Western Wei (551 AD) that it was renamed Weiyuan County. From this, it can be seen that Shouyang Mountain in Weiyuan has the earliest recorded name, a long history, and is widely regarded as the most authentic site where Bo Yi and Shu Qi lived in seclusion, foraged for bracken, and eventually died of starvation.

　　On the northwest side of Shouyang Mountain lies the Shimen (Stone Gate), named for the way two towering stone cliffs stand opposite each other with a narrow gap in between, resembling a grand stone gate. The Moon over Shimen at Night is a local scenic highlight. Between the two cliffs is a reservoir with a capacity of over 5 million cubic meters, making it an ideal spot for water recreation. Behind the reservoir lies the 15-li-long Tianjing Gorge (Well Gorge), where steep cliffs rise opposite one another, encircling the area so that the sky appears as a thin line above, giving visitors the sensation of standing at the bottom of a well. The terrain is likened to the split seam of a sawn timber plank, hence the local nickname “Jieban Gully” (Plank-Splitting Gully). The Tianjing Gorge features spectacular landscapes and water scenery that resemble a fairyland, with 27 naturally formed sites showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. Along the 15-li-long Tianjing scenic corridor, one can experience a range of emotions and sights — the wondrous, the perilous, the majestic, the breathtaking, the pristine, the elegant, the serene, the tranquil, the ancient, and the untamed. Traveling directly south from the county town to Tianjing Gorge covers a distance of approximately 20-plus kilometers.

　　Address: Lianfeng Town, Weiyuan County, Dingxi City

　　Type: Mountain

　　Rating: AAA

　　Opening Hours:

　　09:00-17:00