Xiwudang Mountain

　　China’s Xiwudang Mountain is situated at the southeastern corner of Cangxi County. Due to its resemblance to a brush rack, it was known in ancient times as “Brush Rack Mountain.” It is a rare Taoist mountain in western China named after “Wudang,” and has been a sacred Taoist site throughout history, long revered as a blessed land. During the Ming Dynasty, the Temple of the Dark Emperor was built here, housing the “Mirror of Zhenwu.” When the Wudang Taoism flourished during the Yongle era, it was renamed the Zhenwu Palace of Wudang Mountain, and later became known as “Xiwudang Mountain,” with the name inscribed by Master Zhang Jiyu, Executive Vice President of the China Taoist Association. Xiwudang Mountain majestically guards the Jialing River, with towering and steep peaks that form a striking contrast with the Taoist sacred mountain “Yuntai Temple.” Within and around the mountain, two naturally formed yin-yang Taiji diagrams and the unique feng shui feature of “silver water flowing into the hall” highlight the Taoist charm—truly a gift of nature. The “Erxianping” area, located on the cliffs halfway up the mountain, historically features Taoist sites such as the Laojun Cave, Tianshi Cave, Niangniang Cave, Eight Immortals Cave, and Niuwang Cave. These sites are enveloped in an ethereal aura and rich in Taoist spirit, making them truly captivating.

　　In recent years, the Cangxi County Party Committee and County Government have placed great emphasis on the exploration and development of Taoist cultural resources, deciding to build a “Taoist Cultural Park” to establish the “China Xiwudang Mountain” Taoist cultural tourism brand. The first phase involved the restoration and reconstruction of the Zhenwu Palace, funded by a donation of 13 million yuan from Zhang Shaoguo, member of the Sichuan Provincial Political Consultative Conference and president of the Taoist Associations of Guangyuan City and Cangxi County. Construction began in June 2006, covering nearly 20 acres with over 5,000 square meters of buildings constructed. In addition to three main halls—the Zhenwu Hall, Wenchang Hall, and Cihang Hall—there are also two vegetarian dining halls (Changsheng Zhai and Yangsheng Zhai), two tea houses for health cultivation, offices for the city and county Taoist associations, a dharma goods distribution department, incense and candle supply section, a small shop, a cultural exhibition room, conference and training rooms, single rooms, a guesthouse, and a broadcasting room among other supporting facilities. After the entire project was completed, an unprecedentedly grand consecration ceremony was held from January 3 to 5, 2008. The restored Zhenwu Palace boasts a grand architectural scale and comprehensive facilities, ranking among the top Taoist temples in northern Sichuan. The second phase involves the restoration and renovation of the “Erxianping” blessed land, adding attractions such as the “Taoist Calligraphy and Painting Corridor” and “Taoist Story Murals,” and constructing a new “Tianshi Hall” at Songshen Bao. The third phase includes the construction of a Taoist Culture Museum and other Taoist cultural attractions. Cangxi will follow the plan, implement it step by step, and improve the site year by year.