Dengshan

　　     Dengshanzhai Scenic Area is situated in Hushan Town, Lanshan District, and is a provincial-level forest park as well as a national AAA-rated tourist attraction. With an elevation of 358 meters and a perimeter of about 100 li, it features 3,600 acres of picturesque mountains and waters to the north, with winding paths leading to serene spots, making it an ideal destination for leisure, recreation, sightseeing, and spiritual refreshment. The scenic area consists of 99 peaks (including Dengshan), 99 valleys, 72 springs, and 108 natural landscapes. It is one of the sacred sites of Buddhism and Zen culture in northern China and also a distinctive ecotourism and leisure resort characterized by its unique “mountain stronghold culture.” Since ancient times, Dengshan has been praised as a “heavenly paradise on earth,” embodying the auspicious wish of “ascending the stone benches of Dengshan step by step toward greater heights.” It has been a favored spot for generations of literati and poets to ascend, enjoy the breeze, and compose poetry over wine. At the summit stands Dengshan Temple, initially established in the early Ming Dynasty by Monk Jicang from Jiaonan County, Jiangsu Province, along with his disciples. It was renovated in the sixth year of the Shunzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty, significantly expanding its scale. To this day, the “Pioneer Monk’s Pagoda” still stands amidst the shaded woods. Within the temple are the Yin-Yang Wells, whose waters are cool, sweet, and perennially abundant. There is also a rectangular fish pond with crystal-clear water that remains unfrozen in winter and unaffected by heat in summer. Above the pond lies a ridged stone slab bridge, which gives visitors a sensation of floating like immortals—hence its name “Immortal Bridge.” Up here on the high mountain, the pond, fish, stone bridge, and wells create a scene of fascinating harmony. From the summit, one can overlook the vast expanse where surrounding peaks seem small, connected by endless green forests, fertile fields, villages, and a hazy sea, evoking the ethereal beauty of Penglai, the legendary fairyland. During the Ming Dynasty, Yang Jisheng, an official of the Ministry of War, visited Dengshan and wrote a poem for the innkeeper who hosted him overnight: “I envy you, worthy to be a blessed omen of the royal house; I’m ashamed, merely a salary-fed official. Were it not for my unfulfilled desire to serve the nation, I’d gladly don straw raincoat and hat to be your neighbor.” Xu Han, a renowned scholar and calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty, admired Yang’s moral integrity and literary talent, transcribed this poem, and had it engraved on the southwestern side of the main peak, where it remains well preserved to this day. In the 21st year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1593 AD), when Japanese pirates ravaged Rizhao, local residents built fortifications in the mountains to resist the invaders. Amid the mountain forests, they climbed rocks and negotiated winding paths, constructing “rammed-earth” stone walls that stretched for dozens of li—an awe-inspiring sight. The fearless spirit of unity and resistance of their ancestors has become a magnificent landscape today. Additionally, the area is rich in legends, such as the hidden treasures of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, the story of the Two Hundred Hat Peaks, and the tale of the Blue Luan holding a banner to establish a garrison—too many to list them all. The entire scenic area is composed of nine strongholds, each with its own distinct cultural character: the Folk Culture Stronghold, Bamboo Water Stronghold, Peace Stronghold, Hermit Stronghold, Heavenly Lake Stronghold, General Stronghold, Fortune Stronghold, Dengshan Stronghold, and Wangli Stronghold. It is often referred to as the “Little Jiuzhai of Northern China,” offering visitors not only breathtaking natural views but also deeper insights into the region’s history and culture. The scenic area is just 3 km east of the seashore. Travelers can reach it by driving 30 km south from Rizhao along National Highway 204 or the coastal road.