Kazuo Longevity Mountain

　　    Longevity Mountain is situated in Dongshang Village, Dachengzi Town, Kazuo County. In the peak of summer, the mountain is covered with shady trees, dense foliage, gurgling springs, and fragrant flowers and birdsongs. It was here that Kang Taizhen encountered immortals and cultivated Taoism. Kang Taizhen, a native of Lizhou (present-day Kazuo County), with the secular surname Kang and the Taoist name Taizhen, also known as Yunfeng Zhenren, was a highly influential Taoist priest during China's Jin and Yuan dynasties. His remains are buried in Longevity Mountain, Dongshang Village, Dachengzi Township, Kazuo County. Both his tomb and tombstone have been designated as provincial-level key cultural relics protection units.

　　    Throughout the long course of history, although the ancient Chongfu Temple on Longevity Mountain has experienced periods of rise and decline, its incense has never ceased. In 2002, the construction of the "Protectorate Pilu Buddhist Temple" began on Longevity Mountain, covering an area of about 500 square meters. Elegant antique-style buildings are nestled within the mountain. The white marble stone archway of Pilu Temple adds splendor to this famous mountain. Beneath the archway stand majestic white marble stone lions. Facing them is a dark jade stone stele, standing 5 meters tall and 1.5 meters wide. The four characters “Bodhi Daochang” were inscribed by Zhao Puchu, former president of the Buddhist Association of China, making it the tallest stone stele in Northeast China. The carvings on the stele are exquisitely decorated, and the reverse side is inscribed with the temple’s reconstruction record. The Eight-Treasure Lotus Pond, Heavenly King Hall, Abbot’s Quarters, and Pagoda Courtyard feature unique designs and rigorous structures. The stele pavilion enshrines the provincial-level cultural relic — the tombstone of Kang Taizhen. The Longevity Pavilion houses a Northern Wei Dynasty stone reclining Buddha, which is extremely precious. The Puguangming Hall enshrines the Five-Direction Vairocana Buddha, the tallest copper Buddha in China.

　　    Longevity Mountain is located in Dongshang, a specialized tourism village in Dachengzi Subdistrict. It is a culturally renowned mountain, home to the provincial-level cultural relic protection unit — the tombstone of Kang Taizhen. The village’s thousand-acre jujube orchard is famous for its bright-colored, deliciously flavored dates. The mountain, with its profound cultural heritage and abundant natural resources, is regarded by visitors as a place to pray for longevity and peace. Dongshang Village has been recognized by the Liaoning Provincial Tourism Bureau as a “Liaoning Provincial Specialized Tourism Village” due to Longevity Mountain, and in 2011, it was awarded the title of “Top Ten Rural Tourism Areas in Liaoning Province.”

　　    The tombstone of Kang Taizhen is a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit. It is the epitaph of Kang Taizhen, a Taoist priest from the Jin Dynasty, erected in the early Yuan Dynasty. Despite centuries of weathering, the more than 2,000-character engraved inscription remains clearly legible. The reputation of Kazuo as the “Land of the Golden Tripod” originates from this. Kang Taizhen, a highly influential Taoist priest during China's Jin and Yuan periods, lived to the age of 92, spreading Taoism for over 70 years and teaching more than a thousand disciples. He is truly the “longevity” Taoist master. The Immortal’s Footprints are located on the bluestone at the summit of Longevity Mountain. They are two upward-facing cavities, each two feet deep and one foot long, resembling human footprints. Legend says they are the footprints of the immortal who taught Kang Taizhen when he was young, hence the name — Immortal’s Footprints.

　　    In spring, the yellow jujube blossoms in the thousand-acre jujube valley are intoxicating, with their faint fragrance evoking nostalgia. The tiny jujube flowers, as small as grains of rice, carry the heartfelt warmth of the Kazuo people through their enchanting aroma. In autumn, the mountains are covered with tempting red jujubes. Locals liken them to longevity fruits and also make various jujube-based foods such as jujube steamed buns, jujube rice, jujube cakes, jujube layer cakes, jujube flower rolls, jujube tea soup, jujube paste buns, preserved jujubes, roasted jujubes, and stuffed jujubes — enjoyed at home, served to guests, or given as gifts.