The Site of Ge Hong’s Alchemy

　　The Site of Ge Hong’s Alchemy is situated on Zao Mountain in Shentu Town, Zhangpu County. Also called Dan Mountain or Danzao Mountain, historical records describe it as: “On Zao Mountain in the Seventh District, with overlapping ridges and peaks, hundreds of zhang high, encircling an area of forty li, the mountain is abundant with peculiar rocks, including immortal footprints, a stone chessboard, a stone mill, and an alchemy furnace. It produces many lithosperms and polygonati. It is said to be the place where Ge Hong, also known as Bao Pu Zi (‘The Master Who Embraces Simplicity’), practiced alchemy, hence the name.” Ge Hong, a Taoist priest of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, once lived in seclusion here, cultivating immortality and refining elixirs, ultimately attaining enlightenment. Traces of his former presence can still be found. A renowned Taoist theorist and alchemist of the Eastern Jin period, Ge Hong styled himself Bao Pu Zi and authored works such as the Baopuzi (The Master Who Embraces Simplicity). In the Inner Chapters of the Baopuzi, he systematically summarized the achievements of alchemy prior to the Jin Dynasty, detailing various alchemical methods and providing valuable material for the study of primitive experimental chemistry, exerting a significant influence on the development of alchemy during the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Legend has it that Ge Hong once served as an official in southern Fujian. Upon discovering this mountain, he retreated into the hills to live in solitude, gathering herbs to heal the sick, refining elixirs, and writing treatises, winning deep respect among the local people. To this day, Dan Mountain features scenic spots such as the “Immortal’s Cave,” “Immortal Playing the Zither,” “Immortal’s Footprint,” and “Golden Turtle Stealing Elixirs,” filling the valley with an ethereal, otherworldly aura that seems to transport visitors back through time. The locals respectfully refer to Ge Hong as the Ancestral Immortal. At the highest peak of Dan Mountain stands the “Ancestral Immortal Temple,” dedicated to him. Every year on the eighth day of the eighth lunar month, villagers and followers from around the region gather to celebrate his birthday.