Temple of Heaven Mountain

　　   Temple of Heaven Mountain, also known as Yangluo Mountain, is located about 31 kilometers northwest of Jiyuan City and stands at an elevation of 1,711 meters, serving as the main peak of the Wangwu Mountain range. At its summit lies an altar. Legend has it that this was where the Yellow Emperor prayed to the heavens, hence the name "Temple of Heaven." It is also referred to as the "Western Summit" because it stands in grandeur opposite Mount Tai in the east, and is commonly known as "Old Master Peak."

　　   Temple of Heaven Mountain towers majestically into the clouds, a solitary pillar reaching into the sky. When visitors climb to the top and look up into space, the colorful clouds dazzle the eyes; gazing afar, the Yellow River appears as a slender thread; looking down, the surrounding mountains resemble small hills. In the early morning and evening, multicolored clouds often appear, shifting dramatically and changing in myriad forms. At dawn, one may sometimes witness the spectacular sight of the entire Temple of Heaven reflected in the eastern sky—a phenomenon known as the “Reflection of Temple of Heaven,” which is counted among the Nine Scenic Views of Jiyuan. Standing atop the mountain at daybreak, you can be among the first to admire the magnificent sunrise in the east. The mountaintop once housed architectural structures such as the Jade Emperor Hall, the Void Emperor Taoist Temple, the Yellow Emperor Temple, and the True Lord Shrine, all resplendent and shrouded in incense. The poet Liu Yuxi wrote, “Upon Yangluo’s Temple of Heaven, it faintly resembles the Jade Capital. The sun is seen first here when night divides, and the distant moon brings the sound of flutes,” vividly capturing the mountain's extraordinary natural landscape and grand architecture. Today, only the South Heavenly Gate, built during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, and over ten stone tablets from the Ming and Qing dynasties remain. The South Heavenly Gate is situated close to the southern cliff and is a nine-ridged memorial archway with three arched gateways beneath. The central horizontal plaque on the south side reads “Gate of the Limitless Mysterious Dome,” visible clearly for miles, connecting north and south.

　　   The mountaintop is surrounded by steep cliffs and precipices. To the northeast is the Sacrificial Cliff, where a rock juts out from the sheer cliff face—about a foot wide and over ten feet long—seemingly poised to fall, inspiring awe. Legend says that Lü Dongbin once stepped on this rock. Below the western cliff lies the Taiyi Pool, the source of the Ji River. The line from the Book of Documents·Yu’s Tribute, “Guiding the Ji waters, which flow eastward as the Ji River,” refers to this very spot.

　　   To the east of Temple of Heaven Mountain lies the Peak of Day Essence, which glows brilliantly at sunrise; to the west is the Peak of Moon Radiance, which shines brightly when the moon rises.