Pingliang Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

崆峒山，Kong Tong Shan is located in the small Gansu city Pingliang 平凉。It is easy to get there by public transportion. Even most of Chinese people has no any idea about this place, foreign travelers almost never reach this location. But I would like to mention Kong Tong Shan 崆峒山 because this place is considered the land of Taoism origin. Yes, this is true. Exactly from Kong Tong Shan the Taoism religious and philosophy beliefs spread out and penetrated into other parts of China. There are several schools practicing qi kong and traditional medicine. Schools are not widely opened but accept new comers. This is hidden unexplored world, differing from that "well known" temple, where crowds of tourists arriving to watch the show. #triplocal

Kongtong Mountain in Pingliang | The Ultimate Guide

🔔Introduction: Kongtong Mountain is located in the Kongtong District of Pingliang City, with the main peak at an altitude of 2123 meters. It has been known as "the number one mountain of Taoism in China" since ancient times. ---- 📷Tour Guide: There are three ways to go up the mountain: 1⃣️ Sightseeing bus; 2⃣️ Cable car; 3⃣️ Hiking. 🌈The sightseeing bus has two routes: 1⃣️ Tourist Center - Zhongtai (32 yuan); 2⃣️ Tourist Center - Xiangshan Temple (48 yuan); 🌈The cable car runs from the Tourist Center to Zhongtai and back (one-way 50 yuan); 🌈Hiking entrances are at the East Gate, South Gate, and West Gate. 🌟It is recommended to take the sightseeing bus to the highest point, Xiangshan Temple, and then walk to Zhongtai. This way, the whole journey is downhill. Finally, take the sightseeing bus or cable car back to the Tourist Center. You can visit the following attractions in this order: 1⃣️ Take the sightseeing bus from the Tourist Center for about 40 minutes to reach the highest point, Xiangshan Temple, at an altitude of 2123 meters; 2⃣️ After getting off the bus, Xiangshan Temple is nearby. Descend the steps for about 20 minutes to reach Huangcheng; 3⃣️ Huangcheng, also known as "Taihe Palace", has a plaque with "Extremely Steep" hanging on the main gate, with bell and drum towers on both sides, and eight large halls, which are the most important Taoist buildings on Kongtong Mountain; 4⃣️ Pass through the Three Religions Cave, the Hall of Twelve Marshals, and the Needle Grinding View to reach Lanyun Pavilion, where you can overlook the entire Zhongtai; 5⃣️ Next is the most dangerous part of Kongtong Mountain, the Sky Ladder, with steps at an angle of sixty to seventy degrees. Remember to hold onto the iron chains for safety, and you will pass by the place where the Yellow Emperor sought the Tao; 6⃣️ After descending, you will reach Chaotian Gate, with a plaque bearing the three characters "Kongtong Mountain"; 7⃣️ Not far from there is Zhongtai, where you can find the Pagoda Courtyard and the Falun Zen Temple. The chanting and bell sounds in the temple echo softly in the clouds, making any hasty visitor involuntarily soften their gaze and breathe more gently; 8⃣️ Take the sightseeing bus or cable car back to the Tourist Center; 9⃣️ Kongtong Ancient Town is right next to the Tourist Center, where you can dine. Be sure to try the sugar oil cakes from Yangjiabao, with their crispy crust and sweet filling. 🌟To summarize the tour route: Tourist Center ➡️ (by sightseeing bus) Xiangshan Temple ➡️ Huangcheng ➡️ Three Religions Cave ➡️ Hall of Twelve Marshals ➡️ Needle Grinding View ➡️ Lanyun Pavilion ➡️ Sky Ladder ➡️ Yellow Emperor's Tao Seeking ➡️ Chaotian Gate ➡️ Zhongtai ➡️ Pagoda Courtyard ➡️ Falun Zen Temple ➡️ (by sightseeing bus or cable car) Tourist Center ➡️ Kongtong Ancient Town. ---- 📍Address: Kongtong Town, Kongtong District, Pingliang City. ---- 🚗Transportation: Take bus No. 9 or 13, get off at Kongtong Ancient Town station. ---- 🕙Opening Hours: 6:00-18:00 (entry stops at 16:30). ---- 💰Ticket Price: 110 yuan; Cable car one-way 50 yuan; Sightseeing bus to Zhongtai 32 yuan, to Xiangshan Temple 48 yuan.

Some sceneries can only be seen in the Kongtong Mountain during winter

Winter in Kongtong Mountain is like an elegant piece of classical music, quietly narrating, just like the sparkling sunlight on the lake surface, and like the notes hanging on the branches, singing out the serenity and purity from the bottom of the heart. Kongtong Mountain brings the unique coolness of the Loess Plateau, which is especially biting in the winter days. Kongtong Mountain, only 'three feet three' from the sky, has sunrises, sea of clouds, snowscapes, and everything you love. Come to Kongtong Mountain to experience the different beauty of winter. Kongtong Mountain combines the characteristics of being strange, majestic, dangerous, illusory, and beautiful all in one. Standing on the plank road and looking around, you can feel the grandeur of the sheer cliffs and deep valleys, and appreciate the poetic and picturesque scenery of competing peaks, peculiar pines, and clever stones. Many people think that Kongtong Mountain is not suitable for travel in winter, but in fact, the winter in Kongtong Mountain is quiet and peaceful. Coming here, you can calm down to comprehend life, faith, and freedom. The sky without smog, the warm sunshine, and the sea of clouds in winter, these are all reasons to visit Kongtong Mountain in the winter season. If you have missed the lushness of spring, the greenery of summer, and the splendor of autumn, then you must grasp the winter of Kongtong Mountain well. The winter sky here is very blue, carrying tranquility, leading the sunshine, come to listen to the voice of Kongtong Mountain in winter. Tips: When visiting Kongtong Mountain in winter, choose a short-distance climbing route. The days are short in winter, and make sure to check the sunset time before climbing to ensure you descend the mountain before 4 pm. Winter weather is cold, and the weather in the mountains is even more unpredictable. Anticipate possible severe weather and bring enough supplies. If you encounter rainy or snowy weather along the way, adjust your itinerary accordingly. Be sure to consider comprehensively and do not overestimate your strength. Pay attention to the announcements of the scenic area.

Daoism's premier sacred mountain - Mount Kongtong

Mount Kongtong is located in Pingliang City, Gansu Province, and was a strategic pass on the ancient Silk Road. It is also the birthplace of many past emperors. The Mount Kongtong scenic area has long been renowned for its beauty, with the saying 'The scenery of Mount Kongtong is the most exquisite under heaven.' Not only does it boast beautiful Danxia landforms, but it also has many cultural relics. Attractions such as the Chaoyang Cave, Leisheng Peak, Lotus Temple, and Zhenwu Hall are all worth visiting.

The newly promoted national first-class museum (Pingliang)

As a museum that opened in 2019, the square is not yet well constructed, there is no supporting bus nearby, and it is almost impossible to call a network car. What's even more outrageous is that the power was cut off twice in the afternoon, I was also convinced But the shortcomings do not hide the advantages, the exhibits inside are great, the level of exhibition and facilities are also online, especially the treasure of the town museum, the Eastern Han Boshan cover beast pattern bronze zun, is quite exquisite and breathtaking The museum is divided into three floors, the main exhibition hall is four, the first floor is now the Northwest Great Wall culture exhibition, for temporary exhibition, most of the cultural relics are from Jiuquan area The second floor is the main exhibition hall, Pingliang history and culture exhibition, most of the hard goods are here, the third floor has two exhibition halls, respectively for Buddhist culture and Taoist culture exhibition This land is located in the golden triangle area where Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia meet, with Kongtong Mountain, the ancient god Hua Xia's first sword fairy Guang Chengzi was mixed here, Buddhist and Taoist culture collided and blended here, the local accent is very similar to Guanzhong area, this is the historical city of Xi Chu Chang'an first city ☞ Pingliang The treasure of the town museum, the Eastern Han Boshan cover beast pattern bronze zun is quite shocking, the relief is beautiful and stunning, it is the kind that even if it is placed in the corner, people feel that it is the protagonist, even if deliberately covering the light is still so dazzling feeling The whole body is carved with different postures of dragons, tigers, phoenix birds, bears and immortals in the Boshan with overlapping mountains and fairy air. The three bears are full, shrunk neck and shrugged shoulders for support. The overall is gorgeous and exquisite, far ahead After seeing this, think about the treasure of the town museum in Handan, which is also a Han Dynasty wine vessel ☞ gold and silver coated carriage big jue wine zun, suddenly feel that it is not fragrant In addition, there are many exquisite cultural relics worth seeing, or wait for everyone to discover it themselves, and one thing to note is that although there are many real goods here, there are also many imitations What is surprising is that the level of counterfeiting here is quite high, many replicas do not show any disharmony, whether in shape or aging can be fake, it seems that there are experts here

One of the four major first-class museums in Gansu, the guide to visiting the Pingliang Museum

Between Kongtong Mountain and Pingliang Museum I chose the museum In the whole Gansu, there are only 4 national first-class museums, Gansu Provincial Museum, Dunhuang Research Institute, Tianshui Museum, and the remaining one is Pingliang Museum. Pingliang, the first city west of Chang'an, but my only impression of this place is in the 'Kangxi Dynasty', Zhou Peigong persuaded Wang Fuchen to surrender, in the Pingliang Prefecture... Pingliang has many mythological stories in history. 📸Must-see exhibition hall Second floor 'Longbao Jinghua' Third floor 'Han Feng Cang Yun' 'Dao Yuan Kong Tong' 🏺Must-see exhibits ✅Boshan mythical beast pattern bronze zun: the treasure of the museum, Eastern Han Dynasty wine utensil, various auspicious beasts and feathered people, the lid looks like mountains ✅Han Wang Ding-shaped copper furnace: Pingliang is the fief of Zhu Yuanzhang's son Han Wang, this furnace was cast by the 11th generation Han Wang Zhu Densheng ✅Ming Er Long Xi Zhu bottle: Chenghua style ✅Copper Xuanwu: snake head spitting tongue and turtle head facing each other, snake tail and turtle tail entwined ✅Dayun Temple Buddha relic case: five-piece set ✅Various Taoist and Buddhist (Tibetan) statues: from various eras 📌tips: Free visit, free parking, the stunning degree of the exhibits in the Pingliang Museum far exceeded my expectations, it subverted my consistent cognition that once a museum has a flashy appearance, the collection must not be good... Climbing Kongtong Mountain is too tiring, visiting the museum is the right thing to do

Kongtong Mountain

Kongtong Mountain is located in Pingliang City, Gansu Province, and is a fortress for the ancient Silk Road to exit Guanzhong. The scenic area covers an area of 84 square kilometers, the main peak is 2123 meters above sea level, and the forest coverage rate is 95%. The solemn and elegant eight platforms, nine palaces, twelve courtyards, forty-two building groups, and seventy-two stone mansions and caves are magnificent and profound, combining the strange and beautiful natural landscape and the simple and exquisite cultural landscape. It has extremely high ornamental, cultural and scientific research value. It is said that Guangchengzi once practiced immortality on Kongtong Mountain. Guangchengzi is the predecessor of Laozi, and Laozi is the ancestor of Taoism, so it has the reputation of "the first mountain of Chinese Taoism". Scenic area guide map (Figure 2), there are mainly two ways to visit: 1. Take the scenic area car or cable car (South Gate) to the Central Platform (mid-mountain), first visit the surrounding attractions of the Central Platform, and then start climbing from the Central Platform, climbing and visiting until the end of Xiangshan (mountaintop), and then take the car directly from Xiangshan Return to Kongtong Ancient Town. Or just climb to the Imperial City, return to the Central Platform after visiting the Imperial City, and return to Kongtong Ancient Town by car or cable car from the Central Platform. 2. Take the scenic area car directly to Xiangshan (mountaintop), and then walk down, visit while going down the mountain, until the Central Platform (mid-mountain), then visit the surrounding attractions of the Central Platform, and finally return to Kongtong Ancient Town by car from the Central Platform. 3. Self-driving to the East Gate, take the scenic area car or walk to the Central Platform, and then visit in the same way as the first 4. There seems to be another boat route, I didn't go to study Xiangshan Temple (Xiangshan View) (Figure 3), it has been prosperous and declined several times after the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and was rebuilt in the 29th year of the Republic of China. Although Xiangshan Temple is called a "temple", it is presided over by a Taoist priest, which is also a unique religious phenomenon of Kongtong Mountain Imperial City (Figure 4), also known as Taihe Palace, was created in the Qian De period of the Song Dynasty, and was changed to worship Sakyamuni Buddha in the Yuan Dynasty, known as Chong Buddha Pavilion. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, Han Wang, who was stationed in Pingliang, and his wife Guo donated money to expand again, becoming the main building of Taoism on Kongtong Mountain. The Imperial City covers an area of about 200 square meters. The architectural style is a palace on the palace, a palace in the palace, and a palace hidden behind the palace. It is built in imitation of Chinese palace architecture and is the most complete group of Ming Dynasty buildings preserved on Kongtong Mountain. Tianxian Palace (Figure 5), commonly known as Zisun Palace, is located on the left side of the Imperial City. It is a Siheyuan-style building. The south-facing one is Xuanyuan Hall, and the north-facing one is Zixiao Hall. Sanjiao Cave (Figure 6), the cave enshrines the founders of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Laozi is in the middle, and Sakyamuni and Confucius are on both sides. Sanjiao Cave was originally a Taoist place, and later evolved into a coexistence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Lanyun Pavilion (Figure 7), here you can see the basic layout of the Wutai Scenic Area of Kongtong Mountain, and the flat land on the lower right is the Central Platform. With the Central Platform as the center, you can choose different directions to go to the other four platforms in the east, south, west, and north. Danqin Lake (Kongtong Reservoir) (Figure 8), located under the South Gate of Kongtong Mountain, a reservoir formed by building a dam on the Jing River. Shangtian Ladder (Figure 9), originated from the religious meaning of communication with heaven, was built in the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, and was presided over by Renzhi Zen Master, the founder of Kongtong Mountain. After renovation, the total number of steps is now 378. "One step is only one inch, the gate of heaven climbs the iron pillar; if you walk here, you can get on the road to heaven", this is also the only way to ascend the Imperial City. Yaowang Cave (Figure 10), was built in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. The cave is carved with the statue of "Sitting Tiger and Needle Dragon" by Yaosheng Sun Simiao. In the spring of 1993, two east-facing stone caves were newly excavated on the left and right sides, each with colored sculptures of Bian Que and Hua Tuo. Candle Peak (Figure 11), southeast of Yaowang Cave, a typical solitary peak, the peak is more than 50 meters high. Chaotianmen (Figure 12), is the main thoroughfare for communication with the top, it was built in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, it is a plaque-style building, called a day gate, with four great heavenly kings carved inside. Sanhuang Tower (Figure 13), was built in the third year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty, with colored sculptures of the three ancient emperors, the Emperor of Heaven, Shennong, and the Emperor of Man, Xuanyuan Huangdi. The four titles of Kongtong Mountain are listed on the front: National Key Scenic Spot, National First Batch 5A Tourist Scenic Spot, Kongtong Mountain National Geological Park, Taizong-Kongtong Mountain National Nature Reserve. Lingkong Tower (Figure 14), located in the tower courtyard of Kongtong Mountain, was built in the seventh year of Tian Sheng in the Northern Song Dynasty. The tower is an octagonal seven-story pavilion-style hollow brick tower, facing north and south, 32 meters high, with a circumference of 32 meters at the bottom. Its "Ancient Tower Supports Pine" is known as a great wonder of Kongtong Mountain. PS: 1. What I know about Kongtong comes from martial arts novels. It is said that in the famous work "Flying Swallow Shocking Dragon" published in 1958, there is a description of the Kongtong faction. I remember Yang Menghuan played by Er Dongsheng, but I don’t have any impression of Kongtong in this martial arts drama. The most impressive thing is Jin Yong's "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber". As a tourist attraction, it is not as famous as Emei Wudang Shaolin. Despite this, its scenery is unexpected. There is a stone tablet inscribed by Jin Yong in the Kongtong Central Platform, but unfortunately the previous strategy was not fully done, and I regret missing it. 2. If you want to visit in depth, it is estimated that one day is not enough. We only visited some of the attractions in Xiangshan and Wutai Scenic Area, that is, the main line from Xiangshan to Central Platform, and did not go to the fork. 3. Those who are physically unfit are advised to follow our route, that is, first take the scenic area tour bus to Xiangshan, and then go down to the Central Platform, and take the scenic area tour bus back to the visitor center from the Central Platform. This way of touring is more comfortable, and it is basically downhill. 4. It is recommended to stay at the foot of the mountain the day before, and go up the mountain early the next day to avoid queuing for the car. When we left the scenic area, the roads on both sides were already full of self-driving cars. Although Kongtong is low-key, there are still many tourists.

Journey to Kongtong Mountain, the first mountain of Taoism in China!

The first mountain of Taoism in China, Kongtong Mountain in Gansu! Mountain climbing strategy to save energy; Kongtong Mountain is located in Pingliang City, Gansu Province, it is the first Taoist mountain that is leisurely and out of the world. It is the fortress of the Silk Road going west out of Guanzhong, although it is located in the northwest, but the forest coverage rate 🌲 is over 95%! The summer temperature is only 25℃. 🚗Transportation 👉Pingliang does not have ❌high-speed rail station✔️you can take the train here. You can also drive by yourself. 👉Take bus No. 13 to Kongtong Ancient Town or Kongtong Mountain. Bus No. 13 is easy to wait for. There are still buses at six o'clock in the afternoon, and the scenic area closes at seven o'clock. Pay attention to the time. 🎫Ticket ⛩️Ticket: 110 yuan/person (peak season 55 yuan/person (off season) Online package ticket, ticket + bus a total of 155/person. ⛩️The ticket for the car going down the mountain from Zhongtai can only be bought at Zhongtai, 32/person. Ancient town to Xiangshan: 48 yuan/person, cable car: 50 yuan/person ⭐Route🧵There are three: 1⃣️Special forces buddies, you can choose pure hiking! (At least 6 hours required) 2⃣️Take the scenic area bus to Zhongtai (halfway up the mountain) and then walk to the highest peak Xiangshan; 3⃣️Take the car directly to the top of Xiangshan, and then walk down the mountain to Zhongtai to take the car down the mountain. 🌟Highlights: 👉The architectural scale of Kongtong Mountain is quite large, and the range of buildings is very large. The eastern part of the mountain top is Buddhist temple buildings, and the western part is all Taoist buildings. The number of Taoist buildings is not a few more than Buddhist ones. Kongtong Mountain is a spiritual mountain shared by both Buddhism and Taoism. 👉Kongtong Mountain is a place that a martial arts novel fan must have heard of, and it is listed as "one of the nine major sects". The widespread publicity of many martial arts novels by Jin Yong, Gu Long, Wolong Sheng, etc., has increased Kongtong's popularity a lot. 📝Note tips: ✅If you don't take the scenic area car and only buy tickets, you must take the bus to the end station Kongtong Mountain to start climbing. ✔️You don't have to go to Nantai, Xitai is under maintenance and the road is closed. Not recommended to go. ✔️Highlight🔕 Go to the Imperial City➡️Then Sanjiao Cave➡️Twelve Marshal Cave➡️Don't take the ladder at this time! Super leg-consuming🦵➡️Return to the Imperial City, ➡️Take the Qipanling line, the scenery is very good➡️Keep going down, go to the Jiutian Saintess Temple➡️Go forward along the way➡️Arrive at Chaotianmen, ➡️Take the bus down the mountain at Zhongtai Mountain. ✔️Climbing the mountain is mainly for comfort, wear comfortable sports shoes👟pay attention to sun protection, ✔️There are cultural and creative shops on Zhongtai Mountain, the cold skin recommended at the Imperial City tastes good. ✅Prepare water and food, there is food on the mountain and it is not expensive, the price is acceptable. Finally, I wish everyone a happy journey!!! Follow the editor and see the great rivers and mountains of the motherland with you!

Arriving at the Ruyi Bridge and Lotus Platform, it feels like luck has improved

Located in the Xianju Scenic Area of Taizhou, Zhejiang, it is like a beautiful and enchanting painting, intoxicating to behold. The Lotus Platform and Ruyi Bridge are the dazzling pearls within, shining with a fairy-like radiance. The Lotus Platform, resembling a blooming lotus, quietly unfolds its purity and beauty in the valley. When the misty rain blurs the view, clouds and fog wind through the mountains, and the fragrance of flowers permeates the moist air, it creates a refreshing and enchanting atmosphere, as if one has stepped into a fairyland. The Guanyin Peak echoes in the distance, adding a touch of mysterious charm. The Ruyi Bridge, on the other hand, is a newly popular 'internet-famous' spot in Xianju. The fully transparent glass bridge surface can make one's legs go weak, while also providing a deeper shock to visitors with the magnificent scenery. Many tourists choose to capture beautiful moments on the Ruyi Bridge, symbolizing a blessed journey and wishing for everything to go as desired

The most Guanyin-like peak in China｜The place where immortals live

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe that there is such a mysterious and sacred peak hidden in China. It is the Guanyin Peak located in Taizhou Shenxianju. This peak is not only the heart of the southern region of Shenxianju, but also an incarnation of the compassionate and wise Avalokitesvara. Whenever the sun shines, Guanyin Peak is like Avalokitesvara who saves all beings, quietly listening to the joys and sorrows of the world. Opposite Guanyin Peak, there are a series of breathtaking attractions, such as Nantian Peak, Ruyi Bridge, Buddha Shadow Lotus Rhyme, Lotus Platform, etc. Among them, Nantian Peak is like a watchtower standing between heaven and earth, you can overlook Xianju City to the east, overlook Gongyu Rock to the south, rely on Zhangmao Mountain to the north, and below is a cliff of three to four hundred meters deep. Here, you can feel the magnificent scenery of the top of the mountains, and also experience the excitement and pleasure of extreme sports such as sky corridors, suspended swings, and bungee jumping. At the same time, this is also the best place for you to express your respect to Avalokitesvara, allowing your soul to be baptized and purified. Ruyi Bridge is one of the must-visit attractions in Shenxianju. This hyperbolic arch bridge built of steel is like a jade ruyi lying in the valley, crystal clear. The big trees on both sides of the bridge, two sweet gums, and a ginkgo, represent sweetness and happiness respectively. Walking over this Ruyi Bridge, I hope your life is poetic and picturesque, sweet and happy. There is also a popular elevator on the mountain of Shenxianju, which netizens call "pain-free climbing", which is to sit in the same elevator as in the mall and go directly to the top of the mountain, a total of 120 meters. Although some people say that it has lost the "soul of climbing", it is indeed very friendly to the elderly, children, and people with inconvenient legs and feet. Shenxianju is named because it seems to be a habitat for immortals. The air here is fresh and pleasant, and the content of negative oxygen ions is extremely high, making it an ideal place for health and leisure. Coming here, you will embark on a pilgrimage, exploration and dream-seeking journey of the soul. Walking in this fairyland on earth, it seems to be in a flowing landscape painting, which makes people feel relaxed and happy, and forget to return. Taizhou Shenxianju Scenic Area Tour Route: South Gate Up North Gate Down Route: South Gate Nantian Cableway→Buddha Shadow Lotus Rhyme→Up Mountain Elevator→Nantian Peak→Guanyin Peak→Lotus Platform→Hongmeng Bridge→Tai Chi Platform→Qingyun Ladder→Wolong Bridge→Yuanmeng Bridge→Ruyi Bridge (Do not cross the bridge after visiting)→Smooth Sailing→Beihai Cableway→Sightseeing Car Downhill North Gate Up South Gate Down Route: North Gate Sightseeing Car→Beihai Cableway→Smooth Sailing→Ruyi Bridge→Yuanmeng Bridge→Wolong Bridge→Qingyun Ladder→Tai Chi Platform→Hongmeng Bridge→Lotus Platform→Nantian Peak→Guanyin Peak→Elevator Downhill→South Gate Nantian Cableway The arrival route of the new attraction Buddha Shadow Lotus Rhyme: Enter from the south gate of Shenxianju Scenic Area, take the Nantian Cableway up the mountain, and walk to the right-hand plank road after exiting the cableway (do not take the escalator), you can reach Buddha Shadow Lotus Rhyme. Ticket: Shenxianju 110 yuan/person Cable car: Cable car up 65 yuan/person, cable car down 55 yuan/person Nantian Peak: Separate ticket 99 yuan/person Address: Danzhu Township, Baita Town, Xianju County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province Scenic Area Opening Hours: 08:00—16:00 Shenxianju Scenic Area-Ruyi Bridge

Kongtong Mountain

Kongtong Mountain is located in Pingliang City, Gansu Province, and is a fortress for the ancient Silk Road to exit Guanzhong. The scenic area covers an area of 84 square kilometers, the main peak is 2123 meters above sea level, and the forest coverage rate is 95%. The solemn and elegant eight platforms, nine palaces, twelve courtyards, forty-two building groups, and seventy-two stone mansions and caves are magnificent and profound, combining the strange and beautiful natural landscape and the simple and exquisite cultural landscape. It has extremely high ornamental, cultural and scientific research value. It is said that Guangchengzi once practiced immortality on Kongtong Mountain. Guangchengzi is the predecessor of Laozi, and Laozi is the ancestor of Taoism, so it has the reputation of "the first mountain of Chinese Taoism". Scenic area guide map (Figure 2), there are mainly two ways to visit: 1. Take the scenic area car or cable car (South Gate) to the Central Platform (mid-mountain), first visit the surrounding attractions of the Central Platform, and then start climbing from the Central Platform, climbing and visiting until the end of Xiangshan (mountaintop), and then take the car directly from Xiangshan Return to Kongtong Ancient Town. Or just climb to the Imperial City, return to the Central Platform after visiting the Imperial City, and return to Kongtong Ancient Town by car or cable car from the Central Platform. 2. Take the scenic area car directly to Xiangshan (mountaintop), and then walk down, visit while going down the mountain, until the Central Platform (mid-mountain), then visit the surrounding attractions of the Central Platform, and finally return to Kongtong Ancient Town by car from the Central Platform. 3. Self-driving to the East Gate, take the scenic area car or walk to the Central Platform, and then visit in the same way as the first 4. There seems to be another boat route, I didn't go to study Xiangshan Temple (Xiangshan View) (Figure 3), it has been prosperous and declined several times after the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and was rebuilt in the 29th year of the Republic of China. Although Xiangshan Temple is called a "temple", it is presided over by a Taoist priest, which is also a unique religious phenomenon of Kongtong Mountain Imperial City (Figure 4), also known as Taihe Palace, was created in the Qian De period of the Song Dynasty, and was changed to worship Sakyamuni Buddha in the Yuan Dynasty, known as Chong Buddha Pavilion. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, Han Wang, who was stationed in Pingliang, and his wife Guo donated money to expand again, becoming the main building of Taoism on Kongtong Mountain. The Imperial City covers an area of about 200 square meters. The architectural style is a palace on the palace, a palace in the palace, and a palace hidden behind the palace. It is built in imitation of Chinese palace architecture and is the most complete group of Ming Dynasty buildings preserved on Kongtong Mountain. Tianxian Palace (Figure 5), commonly known as Zisun Palace, is located on the left side of the Imperial City. It is a Siheyuan-style building. The south-facing one is Xuanyuan Hall, and the north-facing one is Zixiao Hall. Sanjiao Cave (Figure 6), the cave enshrines the founders of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Laozi is in the middle, and Sakyamuni and Confucius are on both sides. Sanjiao Cave was originally a Taoist place, and later evolved into a coexistence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Lanyun Pavilion (Figure 7), here you can see the basic layout of the Wutai Scenic Area of Kongtong Mountain, and the flat land on the lower right is the Central Platform. With the Central Platform as the center, you can choose different directions to go to the other four platforms in the east, south, west, and north. Danqin Lake (Kongtong Reservoir) (Figure 8), located under the South Gate of Kongtong Mountain, a reservoir formed by building a dam on the Jing River. Shangtian Ladder (Figure 9), originated from the religious meaning of communication with heaven, was built in the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, and was presided over by Renzhi Zen Master, the founder of Kongtong Mountain. After renovation, the total number of steps is now 378. "One step is only one inch, the gate of heaven climbs the iron pillar; if you walk here, you can get on the road to heaven", this is also the only way to ascend the Imperial City. Yaowang Cave (Figure 10), was built in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. The cave is carved with the statue of "Sitting Tiger and Needle Dragon" by Yaosheng Sun Simiao. In the spring of 1993, two east-facing stone caves were newly excavated on the left and right sides, each with colored sculptures of Bian Que and Hua Tuo. Candle Peak (Figure 11), southeast of Yaowang Cave, a typical solitary peak, the peak is more than 50 meters high. Chaotianmen (Figure 12), is the main thoroughfare for communication with the top, it was built in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, it is a plaque-style building, called a day gate, with four great heavenly kings carved inside. Sanhuang Tower (Figure 13), was built in the third year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty, with colored sculptures of the three ancient emperors, the Emperor of Heaven, Shennong, and the Emperor of Man, Xuanyuan Huangdi. The four titles of Kongtong Mountain are listed on the front: National Key Scenic Spot, National First Batch 5A Tourist Scenic Spot, Kongtong Mountain National Geological Park, Taizong-Kongtong Mountain National Nature Reserve. Lingkong Tower (Figure 14), located in the tower courtyard of Kongtong Mountain, was built in the seventh year of Tian Sheng in the Northern Song Dynasty. The tower is an octagonal seven-story pavilion-style hollow brick tower, facing north and south, 32 meters high, with a circumference of 32 meters at the bottom. Its "Ancient Tower Supports Pine" is known as a great wonder of Kongtong Mountain. PS: 1. What I know about Kongtong comes from martial arts novels. It is said that in the famous work "Flying Swallow Shocking Dragon" published in 1958, there is a description of the Kongtong faction. I remember Yang Menghuan played by Er Dongsheng, but I don’t have any impression of Kongtong in this martial arts drama. The most impressive thing is Jin Yong's "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber". As a tourist attraction, it is not as famous as Emei Wudang Shaolin. Despite this, its scenery is unexpected. There is a stone tablet inscribed by Jin Yong in the Kongtong Central Platform, but unfortunately the previous strategy was not fully done, and I regret missing it. 2. If you want to visit in depth, it is estimated that one day is not enough. We only visited some of the attractions in Xiangshan and Wutai Scenic Area, that is, the main line from Xiangshan to Central Platform, and did not go to the fork. 3. Those who are physically unfit are advised to follow our route, that is, first take the scenic area tour bus to Xiangshan, and then go down to the Central Platform, and take the scenic area tour bus back to the visitor center from the Central Platform. This way of touring is more comfortable, and it is basically downhill. 4. It is recommended to stay at the foot of the mountain the day before, and go up the mountain early the next day to avoid queuing for the car. When we left the scenic area, the roads on both sides were already full of self-driving cars. Although Kongtong is low-key, there are still many tourists.