Tianzhu Mountain 天柱山
Unesco Global Geopark - National AAAAA Tourist Area
Located in Qianshan City, Anhui Province, in the eastern part of China, it covers an area of 413.14 square kilometers. The peak is at an altitude of 1490 meters above sea level and looks like a pillar holding up the sky like, so it is called “Tianzhu”, which literally means “Heavenly Pillar''. The main peak in the central area is a group of 47 peaks whose altitudes are over one kilometer, those peaks with strange shape stones are covered by green pines and bamboos and they are separated by several canyons, forming a beautiful peak forest, while the outskirts of the main peak are low mountains waterfalls and ponds.
The Geopark is famous for its beautiful granite landforms, it is great place for paleontological vertebrate fossils research with more than 50 species of vertebrate fossils discovered in Tianzhushan.
Tianzhushan is also rich in culture and history with more than a thousand years: relics from the Neolithic Period can be found here, the fiefdom of the ancient Wan State was located here during the Spring and Autumn Period and in 106 BC Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty ascended Tianzhushan and referred to it as Sacred Southern Mountain.
Since ancient times, these natural wonders saw many great men of letters who left behind beautiful poems, Wang Anshi (1021-1086), Su Shi (1037-1101) and Huang Tingjian (1045-1105) between them.
Unesco Global Geopark - National AAAAA Tourist Area
Located in Qianshan City, Anhui Province, in the eastern part of China, it covers an area of 413.14 square kilometers. The peak is at an altitude of 1490 meters above sea level and looks like a pillar holding up the sky like, so it is called “Tianzhu”, which literally means “Heavenly Pillar''. The main peak in the central area is a group of 47 peaks whose altitudes are over one kilometer, those peaks with strange shape stones are covered by green pines and bamboos and they are separated by several canyons, forming a beautiful peak forest, while the outskirts of the main peak are low mountains waterfalls and ponds.
The Geopark is famous for its beautiful granite landforms, it is great place for paleontological vertebrate fossils research with more than 50 species of vertebrate fossils discovered in Tianzhushan.
Tianzhushan is also rich in culture and history with more than a thousand years: relics from the Neolithic Period can be found here, the fiefdom of the ancient Wan State was located here during the Spring and Autumn Period and in 106 BC Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty ascended Tianzhushan and referred to it as Sacred Southern Mountain.
Since ancient times, these natural wonders saw many great men of letters who left behind beautiful poems, Wang Anshi (1021-1086), Su Shi (1037-1101) and Huang Tingjian (1045-1105) between them.
Tianzhu Peak
At 1488 meters above sea level, the main peak of Tianzhushan, so called for its resemblance to a towering pillar. It is composed of medium-grained monzonitic granite from the early Cretaceous period (128 million years ago). Since the vertical and diagonal joints are well-developed and intersect with each other on granite, deep weathering occurs, which causes the disintegration and collapse of the rock mass, eventually forming the pillar-like peak.
At 1488 meters above sea level, the main peak of Tianzhushan, so called for its resemblance to a towering pillar. It is composed of medium-grained monzonitic granite from the early Cretaceous period (128 million years ago). Since the vertical and diagonal joints are well-developed and intersect with each other on granite, deep weathering occurs, which causes the disintegration and collapse of the rock mass, eventually forming the pillar-like peak.
Tianchi Peak
the second highest peak of Tianzhushan, named after Tianchi (the heavenly pools) on the peak, is a granite inselberg or mountain-island. The boulder on the top of the peak is split by an East-West joint to form two cracks. The slab on the boulder is called “courage-challenging bridge”, also known as “immortal bridge”, because there is an old saying that “those who are lucky enough to cross the bridge are considered immortal”. The cliff beside the heavenly pool is so precipitous that it is called “mind-testing cliff”.Legend has it that all Taoists must have their minds tested at the cliff before practicing Taoism in earnest.
the second highest peak of Tianzhushan, named after Tianchi (the heavenly pools) on the peak, is a granite inselberg or mountain-island. The boulder on the top of the peak is split by an East-West joint to form two cracks. The slab on the boulder is called “courage-challenging bridge”, also known as “immortal bridge”, because there is an old saying that “those who are lucky enough to cross the bridge are considered immortal”. The cliff beside the heavenly pool is so precipitous that it is called “mind-testing cliff”.Legend has it that all Taoists must have their minds tested at the cliff before practicing Taoism in earnest.
Valley Stream Stone-carved Inscriptions Park
Called the calligraphy art gallery of past dynasties, it preserve more than 300 stone inscriptions carved in the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. Between them those from Li Ao, Li Dexiu, Wang Anshi, Su Dongpo and Huang Tingjian are the most valuable. There are inscriptions that express emotions derived by natural landscape, some express aspiration by chanting objects and some meditate on the past.
Called the calligraphy art gallery of past dynasties, it preserve more than 300 stone inscriptions carved in the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. Between them those from Li Ao, Li Dexiu, Wang Anshi, Su Dongpo and Huang Tingjian are the most valuable. There are inscriptions that express emotions derived by natural landscape, some express aspiration by chanting objects and some meditate on the past.
Sanzu Temple 三祖寺
originally called SanGu temple, it is said that an alchemist and a monk called Bao Zhi wanted to set up Taoist rites here and the emperor Liang Wu Di asked them to demonstrate their own magic powers, Bao Zhi won so he got the right to set up the temple here. In the first year of Qianyuan's reign in the Tang Dynasty, the emperor Tang Suzong gave the temple the title of “San Zu Shan Gu Buddhist temple of Qian Yuan”. San Zu temple has remained prosperous for almost 1500 years.
originally called SanGu temple, it is said that an alchemist and a monk called Bao Zhi wanted to set up Taoist rites here and the emperor Liang Wu Di asked them to demonstrate their own magic powers, Bao Zhi won so he got the right to set up the temple here. In the first year of Qianyuan's reign in the Tang Dynasty, the emperor Tang Suzong gave the temple the title of “San Zu Shan Gu Buddhist temple of Qian Yuan”. San Zu temple has remained prosperous for almost 1500 years.
Foguang Temple
Located inside the Tianzhushan Scenic Area, in a very quiet and peaceful scenery in the forest, next to one of the hiking route up to Tianzhushan. Next to the temple there is the Mazu Cave, where Mazu Daoyi, a monk of Tang Dynasty sat in meditation. The temple was built by the villagers near the cave and called it Mazu Temple. Later Monk Guanzhi lived here in seclusion, followed by monk Daguan during the 25th reigning year of Wanly of the Ming Dynasty (1597 AD). It is in the 27th reigning year of Wanly (1599AD) when the Emperor Shenzong renamed the temple to Foguang and helped to store buddhist scriptures.
Located inside the Tianzhushan Scenic Area, in a very quiet and peaceful scenery in the forest, next to one of the hiking route up to Tianzhushan. Next to the temple there is the Mazu Cave, where Mazu Daoyi, a monk of Tang Dynasty sat in meditation. The temple was built by the villagers near the cave and called it Mazu Temple. Later Monk Guanzhi lived here in seclusion, followed by monk Daguan during the 25th reigning year of Wanly of the Ming Dynasty (1597 AD). It is in the 27th reigning year of Wanly (1599AD) when the Emperor Shenzong renamed the temple to Foguang and helped to store buddhist scriptures.
Tianzhushan Food