Shuangfeng Mountain Natural Scenic Area is located in the north of Zhangjialing Village, Fancun Town, Hejin City, and 15km away from the urban area. It belongs to the southern foot of Lvliang Mountain and the eastern end of Longmen Mountain. To the north of the scenic area are continuous Lvliang Mountains, bordering Xiangning County; to the south is Gushan Mountain of Wanrong County; to the west is the torrential Yellow River, to the east is 209 National Highway. The scenic area covers an area of about 3 square kilometers with convenient transportation.
The scenery here is beautiful with pleasant natural environment. Jiangshan Temple—a characteristic hanging temple in south of Shanxi—-is suspended on the cliffs. There are wonderful natural landscapes, such as “lion lying on the top”, “sacred tortoise carrying temple”, “phoenix spreading its wings”, “tiger going down the mountain” and “snuggling of two tigers”. It created a fine geomantic pattern of “green dragon on the left, white tiger on the right, rosefinch on the south, tortoise on the north” with jade belt surrounding. Together with wonderful stories and legends, all the people who were there gasped in admiration.
[Jiangshan Temple]
Jiangshan Temple is located on the cliff of the north peak of Zhangjialing Village, with an altitude of 950 meters. According to the existing relics, it was built in Ming Dynasty. It forms the central axis of Hejin City with Xuandi Temple and Zhenwu Temple of this city. Jiangshan Temple is located at the northernmost end of the central axis. Because it is built on a cliff, its wonderfulness can be compared with Xuankong Temple of Hengshan Mountain. It is also called Xuankong Temple in southern Shanxi. The Jade Emperor is enshrined in the main hall, while the chess gods are enshrined in the side hall.
According to the local legend, the origin of Jiangshan Temple is as follows: the Jade Emperor sent two immortals to observe the people's feelings. When they finished their mission and returned home, they were obsessed by the beautiful and charming scenery here, so they played chess in a cave. There is a hardworking, simple and poor woodcutter named Liu Juzheng living at the foot of the mountain. One day, he cut wood in the mountain until noon, then went to the cave to rest. Seeing the two white-bearded elders playing chess, he put down pole and axe, kneeled to watch. He forgot the time because of his fascination. When hungry, he picked up the old man's peach pit sucking. After playing chess, one of the old men laughed: "young man, it's getting late, it's time to go home!" When the woodcutter turned his head to look out, it was already dark. Then he turned back. The two old men disappeared. Looking up, he saw the colorful clouds rolling. The two old men had already gone off with clouds. So the woodcutter got up and went home. But when he took the tools, the pole, axe handle and rope had all rotted away. The woodcutter was surprised and returned. Back in the village, everything changed. Although the original traces can still be seen in the village alley, there are no known people in the village. Only after the woodcutter told the story did the elder think of the elder's rumor that there was indeed a man in the village who had not returned from cutting wood. However, 60 years have passed since this incident, and even the elder in the village was actually his junior. The woodcutter suddenly realized that the old man who played chess turned out to be immortals and himself was touched with the spirit of fairy. Therefore, the woodcutter returned to the mountain and entered the cave, he cultivated to become an immortal himself. Since Jade Emperor dominates the three realms and unifies the country, the temple is named Jiangshan temple.
[Peacock Spreads Its Tail]
Entering the scenic area, the first thing that comes into view is the panorama of the scenic spot, shaped like a huge peacock, opening its beautiful tail to welcome guests from afar.
[Sacred Tortoise Carrying Temple (tortoise on the north)]
Looking down from Jiangshan Temple, in the southeast direction of the temple, a section of mountain looks like anold tortoise, with its head, neck, eyes and back alive. The cliff where Jiangshan Temple is located is just on the back of the tortoise, just like a tortoise carrying an ancient temple, bearing the vicissitudes of history. This magical landscape makes people feel heartfelt awe while marveling. Its location exactly corresponds to the geomancy pattern of “tortoise on the north”.
[Lion Lying on the Top]
Standing under Jiangshan Temple and looking up at the top of the temple, we can see a lion lying prone on the top of the temple, with one eye open and one eye slightly dim. It is gazing at torrential Yellow River. It seems to be guarding the Jiangshan Temple and the ancient earth.
[Tiger Going Down the Mountain (white tiger on the right)]
In the southwest of Jiangshan Temple, there is a mountain like a tiger going down from the mountain, with its head facing southwest and its tail pursing, looking imposing. Because it is on the left side of the temple, it exactly corresponds to the geomantic pattern of white tiger on the right.
[Phoenix Worshiping (rosefinch on the south)]
Standing at Jiangshan Temple and overlooking the foot of mountain, a huge phoenix formed by ravine and ridge of mountain is spreading its wings and raising its long neck to worship Jiangshan Temple. Its position also corresponds to the geomantic pattern of rosefinch on the south.
[Five-color Stone]
Within a range of less than 100 meters of the scenic area, rocks of five colors, red, white, yellow, green and green, have been deposited, which exactly corresponds to the legend of Nuwa refining stones to fill the sky. As Huai Nan Zi Lan Ming Xun records: "In ancient times, the four giant pillars collapsed, the earth torn apart, the sky cannot cover the earth, the earth cannot bear the world, the fire and flood were everywhere, beasts devoured good people, and fierce birds attacked the weak and the old. So Nvwa smelted five-color stone to repair the sky, cut off the feet of ao (a huge legendary turtle) to be the giant pillars of the sky, killed the black dragon to calm Jizhou Prefecture, piled up reed ashes to stop the flood. Then the sky has been mended, the four sides of the sky have been straightened up, the flood waters are no longer overflowing, Jizhou Prefecture was safe, the beasts have died, and the good people have been able to survive." Legend has it that this is where Nvwa refined the five-color stone. Today, the common people still regard the five-color stone here as a thing to ward off evil in the house.
[Heaven-built City Wall]
Under the Jiangshan Temple, there is a bare rock layer surrounding the temple. From a distance, it looks like a solid wall surrounding the temple. Nature's uncanny workmanship seems to have designed a wall for the palace, which makes people feel more mysterious.
[Bamboo Leaf Rock]
There is a layer of rock in the scenic spot which is very wonderful. Geologically, it is called "bamboo leaf dolomite". Its shape is like pieces of bamboo leaves falling into the rock. It is very fresh and gives people pleasant enjoyment. It is said that for the geological age, it belongs to Cambrian-period sedimentary rocks, which were formed 540 million years ago. It is the earliest period of life on earth. So the geological landscape here has special significance.
Address:
It is located in Zhangjialing Village, Fancun Town, Hejin City, Shanxi Province, about 15km away from the urban area. Opening hours of scenic area: all day
Charging standard:
The scenic area is in the planning and construction stage and is not open for business. No tickets are available for the time being.
Traffic guide:
For self-driving: Departing from the downtown of Hejin city, get along National Highway 209 to the north for 15km, then reaches Zhangjiaxiang Village of Fancun town, go northwest from Zhangjiaxiang Village for 0.8km, then you will arrive.
For bus: Departing from the downtown of Hejin city, take the bus from Hejin to Beiwuqin, get off at Zhangjiaxiang Village, and walk 0.8km northwest along cement road, then you will arrive.
Consultation telephone number: 18634829216
Travel tips: The scenic area is not open for business and belongs to a free travel scenic spot. Tourists should pay attention to their own safety and raise their awareness of environmental protection.
