Xuanwu Mountain

Xuanwu Mountain and Yuanshan Temple: A Dazzling Jewel of History and Culture In Jieshi Town, Lufeng County, Shanwei City, Guangdong Province, there lies the widely renowned Xuanwu Mountain. Yuanshan Temple was established in the first year of Jianyan of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127), holding a pivotal position as a national key cultural relics protection unit and is also regarded as a sacred mountain in the hearts of the Chaoshan people. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the history of the area where Xuanwu Mountain is located was closely connected with that of the ancient Jieshi Fort, playing a key strategic role. In November 2007, the Shanwei Xuanwu Mountain Tourist Area was successfully honored with the title of 'National AAAA-Level Tourist Attraction'. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, to avoid the taboo of Emperor Xuanye's name, 'Xuan' was changed to 'Yuan', and thus Yuanshan Temple got its name. It is a palace-style architectural complex with typical architectural style and artistic characteristics of the Ming Dynasty and is also one of the eight scenic spots in Shanwei. Yuanshan Temple enshrines many deities and Buddha statues, including the Beiji Zhenwu Yuantian Emperor and Sakyamuni Buddha, presenting a unique scene of the integration of Taoism and Buddhism. Inside the hall, there are two plaques from the Qing Dynasty, 'Shuide Lingchang' by Lin Zexu and 'Lingsheng Manda' presented by Liu Yongfu during his tenure in Jieshi, both of which have been listed as famous plaques of China by the state. Yuanshan Temple also houses more than forty plaques left by Emperor Tongzhi and military commanders, and it treasures more than a thousand cultural relics from the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. In 2001, it was announced by the State Council as a national key cultural relics protection unit. Inside Yuanshan Temple, there is a 'Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate' dragon wall, a large bronze sculpture originally built in the sixth year of Wanli of the Ming Dynasty (1578) and restored in 1986. The Beiji Zhenwu Yuantian Emperor is associated with the phrase 'Yumen Fantaolang, fish transform into dragons', symbolizing great auspiciousness, and it is said that touching the dragon's head can dispel disasters and bestow blessings.