Beizhou Wenwang Stele

Longquan | National Treasure Beizhou Wenwang Stele in the Deep Mountains In the Longquan Mountains of Chengdu, there is a unique national treasure-level cultural relic, the Beizhou Wenwang Stele. The stele was carved in 557 AD and is the earliest and best-preserved stele from the Northern and Southern Dynasties discovered so far. The Beizhou Wenwang Stele was erected in honor of Yuwen Tai, a general who was posthumously titled Wenwang of Beizhou. The entire stele and cliff carvings are inscribed on a "Heavenly Fallen Stone" rock wall. The stele is 2.44 meters high and 1.24 meters wide, with over 1,300 characters engraved in intaglio. The inscription records the historical facts of the Northern Wei, Western Wei, and Beizhou dynasties, providing valuable physical references for the study of the history, geography, politics, military affairs, calligraphy, and art of these periods. What sets it apart is that the entire stele and cliff carvings are inscribed according to the inclination of the stone, making it unique. On the back of the "Heavenly Fallen Stone," there are calligraphy inscriptions from different dynasties, and in front of the stone, there is a large stone Buddha statue, which is said to be the predecessor of the Leshan Giant Buddha. It is worth mentioning the guardian of the stele, Grandpa Xiao Taifa. As a Communist Party member, he received the task of guarding the stele from his superiors and has been stationed here for 55 years with just a straw mat! In the early days, he had no salary and lived a life of poverty, accompanied by the stele, which is touching and admirable! Grandpa Xiao said he has a deep emotional connection with the stele and has already found a successor to continue protecting the stele from damage. A task from back then, a straw mat, and more than half a century of persistent guarding, is truly remarkable! Address: G318 Road, Longquanyi District (search "Beizhou Wenwang Stele" on Baidu Maps) Transportation: Self-driving. About 40 minutes from Chengdu, with good road conditions. The road up the mountain is narrow, so it is recommended to park at the foot of the mountain and walk up. Cost: Free. TIPS: The mountain path is very narrow, so it is recommended to park at the foot of the mountain and walk up. The walking difficulty is not high, as it is all mountain and field paths, about a 15-minute walk. The mountain road scenery is beautiful, offering a view of the Longquan Mountain road and the reservoir below. · Guarding the stele is not easy, you can buy drinks as needed to support. The stele and cliff carvings are exquisite and very well-preserved, so please do not touch them and turn off the flash to protect the cultural relics.