Kongwang Mountain, renowned as the 'Number One Cliff Buddha in China', is a national treasure

Located to the east of Haizhou Ancient City in Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, Kongwang Mountain lies at the northeast foot of the Jinping Mountain. It is 800 meters long from east to west, 300 meters wide from north to south, and has an elevation of 123 meters. It is a national 4A-level scenic area. It is said that Confucius once climbed this mountain to look out over the East Sea, hence the name Kongwang Mountain. The scenic area contains the Kongwang Pavilion, the Statue of Confucius Looking at the Sea, national treasure Han Dynasty cliff carvings, Han Dynasty stone elephants, Han Dynasty stone toads, Chenglu Plate, Cup and Plate Stone Carvings, Longdong Hermitage, Chengcha Pavilion, Sacred Edict Stele, and other relics. Among these relics, the most precious is the Kongwang Mountain cliff carving, which is honored as a national treasure. The carvings are chiseled into a cliff that is 17 meters long and 8 meters high, following the natural contours of the mountain. There are a total of 105 figures, divided into 18 groups. The largest figure is 154 centimeters, and the smallest is 10 centimeters. The subjects include Buddhism, Taoism, and secular themes. It predates the famous Dunhuang Grottoes by 200 years and is acclaimed as the 'Number One Cliff Buddha in China'! Near the cliff carvings, there are also Han Dynasty stone elephants from the same period. The stone elephants are robust and sturdy, with a gentle and kind demeanor, each standing on a blooming lotus flower. This stone elephant is the largest round stone carving discovered from the Eastern Han period in China. It is an integral part of the organic whole of the Han Dynasty Buddhist carvings on Kongwang Mountain. Not far from the stone elephant, there is a stone toad that is believed to suppress evil, aid longevity, and signify wealth and honor, making it an auspicious object. These two stone carvings, especially the stone elephant, are majestic and exquisitely crafted, and are precious treasures of China's stone carving art! Due to the hot weather on Sunday, there were few visitors, and the gate of Longdong Hermitage was tightly closed. Near the cliff carvings, there is a Sacred Edict Stele, which records the punishment of a corrupt official in charge of the granary in Haizhou during the Ming Dynasty. The story is engraved on the stele as a negative example to warn future generations! The direction in which Confucius looked out to the sea is now the vigorously developing Haizhou City, where the shadow of the sea can no longer be seen. Address: No. 198, Yanhe South Road, Haizhou District, Lianyungang City Ticket price: 40 yuan, with policies for special personnel. Transportation: Kongwang Mountain bus station: Lines 5, 12, 122, Tourist Line 1. Opening hours: 7:30—18:00