Yuxian Mountain Scenic Area

Here's an introduction to Yuxian Mountain: Overview • Location: Located next to Luxian County, Luzhou City, Sichuan Province, 33 km from the urban area of Luzhou City. • Origin of the name: Named after its toad-like shape, it enjoys the reputation of "jade all over the mountain, every rock a toad." • Scenic area rating: National AAA Tourist Attraction, Provincial Scenic Spot, Provincial Forest Park, and Provincial Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit. • Natural environment: With an altitude of 548 meters, a total area of 52 square kilometers, a forest area of over 8,000 mu, and an average annual temperature of 17.8°C, the mountain is surrounded by the Jiuqu, Laixi, and Maxi Rivers. History and Culture • Religious culture: Since the second year of Jingfu in the Tang Dynasty, Yuantong Temple has stood on the mountain. Once a famous Buddhist mountain in southern Sichuan, during the Qing Dynasty, temples dotted the mountain, giving rise to the saying, "Fifty-five thousand great monks, countless little monks." • Inscriptions by famous people: The Song Dynasty writer Huang Tingjian's drunken inscription of "Yuxian," the Ming Dynasty scholar Yang Shen's bold inscription of "Jinao Peak," Xu Xuan's inscription of "The First Famous Mountain" from the Five Dynasties period, and Cheng Jun's inscription of "Jade Toad in Emerald Green" from the Qing Dynasty all hold great artistic value. Main Attractions • Cliff carvings: Centered around the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, the cliff carvings are exquisite Buddhist works carved by skilled craftsmen throughout history. Over 400 carvings remain, mostly from the Ming Dynasty, ranging from over a zhang to less than a chi, with smooth lines and lifelike expressions. • *The Refugees* bas-relief: Located on the Jinao Peak cliff face, this bas-relief is based on the masterpiece *The Refugees* by the renowned painter Jiang Zhaohe. It is 45 meters long and 3 meters high, powerfully depicting the tragic plight of the people under the iron heel of the Japanese invaders. • Longnao Bridge: Located on the Jiuqu River at the foot of the mountain, this stone slab bridge was built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. Its piers are composed of stone carvings of a dragon, a qilin, a green lion, and a white elephant. The exquisite carvings make it a rare treasure. • Pagoda Forest: Composed of over 20 stone pagodas (stupas) from the Tang to Qing Dynasties, the Pagoda Forest bears witness to the historical changes of Yuxian Mountain.