Cultural Sanctuary - Chonglong Mountain

Chonglong Mountain is located in the center of Zizhong city, where the literary atmosphere has been prosperous since ancient times, leaving behind many cultural relics. In addition to the Junzi Spring cliff inscriptions that were previously introduced, there are various historical remains scattered throughout the mountain, exuding a strong cultural essence and an imposing aura. The first site to mention is Yongqing Temple and its wooden archway, now a Sichuan provincial-level cultural heritage site. Yongqing Temple was initially built during the Tang Dynasty, rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty, and renovated in the Qing Dynasty. The 'Chonglong Ancient Relics' stone archway in front of the temple was reconstructed last century, but the ten stone slabs embedded within are original artifacts excavated from nearby towns, exquisitely set into the archway. The wooden archway inside the temple is even more precious; originally part of the Yuzhou City Yuwang Palace gate, it was constructed during the Ming Dynasty's Jiajing era. The entire wooden arch is assembled without a single nail and has remained sturdy for over 500 years, with its elaborate brackets and flying eaves. In modern times, this archway also witnessed the Xinhai Revolution; Duan Fang, who came to Sichuan to suppress the Railway Protection Movement, was executed here, and in the 1970s, it was moved into Yongqing Temple. Additionally, there are several stone archways from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, such as the Xichang Mountain Dou Archway and the Yuxu Palace Archway, both county-protected. There is also the provincial-protected Qing Dynasty Shouyin Pavilion, originally from Wanshou Palace, but unfortunately, that area has been closed due to the risk of landslides, and the trees have grown very lush. Of course, there is also another part of the nationally protected Chonglong Mountain stone carvings - the Ancient North Rock, which has also been mostly closed due to landslide hazards, featuring the exquisite Longdong Grotto and the Ancient North Rock and Huanyu Pool inscriptions. Furthermore, at the foot of Chonglong Mountain is the Zizhong Wenwu Temple complex that was introduced in a previous article. There is also the Dongyue Temple, which now serves as a teacher training school and is rarely open to the public. The entire Chonglong Mountain is rich in historical sites, which have always attracted many literati and scholars to linger, truly making it a cultural paradise.