Shenglian Mountain is a well-known Taoist and Buddhist mountain. It not only features mountain forests but also boasts cultural landscapes such as Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries.
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Previously, I wrote notes specifically introducing the hiking route of Shenglian Mountain (for details, please refer to the article "Shenglian Mountain Hiking Guide: 28 Bends Soaring to the Clouds"). However, apart from the natural landscapes within the scenic area, many cultural attractions are also worth a close look.
- [Viewing Spots] : Laozi Statue, Zhenwu Temple, Changsheng Bridge, Xuan Nu Cave
There is the world's largest statue of Laozi in the scenic area. The statue is divided into two parts: the base and the image of Laozi. The overall height is 57 meters, symbolizing the 5,700 characters of the Tao Te Ching. The statue of Laozi is 39 meters tall, symbolizing the "three religions and nine schools" of traditional Chinese culture.
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The Xuan Nu Cave and the "Root" statue opposite the True Martial Hall form a contrast of Yin and Yang, which is quite symbolic.
The Changsheng Bridge is 100 meters long and about 35 meters above the ground. Those who are afraid of heights should be cautious as it can be quite thrilling.
- [Viewing Spots] : North Temple, Heavenly Street, Holy Lotus Pagoda.
After climbing up the twenty-eighth slope, you'll reach the downhill cable car area, where the North Temple is nearby. Here it should be mentioned that the statues of the 28 constellations are really ugly!
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The Northern Temple is composed of the Peach Palace, the Holy Mother Palace and the Doumu Palace, collectively known as the Three Palaces. In addition, in the North Temple, there are Cao Kun's Cao residence, Wu Peifu's Wu residence and Yang Xiaolou's Yang Family Courtyard. Although it is also a cultural relic, it is a bit diverse.
The Eight Immortals Cave leading to Tianjie is quite interesting. It's cold and cool inside, and there's also a special observation deck suitable for taking photos. The scenery is excellent.
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The Holy Lotus Pagoda was restored later, but you can climb it to enjoy the scenery. The tower is 26 meters high and has five floors. The first floor features the Great Compassion Mantra scriptures, while the second to fifth floors are adorned with ancient murals, which are quite exquisite. Particularly, the Great Compassion Mantra scriptures are quite impressive.
- [Viewing Spot] : Thousand Buddha Caves
The Thousand Buddha Hall, also known as the Sakyamuni Buddha Pavilion, is a concrete structure building modeled after a grotto, built on the original basis. It is said that it covers an area of about 400 square meters and is about 12 meters high.
The main statue in the hall is a statue of Sakyamuni, which is 6 meters tall. There are about a thousand small Buddha statues enshrined in all directions of the main hall, which is quite spectacular.
➡【 Summary 】
Overall, the cultural landscapes of Shenglian Mountain are rather diverse, with Taoism and Buddhism mixed in a rather chaotic manner. Many landscapes have been renovated and do not have many historical traces. Some of the landscapes, especially the statues of the 28 constellations, are a bit rough.
However, places like the Statue of Laozi, the Hall of a Thousand Buddhas, and the Xuan Nu Cave are still worth visiting.
"Shenglian Mountain Scenic Area"
Hongxiang Bridge, Shenglian Mountain Scenic Resort
Ticket Office of Beijing Shenglianshan Scenic Resort