Gushan Mountain (Drum Mountain), Fuzhou

Among Gushan Mountain’s many attractions, the ancient path is particularly noteworthy. This historic trail features over 2,000 stone steps and seven pavilions, providing a scenic and culturally rich journey to the Yongquan Temple.

1. East Pavilion (“东际亭”) Starting from the “Minshan First Pavilion” at the foot of the mountain, the ascent begins at the “East Pavilion.” Crossing the Dong Ji Bridge and passing through the pavilion marks the start of the climb. After 99 stone steps, visitors reach the ruins of the “Yang Zhi Pavilion.” Along the way, numerous inscriptions on rocks add to the historical ambiance.

2. Stone Gate Pavilion (“石门亭”) The next pavilion, located 367 steps from the first, is the “Stone Gate Pavilion,” also known historically as the “Listening to Waves and Viewing Waterfalls Pavilion.” The constant sound of flowing water accompanies visitors here, creating a serene atmosphere.

3. Riding Clouds Pavilion (“乘云亭”) After climbing another 271 steps, visitors arrive at the “Riding Clouds Pavilion.” Along this path, various stone carvings such as “乘云 (Riding Clouds),” “仰涛 (Admiring Waves),” “小鼓 (Small Drum),” “天风吹梦 (Dream Blown by Heavenly Wind),” and “风怒涛飞 (Wind Roaring and Waves Flying)” provide visual and poetic delight.

4. Halfway Pavilion (“半山亭”) The “Halfway Pavilion” is reached after 494 steps from the previous pavilion, situated mid-slope, hence its name. Nearby, over a hundred more steps lead to the inscription “路通仙苑 (Path to the Immortal Garden),” and a side path reaches the “Eighteen Caves Scenery.” Close to this pavilion, another 300 steps feature the inscription “桃岩洞口 (Peach Rock Cave Entrance),” which leads eastward to the Peach Rock Cave and Peach Blossom Hermitage.

5. Tea Pavilion (“茶亭”) Approximately 520 steps from the “Halfway Pavilion” is the “Tea Pavilion,” named after the nearby tea garden. Stone carvings such as “欲罢不能 (Hard to Stop)” and “宜勉力 (Should Persevere)” are found along this route. According to legend, during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, the governor of Fuzhou, Li Bo, inscribed “Hard to Stop” here, reflecting his struggle between continuing the climb and his unwillingness to turn back.

6. Pine Pass Pavilion (“S松关亭”) After another 300 steps from the “Tea Pavilion,” visitors reach the “Pine Pass Pavilion.” Nearby, stone carvings include a single-stroke “寿 (Longevity),” “龙 (Dragon),” “虎 (Tiger),” and words by Wen Tianxiang such as “忠 (Loyalty),” “孝 (Filial Piety),” “廉 (Integrity),” and “节 (Temperance).”

7. Changing Clothes Pavilion (“更衣亭”) A few dozen steps from the “Pine Pass Pavilion” lies the “Changing Clothes Pavilion.” It is said that the King of Min would change his clothes here before ascending further into the temple.

Yongquan Temple, covering approximately 1.7 hectares, maintains the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Nestled against the mountains and valleys, the temple complex features 25 halls and pavilions, with the Grand Hall of the Great Hero (Daxiong Baodian) at its center. This hall is particularly striking with its towering pillars, flying eaves, and grandiose design. Inside, the statues of Shakyamuni Buddha, depicted in Han attire rather than traditional Buddhist robes, sit serenely. Flanking them are the Eighteen Arhats, each with a unique expression and posture.

Behind the main hall stands a 1.15-ton statue of the “Three Saints.” In front of this statue is a long table made of mulberry wood, which, despite enduring numerous fires, remains intact. This table is considered one of the temple’s treasures. The ceilings of both the Grand Hall and the Guanyin Hall are adorned with vibrant paintings. The Grand Hall’s ceiling features 129 dragon patterns and 86 red-crowned crane motifs, painted in 1882 during the Qing Dynasty. Additionally, there are 27 other designs, including kirin, white horses, elephants, and apes. The Guanyin Hall boasts 75 story paintings from the same period.

Yongquan Temple also houses several Ming edition silk-bound volumes of the “Great Avatamsaka Sutra” and statues and vases from the Ming and Qing dynasties. On either side of the Grand Hall, in the bell and drum towers, hang ancient bells and drums. Among them is the Diamond Sutra Bell, weighing about 2 tons and inscribed with 6,372 characters of the Diamond Sutra, dating back over 300 years.

Lize Peak, also known as Absolute Summit Peak, is the highest point of Gushan Mountain, standing at an elevation of 870.3 meters. The peak is shaped like an inverted cauldron, and local proverbs suggest that if the peak is shrouded in clouds and mist, rain is imminent. Historically, Lize Peak was a favored spot for locals to watch the sea and the sunrise.

The peak is also a notable site for cliff inscriptions, which are among the most concentrated on Gushan Mountain. These inscriptions span various historical periods, including the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, and the Republic of China. Significant carvings include the “鼓山铭 (Gushan Inscription)” by Song Dynasty official Song Shenlie in 1072, “天风海涛 (Heavenly Wind and Sea Waves)” by Neo-Confucian master Zhu Xi in 1187, “请雨记 (Rain Prayer Record)” by Xu Luqing in 1232, and “青天白日 (Clear Sky and Bright Sun)” by Ming Dynasty governor Wang Wensheng.

Drinking Water Rock, is a prominent highlight of Gushan Mountain, located east of the main gate of Yongquan Temple. A stone archway inscribed with “灵源深处 (Deep Spiritual Source)” marks the entrance to this area. Descending about 60 stone steps along the cliff, visitors reach a gorge approximately 3 meters wide and 10 meters deep, resembling a stone cave, hence the name “灵源洞 (Spritual Source Cave).” Due to the famous “喝水岩” stone inscriptions, this area is collectively known as Drinking Water Rock.

On both sides of Lingyuan Cave, more than 200 cliff inscriptions from the Song Dynasty onward are concentrated, accounting for about half of Gushan Mountain’s existing 480 stone inscriptions. These inscriptions represent various calligraphy styles, including regular script, running script, cursive script, official script, and seal script, making this area a natural calligraphy treasure trove often referred to as the “Southeast Forest of Steles.” Among these, nearly 100 inscriptions date back to the Song Dynasty, 12 to the Yuan Dynasty, over 30 to the Ming Dynasty, and more than 100 from the Qing Dynasty to the present day. Notable inscriptions include “忘归石 (Forgetting Return Stone)” by the famous Song Dynasty calligrapher Cai Xiang, “喝水岩” by Shi Yuanchang, and inscriptions by Neo-Confucian philosopher Zhu Xi, national hero Li Gang, and modern literary figure Guo Moruo.

The name Drinking Water Rock is also associated with a beautiful legend. Over 900 years ago, Master Shenyin, the founder of Yongquan Temple, was reciting scriptures in this area. Annoyed by the noisy stream below the cave, he shouted to silence the water, causing it to change its course and flow out from the stone wall near the Guanyin Pavilion halfway up the eastern slope. The original streambed subsequently dried up.

Guling, part of the Gushan National Scenic Area, serves as a refreshing summer retreat situated in the eastern outskirts of Fuzhou. Developed by Western missionaries in 1886, it lies approximately 13 kilometers from downtown Fuzhou, boasting elevations exceeding 800 meters. With summer temperatures rarely surpassing 30°C, Guling historically attracted many Westerners seeking respite from Fuzhou’s scorching heat. By 1935, it boasted over 200 distinctive summer villas, alongside amenities such as churches, hospitals, sports grounds, swimming pools, and international welfare societies. Guling was also notable among Christian communities in the Far East. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War, Watchman Nee acquired a group of missionary villas here, establishing “Houses of Deacons.” In 1948 and 1949, it hosted two significant national worker training sessions. Today, many villagers in the area are Christians, reflecting its enduring Christian legacy.

Located east of Gushan Mountain in Fuzhou, the Moxi Scenic Area spans the village of Kuai’an. Originally known as Longxi, this area stretches for 25 miles, originating from Gushan Mountain. Named “Moxi” due to its numerous water mills during the Qing Dynasty, it features winding streams that occasionally cascade directly downhill, creating a picturesque landscape. The path alongside the stream leads deeper into the mountains, where towering mountain forts and tea gardens on the eastern slopes evoke a serene retreat.

Today, Moxi has evolved into Fujian Province’s most mature outdoor natural rock climbing venue. It boasts three rock faces with 22 routes, including two traditional climbing routes and 20 sport climbing routes. These routes range in height from 10 to 21 meters, with difficulty levels from 5.7 to 5.12, all carved from granite. Additionally, there’s a 21-meter speed descent route with slopes ranging from 85 to 87 degrees, catering to thrill-seeking climbers.

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