[2025 Jinjiang Attraction] Travel Guide for Lingyuan Mountain (Updated Jun)

Stepping through the vermilion gate of the temple, it feels as if you have crossed the hustle and bustle of the world and entered a pure land. The ancient temple, with its blue-tiled eaves set against towering ancient trees, exudes a sense of simplicity and solemnity. Walking along the stone path, the incense burners on the side of the road emit wisps of smoke, carrying the devout wishes of the faithful, slowly dispersing into the air. The temple's architecture is well-arranged, with the main hall being solemn and majestic. Inside, the Buddha statues are compassionate and peaceful, their golden bodies shining brightly in the sunlight streaming through the doors and windows. The slightly upturned corners of their mouths and lowered eyes seem to overlook all things in the world, silently conveying the wisdom of Buddhism that has been passed down for thousands of years, inspiring awe and dispelling distractions. Beyond the main hall is a serene courtyard. The Bodhi trees in the courtyard are lush and green, their branches and leaves rustling in the wind, as if whispering ancient Sanskrit chants. The monks under the trees, dressed in robes, either recite scriptures with closed eyes or sweep fallen leaves, their every movement exuding calmness and peace. The flowers in the corner of the wall bloom quietly, with dewdrops hanging on the petals like translucent jade beads, adding a touch of vibrant color to this tranquil place. Reaching the bell tower in the backyard, gently striking the ancient bronze bell, a deep "dong" sound resonates, the majestic bell sound spreading far and wide, echoing in the valley for a long time. This bell sound seems to penetrate the soul, dispelling the gloom within, allowing one to experience a sense of etherealness in that moment, a profound cleansing of both body and mind. In this temple, time seems to slow down, and the soul finds a place to rest. Every corner, every trace of Zen, is deeply imprinted in the heart, becoming an indelible memory of tranquility and peace, lingering in the mind long after leaving, evoking a sense of nostalgia.

🌈Highlights: ① Rich forest vegetation: Lingyuan Mountain is lush with trees, with large areas of pine trees and other vegetation, providing shade and fresh air. It is a natural oxygen bar. Walking in the mountains, you can feel the tranquility and beauty of nature. It is a great place to relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of city life. ② Beautiful scenery: Standing on the mountain, you can overlook the distant Luoshang Mountain, Huabiao Mountain, and the towns of Jinjiang City. The view is wide and the scenery is pleasant. There are also unique geological landscapes such as natural boulders on the mountain, adding a unique scenery to Lingyuan Mountain. ③ Lingyuan Zen Temple: Lingyuan Mountain is home to the thousand-year-old Lingyuan Zen Temple, known for its spiritual response. The temple has a long history and is very popular. Its main buildings include the Mahavira Hall, Dizang Hall, and Patriarch Hall. The architectural style is simple and elegant, with profound religious and historical value. ④ Cliff carvings: There are many cliff carvings in the mountains, which are precious cultural heritage left by ancient literati and scholars. They have high artistic and historical research value, adding a strong cultural atmosphere to Lingyuan Mountain. 🕐️Opening hours: - Summer (May 1–September 30): 8:30 am–12 pm, 3 pm–6 pm - Winter (October 1–April 30): 8:30 am–12 pm, 2:30 pm–5:30 pm; open Monday to Friday, closed on weekends. 🏝️Recommended routes: ① Easy and relaxing route: Enter through the main entrance of the scenic area and follow the relatively gentle hiking trail. Along the way, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains and the cliff carvings along the road. After arriving at Lingyuan Zen Temple, you can visit the temple and experience the religious culture. Then you can choose to take a short break in the rest area near the temple and then return the same way. This route is suitable for those who are physically weak or want to take a leisurely tour. The whole journey takes about 2–3 hours. ② In-depth exploration route: First, start climbing from the hiking trail. After a period of climbing, you will reach the viewing platform at the top of the mountain, where you can overlook the beautiful scenery of Jinjiang City. Then go to Lingyuan Zen Temple and carefully visit the various buildings and cultural relics of the temple. Then you can look for cliff carvings in the mountains and appreciate the calligraphy art of the ancients. Then walk along the boardwalk and enjoy the green mountains and rivers on both sides. Finally, return to the entrance of the scenic area from another downhill road. This route is relatively long and requires some physical strength, but you can enjoy the scenery and culture of Lingyuan Mountain more comprehensively. The whole journey takes about 4–5 hours.

Lingyuan Mountain, standing seven kilometers north of Anhai Town, Jinjiang City, Fujian Province, is a landmark peak behind Lingshui Village, Anhai. Although it is only 305 meters above sea level, it has become a holy place in the hearts of the locals due to its unique geographical location and rich natural landscape. The name of Lingyuan Mountain has a long history. In ancient times, it was named Taiping Mountain and Peng Mountain because the top of the mountain was flat. In the Song Dynasty, the imperial historian Wu Zhongfu and Wu Zhongchun Kunzhong lived in seclusion and practiced here, so they changed their names to Wumeng Mountain and Wu Mountain. There are often clear springs flowing in the mountains, surrounding the foot of the mountain, so it is also called Lingyuan Mountain. Lingyuan Mountain, with its unique geographical location and climatic conditions, has formed a rare evergreen broad-leaved forest, with evergreen pines and cypresses, flowers and trees, rugged rocks, and pleasant scenery. It is a famous peak in Quannan. In the arms of Lingyuan Mountain, there is a thousand-year-old temple-Lingyuan Zen Temple. This temple is famous for its spiritual effects and attracts countless believers to pray for blessings. Scenic spots such as Buiyun Pass and Wangjiang Stone surround it, as if guarding this pure land. Especially the three graceful regular script characters "Linghu Tian" are the iconic existence of Lingyuan Mountain, written by Ming Taifu Shangshu Chengchunfu in the 47th year of Wanli. In history, Lingyuan Mountain has always been a holy place for scholars to study. Ouyang Zhan of the Tang Dynasty studied here for three years, setting a precedent for the eight Fujian scholars. Lin Zhi, a famous scholar in the Song Dynasty, died on this mountain and was buried here. Lin Zhi's great-grandson, poet Lin Wai, also studied in the Ziyun Room on this mountain. Wang Han of the Yuan Dynasty even claimed to be a "friend of the mountain people" and often lingered on Lingyuan Mountain. The footprints of these celebrities have added a strong historical and cultural heritage to Lingyuan Mountain. Literati and ink guests of all ages also have a soft spot for Lingyuan Mountain, leaving many poems about Lingyuan Mountain. These poems not only depict the magnificent scenery of Lingyuan Mountain, but also express their respect and praise for Lingyuan Mountain. The poems of celebrities such as Huang Kehui, Wang Shenzhong, Chen Rang, Zhang Ruitu, and Su Jun of the Ming Dynasty are still being passed down to this day. There are countless legends about Lingyuan Mountain. Since ancient times, there have been many monks in the famous mountains. It is said that as early as the eighth year of the Sui Dynasty, there were monks who built temples on the top of Lingyuan Mountain to worship Guanyin Bodhisattva. In the eighth year of Tang Dezong Zhenyuan, Taoist Cai Mingjun and temple monk Shoujing jointly expanded the temple. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Dingbian, a brave general of Chen Youliang, also fled to this mountain to become a monk, known as the Muxiang Zen Master, and built a new temple on the mountainside. These legends add a mysterious color to Lingyuan Mountain and make Lingyuan Zen Temple a holy place in the hearts of believers. Whenever the dawn or the sunset, Lingyuan Mountain will present a kind of quiet and mysterious beauty. The clear spring in the mountains flows in the stone cracks, making a gurgling sound, as if telling a thousand-year-old story. Those ancient temples and tombs stand quietly there, witnessing the passage of time. Walking in the forest path of Lingyuan Mountain, you can feel the mystery and power of nature, and you can also appreciate the heaviness and depth of historical culture. In short, Lingyuan Mountain is a famous mountain full of historical and cultural heritage. Whether it is its natural landscape or cultural landscape, it is worth our exploration and appreciation. Each tour will bring us different feelings and inspirations, so that we can feel the heaviness of history and the charm of culture while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Lingyuan Mountain is a famous mountain in southern Quanzhou, where you can find one of the most renowned temples in the area, Lingyuan Temple, along with numerous ancient inscriptions and rock carvings left by people of the past. Besides that, the sunset views are truly sublime! It's a great spot for photography 📸 (I've posted about it before 🥰). You can either cycle or hike 💪🏻 all the way to the top of the mountain, and the journey is filled with beautiful scenery 🏞. The place is not too crowded, offering a serene and tranquil environment. Here you can worship, and it's also a great place for camping 🏕 and leisure. Occasionally, the scent of incense provides a brief respite for the weary body and soul. Location📍: Lingyuan Mountain, Quanzhou Transportation🚗: It is recommended to use Didi or drive yourself～