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* “Hui” is short for Huizhou, as in ‘the Hui dialect’ or ‘the Hui Opera’ (note that “Hui” sometimes refers to Anhui, the province, as in ‘Hui Cuisine’, but “Anhui” is of much later origin (CE 1667), being the composite name made up from combining the first character of each of the prefecture names of the area at the time, “An-qing” and “Hui-zhou”). Hui Style architecture refers to the vernacular, or people’s, architecture, as opposed to the architectural style that characterized royal palaces and other official edifices. Yet the two are intimately related, for the degree of sophistication of vernacular architecture depends directly on the wealth that is created – and thus spread throughout society – by the ruling emperor. Huizhou vernacular architecture owes its impressive style to the opulence that was created during the reign (CE 1127–1162) of Emperor Gaozong, the first emperor of the Southern Song (CE 1127-1279) Dynasty and younger half-brother to the last emperor of the Northern Song (CE 960-1127) Dynasty who had been captured by the Jin army in 1127, only one year after his father had abdicated in his favor.

Emperor Gaozong moved the capital from Kaifeng in the north, which, in 1127 had definitively fallen under Jin control when the city was overrun by Jurchen forces, to Lin’an (present-day Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province), where he built a sumptuously large city which had a positive and contagious economic effect not only on the local community, but on cities throughout the south, as prominent administrators, courtiers, merchants and other purveyors to the royal court likewise built extravagantly back home in their respective provincial towns and villages, including in the area of Huizhou, though this development came to Huizhou only later, as indicated above, i.e., during the Ming Dynasty reign of Emperor Jingtai.

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During the years of Emperor Hancheng’s reign, Mao Ying roamed about to make a pilgrimage to the immortals. When he passed through this place, he found that it had fantastic sceneries and also a deep cave suitable for performing penance. Therefore, he retreated to the cave and cultivated himself according to a religious doctrine. Soon, his two brothers, who secured official positions in the capital city, also resigned from their posts and came here to learn principles. The three brothers opened roads and cut down trees to built the hall and the Taoist temple, whence came the name of Maoxian Cave.

In the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935), the Taoist disciples Su Lichun and Su Zongshan beg alms extensively and raised funds to rebuild the hall. The name of the hall was changed to Qingtian Taoist Temple. Now the Maoxian Cave and Qingtian Taoist Temple are situated on a platform on a mountain slope, which covers an area of more than three hundred square meters. The top of the archway as the main entrance is engraved with the characters of “Qingtian Taoist Temple” written by Wang Yidao, a famous calligrapher in the Qing Dynasty. Passing through the archway, you will find a green flagging leading directly to patio. The cliff, which is to the north of the patio courtyard, has ancient cypresses reaching the sky. To the south of the courtyard, there is a range of Taoist buildings. To the west of the courtyard, there is a grand hall, which is a building with carved beams and painted pillars. Behind the grand hall, there is the Treasure Palace of Sanqing. Above the Maoxian Cave, there is the Sanxian Pavilion built along the mountain slope. In the pavilion stands the statue of Sanmao to be enshrined and worshipped. Below the pavilion, there is respectively one hexagonal pavilion on both sides.
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Xiangshan Mountain Park locates in the north of Xiangcheng. It covers an area of 100 hectares. Top Ten Scenic Spots in Xiangshan Mountain here include Xiangshan Temple, Wanzhang Stele, Fishing Mound, and Horse Drinking Pool. There are also zoo, skating rink, children’s park and Xiangshan Lake here. So it is a very good location for rest and travel.
Xiantong Temple (Xiangshan Temple)
The temple locates in the valley between the Dragon Hill and the Tiger Hill. It is called Xiangshan Temple or Xianji God Temple. It faces the mountain in three directions and is surrounded by luxuriant trees. When climbing up the tower built in this temple, tourists can have a panoramic view of the city. As recorded in the epigraphy in the Eighth year of Tongzhi Era in the Qing Dynasty, the temple was constructed by Guoqing from the State of Pei. In the first year of Yonghui Era in the Tang Dynasty, the temple was rebuilt. In the 24th year of the Qianlong Era in the Qing Dynasty, Gaojin, the Grand Coordinator in Anhui submitted a statement to allocate funds to repair the temple. It had also experienced repair in Republic of China. There are 22 inscriptions in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. The most attractive ones are Qianlong Emperor’s writing “Hui Wo Nan Li” (Benefit the people in the south) and Gaojin’s writing “Sheng Shui Ya” (Seeping Water Cliff). The architecture in Xiantong Temple is very magnificent and the overall arrangement is in good order. There are four courtyards, where there are towering cypresses and gingkoes. There are totally 52 rooms in the temple including 3 rooms on the Shanmen Tower, 3 rooms in Treasure Hall, 14 rooms in the corridors, 7 guest rooms each on the east and west sides, 5 rooms in the Big Hall, 3 rooms in the Back Hall, 1 play stage, 1 six-angle pavilion and 1 newly-built inscription corridor. The exited buildings are in the Qing style. The Menkui Tower, Big Hall and Six-angle Pavilion have glazed tiles while other buildings have black bricks and tiny tiles. During the Huaihai Campaign, vice director Su Yu held a meeting here to study the battle tactics. He made the Fourteenth Order for the East China Field Army. In May of 1985, the People’s Government of Anhui granted it Key cultural Relic Protection Site.
Horse Drinking Pool
The pool locates on the southern foot of Xiangshan Mountain. It is a rectangular stone of less than 2 square meters. It is said that Gonggong Emperor in the Song Dynasty let his horse drink here. The water is as clear as the mirror. Although you can not find the source of the water, it never dries all through the year.
Fishing Mound
It locates in the west mountainside of the main peak of Xiangshan Mountain. The mound is a projecting rock on Huogang Hill. It is said to be the place where Jiang Ziya had fished. During spring and summer, the cloud and mist submerge the mountain. The mound looks like a reef extended to the sea. When standing on it, you can see the seething mists, looking like vast ocean.
Diecui Hill
It locates on the west of Xiangshan Temple. The terrain of the rock has clear layers, as if it was made by exquisite craftsmanship. The scene on the hill is different in different seasons. There are beautiful flowers in spring, green mountains in summer, maple leaves in autumn and towering pines in winter. The scene is too beautiful to be absorbed all at once.
Qifeng Hill
It locates on the north of the crag rock carving, “Seeping Water Cliff”. Rare rocks stands in great numbers on this hill, as if a huge dragon lies at the bottom of the valley. Qifeng hill is the most prominent one among all the hills. It looks as if other hills are bowing to it.
Crag Rock Carvings
It locates at the bottom of the stone wall on the east mountainside of Xiantong Temple. The characters carved here have the same stamp as that in the temple. There are luxuriant trees here to cover the carvings. It has special value in the study of the culture of Xiangshan Mountains.
Wanzhang Stele
Located on western mountain ridge of Fishing Mound, the stele was about 2 meters tall. It was carved “Zhu Shan Wan Zhang” (Lofty Mountains) and “Nan Wu A Tuo” (Amitabha). It was a boundary monument of Jiangsu, Henan and Anhui Provinces. But it was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
Ox-nose Cave (Niubi Cave)
It locates on the steep cliff of Tiger Hill mountainside on the northwest of Xiantong Temple. The name of the cave derives from the appearance of its gate. According to the legend, the cave is connected to the sea. Some one in the ancient had put a duck in the cave, then the duck came out in the East Sea. The cave is too deep to be fathomable. Bush grow thickly outside the cave and their leaves cover the gate of the cave.
Mixia Cave
Located in the East Hill of Xiangshan Mountain, it is also called Xiaoxian Cave. As recorded in Feng Yang Fu in the Guangxu Era of the Qing Dynasty, there are pill stove and drug well in Xiaoxian Cave, where it is said that Prince Jin had made pills of immortality here.
Snow Spring
Located on the hillside to the north of the Children’s Park, it is also known as three-mouth spring. As recorded in the Annals of Suzhou, “The Snow Spring is at the foot of the mountain. When spring comes, the melted snow flows out. There are also three air-slaked stone holes near the spring. They are full in water all through the year, even in the dry season. The gaps between the holes are 30 meters and 17 meters respectively. The diameters are 23 centimeters, 32 centimeters and 39 centimeters respectively. In winter, ice and snow seal the mountain pass. When spring comes, melted snow flow out of the holes and produce the running Snow Spring.”
Win Battle Hill (Zhanjie Hill)
It locates on the northwest of the Wanzhang Stele. This hill was called Zhu Hill. Tianzhang Temple is in the south of the hill. During the Huaihai Campaign, the East China Field Army surrounded and annihilated Du Yuming’s Army in Qinglongji. General Su Yu climbed up the hill and watch the battle with his telescope. When the People’s Republic of China was founded, the residents here changed its name to Win Battle Hill.
Tianzang Temple
The temple locates on the south foot of Zhai Mountain, which is on the west of Xiantong Temple. The brim of the Grand Hall in the temple is 4.95 meters tall, 11.88 meters long and 6.6 meters wide. It is ornamented with carved beams and painted rafters. The temple is surrounded by the mountains and a river, which add to its glory. There are three Buddha statues, namely, Sakyamuni, Wenshu Buddha and Puxian Buddha. The statues of Eighteen Arhats have different figures and are as natural as if they were living. There is a rockery behind the three Buddha’s statutes, where dragons and rocs listing to the preaching of Buddhism are painted. A Sakyamuni Statue is carved at the back of the rock. The statute is 3.96 meters tall. The Buddha closes his eye and put his palms together. The Grand Hall of the temple was already destroyed. There is a stone house in one-step distance. A natural stone Buddha statute is consecrated there. On the east of the house is a stone well. It is recorded that “In the Song Dynasty, a monk from west took a rest here. But he could not find any water. So he write two characters Tian Yi on the stone wall. When he leaved here, water came out from the place of his writing. The monks in the temple dug on the stone to make a well. Though the water in the well is not full, but it seems to be inexhaustible.” There is a rock cave not far from the well. A statue of Guanyin holding a baby was situated in the cave. There is a big gingko which is more than one thousand years old in the west of the temple. A folk song reads: “There is a temple on the tree. There is a well in the temple. There is another temple above the well. Two temples are in one-step distance. The statutes of the Buddha are very tall.”
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