Hills form garrison of the Yangtze
Print Edition
They are no more than 80 meters high, but the cliffs of the three hills in Jiangsu Province’s Zhenjiang that overlook the Yangtze River are so steep and imposing that they have earned the city it’s name, which translates to “garrison of the river”.
Around the three hills — Jinshan Hill, Jiaoshan Hill and Beigushan Hill — authorities have established the Three-Hill National Park in the eastern China province. An abundance of antiques and temples remain on the hills, and legends and myths about them are plentiful.
At only about 44 meters, Jinshan Hill has become popular for its beautiful landscape, its relevance in Buddhism as well as for its soul-stirring legends. The Jinshan Temple, Spring Zhongling, and Cishou (Benevolence and Longevity) Pagoda are among the most famous scenic spots.
Jinshan Temple on the hillside dates back more than 1,500 years and is one of the most important Buddhist temples in China. In its prime, 3,000 monks lived here. The grand hall, towers and pavilions are built to merge with the surroundings, as if they were a natural part of the hill. Many emperors visited the temple and left their calligraphy praising the temple’s exquisiteness.
In the west of Jinshan Temple lies Zhongling, a spring that reached the pinnacle of tis popularity during Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). Many poets and articles have been written to praise its water, and tea made of its water is said to taste sweeter and more refreshing.
Jiaoshan Hill covers an area of nearly 40 hectares, making it the biggest of the three hills in the park. An island surrounded by the Yangtze, the hill is covered by greenery that makes it look like a jade floating in the water, hence its original name “Fuyu,” or “Floating Jade” in English.
Many scholars have visited the hill and left behind calligraphies that has earned Jiaoshan the nickname “the Hill of Calligraphy.”
Among three hills, Beigushan Hill with its three peaks is the steepest in the park. Ganlusi Temple is on the rear peak, the highest one.
Despite a fantastic Yangtze River view, Beigushan Hill and Ganlusi Temple are also best known from a classic historical novel called “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.”
Inspired by the historic figures in the novel, many scholars, celebrities and even emperors traveled to the hill to leave calligraphies, poems and scriptures that have since become relics of historic value.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
