Qingyuan Mountain

​1. Overview & Significance​​
Qingyuan Mountain, spanning ​​62 km²​​ near Quanzhou’s urban center, is a ​​National Key Scenic Spot​​ and ​​Natural/Cultural Dual Heritage Site​​. Its ​​granite landscapes​​, ​​ancient religious relics​​, and ​​biodiversity​​ make it a microcosm of Fujian’s history. Key highlights:

• ​​Geology​​: Danxia-like rock formations, ​​498m peak​​, and ​​"Tiger’s Milk Spring"​​ (a millennium-old mineral spring).
• ​​Culture​​: A ​​Taoist-Buddhist-Islamic​​ hub with ​​7th-century Islamic tombs​​ and China’s largest ​​Song Dynasty Laozi stone carving​​.
• ​​UNESCO Potential​​: Recognized for its role in the ​​Maritime Silk Road​​ and ​​multicultural integration​​.

​​2. Historical Evolution​​

• ​​Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE)​​: Early Taoist activities.
• ​​Tang-Song Dynasties​​: Peak development with ​​36 caves​​ and ​​18 scenic spots​​.
• ​​Yuan-Ming Dynasties​​: Expansion of ​​Islamic and Buddhist sites​​ via maritime trade.
• ​​Modern Era​​: Restored in the 2000s, now a ​​5A-rated eco-cultural destination​​.

​​3. Must-Visit Attractions​​

• ​​Laozi Statue (老君岩)​​: A ​​5.6m-tall​​ Song Dynasty Taoist sculpture, dubbed ​​"China’s No.1 Stone Laozi"​​.
• ​​Islamic Holy Tombs (灵山圣墓)​​: Graves of ​​7th-century Arab missionaries​​, with ​​Zheng He’s incense-burning stele​​.
• ​​Qingyuan Tianhu (清源天湖)​​: A ​​high-altitude lake​​ (368m) with panoramic views.
• ​​Hongyi Master’s Stupa (弘一法师舍利塔)​​: Memorial for the famed monk-artist ​​Li Shutong​​.

​​4. Cultural Experiences​​

• ​​Tea Ceremonies​​: Sample ​​Anxi Tieguanyin​​ at cliffside teahouses.
• ​​Hiking Trails​​: Explore ​​"Thread of Sky" Gorge​​ or ​​Nanhai Guanyin Rock​​.
• ​​Festivals​​: ​​Taoist rituals​​ at Laozi Rock (Feb/Mar) and ​​Lantern Shows​​ (Spring Festival).

​​5. Travel Tips (2025 Updates)​​

• ​​Best Time​​: ​​Oct–Dec​​ for cool weather; avoid ​​summer humidity​​.
• ​​Access​​: ​​30min drive from Quanzhou​​ or ​​high-speed rail to Quanzhou Station​​.
• ​​Tickets​​: ​​¥70​​ (adults), ​​¥35​​ (students); ​​free​​ for seniors >65.
• ​​Stay​​: ​​Mountain-view homestays​​ or ​​downtown Quanzhou hotels​​.

​​6. Why Visit?​​
Qingyuan Mountain merges ​​adventure​​ (hiking, springs), ​​history​​ (Silk Road relics), and ​​spirituality​​ (Taoist/Buddhist sites). Its ​​2025 digital guides​​ and ​​night tours​​ enhance accessibility for global travelers.