Danshan Mountain (Zaoshan Mountain)

Danshan Mountain, also known as Danzao Mountain and now officially Zaoshan Mountain, stands towering in the central part of the county. The Zhangzhou-Yunxiao Provincial Highway winds along its southern foothills, while the Fotou-Sui’an County Highway twists across its northern mountainside. Surrounded by a wealth of cultural relics and natural wonders, Danshan forms a concentrated cluster of scenic spots in the hinterland of Zhangpu.

Historical records state: "Located in Zaoshan of the Seventh Capital, it features layered ridges rising several hundred ren high, with a perimeter of forty li. Its slopes are dotted with grotesque rocks bearing immortal footprints, a stone go board, stone rollers and alchemy furnaces. Stone orchids and sealwort grow in abundance here. Legend has it that this was the place where Ge Hong, the Sage Who Embraces Simplicity, refined elixirs, hence the mountain’s name."

Ge Hong, a Taoist priest of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, lived in seclusion here cultivating immortality and concocting medicinal elixirs until he attained the Dao. Traces of his hermitage can still be faintly found. Built in the Ming Dynasty, the Temple of Immortal Ge and Ancestral Immortal Temple continue to receive endless pilgrims and incense offerings to this day.

Nestled in an intermountain basin lies Bagua Fort, an ancient residential village erected in the Qing Dynasty. Shaped like the Eight Trigrams formation, it boasts a rigorous layout and one-of-a-kind architectural style. Dongping Reservoir sits in the mountain valley, its water crystal clear like a mirror. Further upstream lies Moon Lake, at the center of which rests Sun Island, resembling a jade fairy pond from the celestial heavens.

Scattered across the mountain range are captivating sights including Thunder-Split Rock, Star-Gazing Platform, Ge Hong’s Stone Chamber and Heavenly Scripts etched on sheer cliff faces. Danshan Waterfall surges through the canyon, presenting a marvelous and spectacular view.

The second peak of Danshan marks the site where General Pi Dingjun lost his life in a helicopter crash while on official duty, imbuing the mountain with heroic spirit and lingering unanswered questions alike.

Majestic and grand, Danshan is sculpted by strange cliffs and rock outcrops into countless natural stone grottoes and shelters, connected by winding quiet paths. Gurgling mountain springs deliver fresh, sweet water. The mountain is covered in lush, dense forest vegetation, home to rare plants and flocks of wild birds and beasts.

At the foot of the mountain stretch green fields and clear rivers forming picturesque landscapes. Gazing far out, one sees the vast sea dotted with racing fishing boats, an infinitely beautiful scene. Permanent mist and clouds shroud the mountain top all year round, transporting visitors to a fairyland where the boundary between mortal and celestial realms fades away.