Jinshan Tourist Zone of Hebi

Jinshan Tourist Zone is a national 3A-level scenic area. It is located northwest of Jinshan Sub-district Office in Qibin District, Hebi City, and serves as a key scenic spot along the Qi River Ecotourism Belt. This time-honored ancient Buddhist temple boasts a profound Buddhist culture.

The temple features scattered terraces, towering halls and lofty pavilions amid towering pine and cypress trees. The Mahavira Hall and Heavenly King Hall stand opposite each other. The Reclining Buddha Hall and Ksitigarbha Hall stretch backward in solemn succession. The Bodhisattva Cave and Guanyin Cave exude a serene and sacred atmosphere. Green pines and dark cypresses flourish side by side, while Buddhist chants and bell tolls linger constantly in the air.

Historical records note that during its heyday, Jinshan Temple attracted numerous eminent monks. Incense smoke drifted for five hundred li. Devotees traveled thousands of miles to pay homage. The temple housed hundreds of monks and owned over a thousand hectares of land. The morning and evening bells blended with low Buddhist recitations, conveying the profound wisdom of Buddhism to the mortal world.

A stele inscribed with both Mongolian and Chinese imperial edicts stands inside the temple. Its Phags-pa Mongolian script is the first discovery of its kind in Henan Province.

Outside the temple lies the "Three-Step Two Wells". The two wells are less than three meters apart, yet one yields sweet spring water like nectar, while the other produces bitter water just like unripe persimmons. This natural wonder stirs people’s admiration for nature and reflections on life.

Climbing up the bluestone steps to the mountain top and resting at the Qi River Viewing Pavilion, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view: rolling mountain ridges and mist-shrouded Qi River unfolding before the eyes.

According to Key Records of the Nine States, Mozi, the great thinker, statesman and founder of Mohism during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods, lived in seclusion on Black Mountain for many years. Legend has it that he regularly consumed poria cocos from the mountains and retained a youthful appearance even at the age of 500.

The tourist zone enjoys luxuriant vegetation. It is covered with snow in winter, draped in fresh green leaves in spring, cool and shady in summer, and bright with blooming flowers in autumn, presenting gorgeous scenery all year round.

Legend of the White Snake ranks among China’s four greatest ancient romantic myths. It originated more than a thousand years ago in Xujia Gou Village on the bank of the Qi River in Daming Prefecture during the Northern Song Dynasty. Most villagers here bear the surname Xu, the same family as Xu Xian in the tale.

When the Central Plains fell under Jurchen occupation in the Song Dynasty, the imperial court moved south, and Lin’an (present-day West Lake area in Hangzhou) became the political, economic, military and cultural center of the Southern Song Dynasty. The touching love story spread widely in Lin’an, and Jinshan Temple and related buildings were constructed there.

With growing attention to cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage protection, the Legend of the White Snake was included in the first batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage lists of Henan Province in 2007, adding brilliant splendor to local cultural tourism.

Jinshan Temple was first built during the Jiayou reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, hence its name derived from its location and founding era. Constructed in the Song Dynasty and renovated in the Yuan Dynasty, the temple has been restored in recent years. Its existing buildings include the Reclining Buddha Hall, Mahavira Hall and auxiliary halls. In December 1993, the local government officially approved Jinshan Temple as a venue for Buddhist religious activities.

This stele is well preserved inside Jinshan Temple. It has a dragon-shaped head and a tortoise base, standing 184 centimeters tall with a width of 102 centimeters. The upper part is carved with Phags-pa Mongolian script, and the lower part features regular Chinese characters.

The Chinese text is a vernacular translation of the Mongolian imperial edict, engraved in intaglio regular script in 24 vertical columns with 1 to 24 characters per line, totaling 189 characters. The calligraphy is neat, dignified and mostly legible. The stele records an imperial decree issued by Emperor Pu Yandugu in the first year of the Huangqing reign of the Yuan Dynasty. This is the first such bilingual stele unearthed in Henan Province.

Locally known as Three-Step Two Wells, the two wells are only three steps apart, each four meters deep with an opening diameter of roughly one meter. One well produces bitter-tasting water like raw persimmons, and the other has sweet nectar-like water, forming this miraculous natural spectacle known as the Sweet and Bitter Spring.

In August 2013, the CCTV program Geography of China came to shoot a special documentary Tales of the Magic Wells. The two wells were subjected to scientific testing and research, and the episode was broadcast on the Science and Education Channel on September 9 and 10, 2014.

The bitter water has certain curative effects on eye diseases, bone fractures, rheumatism and anti-aging. The sweet water contains abundant minerals and meets national standards for natural mineral water. For centuries, monks used the sweet well for daily drinking, while the bitter well water was used to pray for the recovery of local patients.

Tongyin County Chronicle (1738 Edition) quotes an ancient map record: "Emperor Wen of Wei fell ill on his journey. A wizard treated him with water from this well, and he recovered immediately, thus the well got its name."

According to the myth of the White Snake, Bai Suzhen ran a herbal shop called Baohe Hall in Xugou Village, treating poor patients free of charge with superb medical skills and noble virtue. Crowds flocked to seek treatment, which greatly reduced incense offerings at Jinshan Temple. Enraged, the elder monk Fahai trapped Bai Suzhen under Leifeng Pagoda. Her endless tears shed out of longing for her husband Xu Xian finally formed the two wells, known as the Sweet and Bitter Spring.

Black Mountain refers to the entire mountain ridge behind Jinshan Temple. Its name comes from the black rock formed after ancient volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The mountain is mainly composed of magmatic rock, volcanic bombs and volcanic ash, marking the site of a large ancient volcanic crater.

Rich in animal fossils, it is hailed by geologists as a "treasure trove of tropical animal fossils". After years of afforestation, it has become a scenic tourist resort. Thanks to magma and mineral deposits from volcanic activity, visitors may occasionally dig up crystals, rubies, emeralds and other precious stones with luck.

Mozi once lived on Black Mountain in the 26th year of King An of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (c. 376 BC), so the mountain is also known as Mo Mountain. As recorded in Comprehensive Records of the Nine States, Mozi, the thinker, statesman, educator and founder of Mohism, resided here. Though not high, Black Mountain has always been a strategically important stronghold in military history for its rugged terrain.

The arc-shaped footpath encircles Jinshan Temple, which nestles in a basin surrounded by mountains on three sides. The 1.5-kilometer path connects six scenic spots: Tranquil Rest Gate, Morning Sun Pavilion, Green Overlap Pavilion, Sun and Moon Terrace, Following Fate Gate and Immortal Admiring Pavilion.

Starting from the mountain gate and walking north into Tranquil Rest Gate, visitors can watch the sunrise from Morning Sun Pavilion and overlook the full view of Jinshan Jiayou Temple. Green Overlap Pavilion stands deep in the woods directly behind the temple. Its white structure rises gracefully amid lush dark green trees.

Sun and Moon Terrace sits at the highest elevation along the trail. From here, the meandering Qi River glimmers like a jade ribbon winding around layered green hills, leaving visitors reluctant to leave.

Stepping out of Following Fate Gate and standing under Immortal Admiring Pavilion, you can catch a glimpse of the legendary ancient pagoda forest of Jinshan Temple to the south. The Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery lies southeast of the temple. Under auspicious clouds, you may walk down the stone steps with a relaxed and joyful mood.

The footpath winds through thick forests filled with singing birds and blooming flowers. Fresh air turns the woodland into a natural ecological oxygen bar. Escaping the hustle and bustle of cities, visitors can meditate, purify body and mind, improve health and prolong life. It is an ideal place for stress relief and outdoor green fitness.