Opening Hours: 8:00 - 18:30 Ticket Price: 60 RMB Contact: 0355-7974866, Wulongchuan Township, Qinyuan County, Changzhi City Best Visiting Seasons: Spring, Summer and Autumn Complaint Hotline: 0533-2187222

Changzhi Airport serves medium and small-sized passenger aircraft. It operates direct air routes to Beijing, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Taiyuan and other cities, greatly facilitating transportation and economic exchanges between Changzhi and the capital as well as regions inside and outside Shanxi Province.

Two national trunk railways, Taiyuan-Jiaozuo Line and Handan-Changzhi Line, run through the city in all directions. Two new local railways and 24 special railway lines have been built, with an annual freight capacity of over 30 million tons.

Changzhi has four national highways. Centered on National Highway 208 and Handan-Changzhi Class II Highway, together with 14 local highways, they form a network shaped like the Chinese character Feng, with a total length of 2,681 kilometers. Asphalt roads now connect 104 townships and 846 villages to the county seat, covering 1,000 kilometers in total. More than 200 long-distance bus routes link Changzhi with Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan, Shijiazhuang and other cities.

Today, national, provincial, county and township highways extend in all directions across Changzhi. National Highway 208 runs north to south and National Highway 309 stretches east to west. The main highway framework featuring four vertical and four horizontal routes connects north to Taiyuan-Jiuquan Expressway, links west to Datong-Yuncheng Road leading to western inland areas, and joins Jincheng-Jiaozuo Expressway southward to the Central Plains. A modern three-dimensional transportation network integrating trunk and branch lines, land and air routes has taken initial shape.

Major expressways in Changzhi include Handan-Changzhi Expressway, Changzhi-Jincheng Expressway and Changzhi-Taiyuan Expressway.

Lingkong Mountain is located in the south-central part of Shanxi Province. Originally named Jiuding Mountain, it was renamed Lingkong Mountain due to thriving Buddhist activities. With a forest coverage rate of over 99%, it boasts well-preserved ecological environment and remains a pure land where tourism development and environmental protection coexist harmoniously. Visitors are recommended to come here in hot summer to embrace its coolness, tranquility, unique scenery and breathtaking views.

Lingkong Mountain lies in Wulongchuan Township in the northwest of Qinyuan County, about 40 kilometers away from the county seat. Its altitude ranges from 1,600 meters to 1,850 meters, and the highest peak reaches 1,953 meters. The mountain is mainly composed of Cambrian limestone. Intense tectonic movements have caused drastic crustal changes, leaving large areas of bedrock exposed and valleys deeply cut. Three gullies converge at the mountain center, forming a precipitous and spectacular deep valley. The bedrock is covered with Quaternary ancient loess. Abundant rainfall and fertile soil support luxuriant woods and wild flowers everywhere. Dotted with caves, strange peaks and serene valleys, the mountain features unique and marvelous landscapes.

As it is situated in the cold mountainous area in western Qinyuan County, Lingkong Mountain has a distinct climate. Summers are cool, with the maximum temperature around 25°C. Winters are long and cold. Nevertheless, Beishan Villa and Shengshou Temple in the central area sit in a sheltered, sunny location, where the minimum temperature drops to about -20°C. From April to October each year, the average temperature here stays around 17°C, making it the ideal travel period.

The scenic area has three major sightseeing routes: Fengdong Gully, General's Tomb Gully and Cao Gully. Fengdong Gully is a roughly 5-kilometer-long deep valley stretching southeast from Immortal Bridge. Its cliffs are carved as if by supernatural craftsmanship, lined with grotesque rocks in varied shapes: some look like wild bulls galloping or tigers roaring at the moon, while others resemble timid turtles huddling close to the ground.

Along the way, rolling peaks and sheer cliffs come into view one after another. Famous scenic spots here include Mountain Pagoda Cliff, Layered Green Peak, Front & Rear Stockade Gates, Dragon Gall, Dragon Tail and Turning-back Cliff.

Cao Gully, about 6 to 7 kilometers long, runs west to east from Diyichuan towards Shengshou Temple. Lush trees and blooming wild flowers line the whole gully. With winding paths and changing vistas, every step unveils a delightful view.

Northeast of Shengshou Temple lies General's Tomb Gully, leading from Immortal Bridge to Wulongchuan. A gentle stream murmurs through the gully, forming clear pools at several waterfalls, which mirror the green mountain screens around.

Lingkong Mountain is famous for its Ten Ancient Scenic Sites: East Bell Tower, Eighteen Turns, Sweet Dew Spring, Thatched Hermitage, Purification Cave, Five Dragon Pond, Sea-Covering Cave, Cliff of Sacrifice, Xumei Mountain and Immortal Bridge. All of them are recorded on stone steles and eulogized in ancient poems. Besides the ten sites, the mountain is home to numerous historic relics, marvelous ancient pines and magical caves.

More than a summer resort, Lingkong Mountain is also steeped in fascinating legends that fire visitors’ imagination. Shengshou Temple stands as the core of the scenic area.

According to legend, in the second year of the Kaibao reign of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin ignored his ministers’ advice and laid siege to the Northern Han regime right after the death of its ruler Liu Jun. Unexpectedly, Liao generals Yelü Wuzhi and Yelü Xiezhen came to Northern Han’s rescue. An epidemic broke out among the Song troops, forcing them to retreat in defeat. Pursued by Liao and Northern Han soldiers, Zhao Kuangyin and his men fled into the dense forests of Lingkong Mountain, a remote area where sunlight was barely visible for forty li.

As the Liao army set fires everywhere to burn them out, Zhao Kuangyin took refuge in a mountain temple. At the critical moment, thunder roared, lightning flashed and a torrential downpour suddenly poured down. The revitalized Song army fought their way out of the encirclement and escaped danger safely. After returning to the capital, Emperor Taizu allocated funds to rebuild the temple and restore the Buddha statues. The temple soon became a renowned sacred place with endless pilgrims. The emperor also personally inscribed the plaque and named it Shengshou Temple (Temple of Sacred Longevity).

Nearly every scenic spot here has a beautiful legend, such as the Story of Five Immortal Peaches, Dragon Mother and Divine Tiger, the Tale of Immortal Bridge, the Origin of General’s Tomb and the Mystery of the Divine Pine. These stories add charm and allure to Lingkong Mountain, enchanting every tourist who visits.