Qitai Mountain

Qitai Mountain is one of the renowned "Three Famous Mountains of Northern Fujian". It lies within Cibei Village, Daggan Town in the northwest of Shunchang County, standing at an altitude of 1,282 meters and ranking among the county’s three major famous mountains. Within the mountain lie seven scenic spots including Qitai Nunnery, Platform Star, Immortal Meeting Terrace, Lion Terrace and Moon-Watching Terrace, together with three stone inscriptions left by celebrated figures. Distinctive sturdy pines and ancient cypresses dot the terrain, featuring perilous landforms, winding trails and breathtaking scenery.

According to the Xianfeng-era version of Records of Shunchang County compiled in the Qing Dynasty: "Qitai Mountain stretches eastward toward Jiangle and overlooks Shaowu to the north, rising more than twenty li in height. It gets its name from seven scenic terraces: Manjushri Terrace, Samantabhadra Terrace, Immortal Meeting Terrace, Lion Terrace, Cloud Terrace and Moon Terrace."

A 10-kilometer mountain trail from Cibei Village leads all the way to the summit, lined with lush dark pines and shady green bamboo. More than ten dawn redwood trees over 30 meters tall stand in front of Qitai Mountain Temple, cloaking the shrine in a lush green canopy. A stone stele carved with three characters "Moon-Watching Terrace" sits atop the peak. Standing on the summit and gazing afar, visitors are treated to an exceptionally spectacular panorama.

Records of the World states: "Its jagged rock masses stretch endlessly without measure, with towering peaks and sheer cliffs often over a thousand zhang high; faint clouds hovering over the mountain foretell incoming rain." The Jiajing-era Records of Shaowu Prefecture of the Ming Dynasty records: Qitai Mountain overlooks Shunchang to the east and borders Jiangle to the south, featuring seven layers of peaks, hence its name.

Qitai Mountain boasts lofty heights and dense forests blanketed in thick shade. Cliffs are carpeted with wild flowers and flourishing trees, forming a magnificent sea of rolling green foliage. Cool as autumn in summer with a pleasant climate, it is an ideal summer retreat, hailed as "Shunchang’s Lushan Mountain".

An ancient poet Qiu Jiukui vividly depicted the mountain with the line: "Layer upon layer of green hills stretch endlessly; dense woods wind all along the mountain paths." In 2015, Qitai Mountain was designated a Fujian Provincial Nature Reserve