Lincheng County 临城县

Setting and landscape

The land falls in steps from west to east, from a highest peak of 1,508 m in the west to 38.7 m in the east. Mountains cover about 35 percent of the county, hills about half and plain under 15 percent, which the county sums up as "seven parts mountain, two parts water, one part field". Qishan Lake (岐山湖), also called the Xishu Reservoir (西竖水库), was built from 1958 by 30,000 labourers over two years; it was renamed Lincheng Reservoir in 1963 and has been called Qishan Lake since 1990.

History

In the Spring and Autumn period this was Linyi (临邑), a town of the state of Jin. The Western Han set up Fangzi County (房子县), with its seat at today's Cangfang village in Gaoyi (高邑); in 742 the Tang renamed the county Lincheng after an old town of that name ten li to the south-west and moved the seat to the present county town. The county government says silk floss from Fangzi was sent as tribute. Lincheng was merged into Neiqiu (内丘) in 1958 and restored in 1962.

What to see

Kongshan White Cloud Cave (崆山白云洞) formed in Cambrian limestone about 500 million years old. It was found in 1988, opened in 1990, and is a national scenic area, a national geopark and a 4A scenic area; Tiantai Mountain (天台山), another 4A area, is nearby.

In the county town, the Puli Temple Pagoda (普利寺塔) dates from 1052 and was repaired in 1538 and 1576. The seven-storey square brick pagoda imitates timber construction, stands 27.35 m on a 5.83 m stone platform and carries 1,041 Buddha figures, which gives it the popular name Thousand-Buddha Pagoda (千佛塔). It became a national protected site in 2001.

The Xing kiln sites (邢窑遗址) in the county run 16 km north to south, from Xishuangjing village (西双井村) to Ciyaogou village (磁窑沟村). Fifteen kiln sites, fired from the Northern Dynasties to the Ming, have been found, and the kilns were listed as a national protected site on 20 November 1996. Xing ware firing is on the national intangible heritage list.

Food and local products

Lincheng crisp fish (临城酥鱼) is made with wild carp, grass carp, silver carp or crucian carp from Qishan Lake. The fish is coloured with rock sugar, seasoned with scallion, ginger, garlic, Sichuan pepper and star anise, and simmered over a low fire for three to four hours until the bones are soft.

Getting oriented

The Beijing–Guangzhou Railway (京广铁路) has a Lincheng station.

Highlights

• Kongshan White Cloud Cave 崆山白云洞: Karst cave in Cambrian limestone, found in 1988; national scenic area, national geopark and 4A scenic area.
• Puli Temple Pagoda 普利寺塔: Northern Song brick pagoda of 1052 with 1,041 Buddha figures; national protected site since 2001.
• Xing kiln sites 邢窑遗址: Fifteen kiln sites from the Northern Dynasties to the Ming; national protected site since 1996.
• Lincheng crisp fish 临城酥鱼: Qishan Lake fish slow-simmered for three to four hours until the bones are soft.