Thousand Buddha Mountain 千佛山

About Thousand Buddha Mountain

Xingguochan Temple stands partway up the hill, and the cliff behind it retains Sui-period images and small caves. Nearby Lishanyuan gathers shrines associated with different traditions. The ascent therefore moves between wooded paths, carved rock and temple courtyards. Modern additions elsewhere in the park should be distinguished from the much older carvings that gave the hill its name.

The mountain was earlier called Li Shan (历山), Shun Shan or Shun Geng Shan (舜耕山); in the Spring and Autumn period it was Miji Shan (靡笄山), and in the Warring States period Mi Shan (靡山). According to local tradition, Shun once farmed at its foot, and a shrine to him, Shun Ci (舜祠), was later built there. Buddhist carving began during the Sui dynasty's Kaihuang era (581-600), and the resulting Thousand Buddha Temple (千佛寺) was renamed Xingguochan Temple (兴国禅寺) during the Tang dynasty's Zhenguan era (627-649).

The Thousand-Buddha Cliff, behind Xingguochan Temple, is pierced by four caves – Longquan, Jile, Qianlou and Luzu Cave – from 3 meters down to only 20 centimeters high, holding about 130 Sui-period Buddha statues that survive today. Elsewhere on the mountain stand the Wenchang Pavilion (文昌阁) and the Yilan Pavilion (一览亭).

At an elevation of 285 meters, the mountain forms the northern spur of Mount Tai (泰山) within a park of 164.88 hectares. From the summit, the Yellow River and hills such as Huabuzhu (华不注山) appear in a view known as 'a thread of river, nine points of mist' (长河一线，齐烟九点). The mountain opened as a public park in 1959, was rated a national AAAA attraction in 2005, and became a National Park of China in 2017.

What to look for

• The Sui-period Buddhist carvings and small caves of Thousand Buddha Cliff.
• Xingguochan Temple’s courtyards and the adjoining Lishanyuan shrine complex.

The surrounding area

Provincial capital base for springs, old lanes and museums; Qushuiting, Baihuazhou and Kuanhouli have different walking and dining roles.

Location & getting there

Getting to Thousand Buddha Mountain

Use the main scenic approach at 18 Jingshiyi Road, Lixia District. Continue uphill on the signed stone paths toward Xingguochan Temple; the temple and cliff visit involves steps.