Yunmeng Mountain 云梦山

Yunmeng Mountain, also known as "Qingyan Mountain", is located 15 kilometers southwest of Qi County, Hebi City, Henan Province. It belongs to the Taihang Mountain range, with its main peak reaching an altitude of 577 meters. The mountain is characterized by overlapping peaks, misty clouds, and a spectacular atmosphere where clouds and rays of sunlight interweave. With gurgling springs and blooming flowers, it has long been praised as "a fairyland showcased by Qingyan".

Yunmeng Mountain is renowned as a Taoist sacred mountain mainly because Guiguzi, who once lived in seclusion here, has a profound connection with Taoism. Legend has it that Guiguzi was a disciple of Laozi and inherited his ideas. In Detailed Notes on the Catalogue of Taoist Scriptures by Li Jie of the Ming Dynasty, it is stated: "Master Guigu, who lived during the reign of Duke Ping of Jin, was surnamed Wang and named Xu. His origin is unknown, but he received the Taoist doctrine from Lord Laozi." In literary works, Guiguzi is often depicted as a Taoist priest.

Guo Pu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty wrote in his Immortal Travel Poems: "The Qingxi Stream rises a thousand ren high, and there lives a Taoist priest. Clouds rise between the beams and rafters; wind blows through the windows. When asked who this is, they say it is Guiguzi." Records of Strange Phenomena mentions: "Master Guigu was an ancient true immortal, surnamed Wang. He lived from the era of Xuanyuan through the Shang and Zhou dynasties, followed Lord Laozi to the Western Regions (Liusha), and returned to China at the end of the Zhou Dynasty, residing in Guigu Mountain on the banks of the Han River. He had more than a hundred disciples who received his Taoist teachings." In Illustrated Stories of the Seven Kingdoms, there is a dialogue between Guiguzi and Su Dai, in which Guiguzi refers to himself as "a humble Taoist": "I tell you, sir, this humble Taoist is now, first, extremely old and dull; second, content with cultivating my nature in peace." Records of Taoist activities related to Guiguzi have also been found at various Guigu relic sites across the country.

Originally named Sanxi Pool, it is the confluence of the Water Curtain, Green Dragon, and Dragon Back streams of Yunmeng Mountain, located at the eastern pass of the Yunmeng Gorge. Legend has it that Master Guigu often brought his disciples here to practice martial arts. Scholars and poets of all dynasties passed through here when visiting the Water Curtain Cave. It was renamed "Yingrui Pool" (Pool of Reflecting Auspiciousness) because it is said to gather morning rays and auspicious qi.

The pool water is clear and rippling, reflecting the morning glow and evening stars. The water and sky merge, with fish playing in the water, creating a beautiful scene. There is a well in the pool called "Guigu Well", named in memory of Guiguzi. Every summer and autumn, water overflows from the dam, forming a waterfall, which is spectacular.

Water Curtain Cave is located on the shady slope of the southern mountain in the Yunmeng Basin, halfway up the cliff. It was both the seclusion place of Master Guigu and the site where he gathered disciples to teach. The cave is a natural formation, 10 meters high, 6 meters wide, and over 80 meters deep.

The top of the cave is filled with strange-shaped stalactites. Bead-like water droplets drip from the stalactites onto the stones, like falling into a jade plate, making a tinkling sound, similar to ancient people playing the qin or zheng. Strings of water droplets hang like a pearl curtain at the cave entrance, hence the name "Water Curtain Cave". The poem "Green water hangs as a curtain on the mountain top; red peaches bloom like brocade at the cave entrance" depicts the scenery here. Deep in the cave, there is a spring pool with clear and sweet water. In summer and autumn, the spring water overflows outside the cave, forming a waterfall that pours straight into Yingrui Pool, which the locals call "Washing the Cave".

Shendao Platform is located on the east side of the Yunmeng Basin, 15 meters high and about 80 meters wide, with a steep cliff, extremely dangerous. Legend has it that when Guiguzi was giving lectures here, he tested his disciples' courage and piety by asking them to jump off this platform, hence the name "Shendao Platform" (Platform of Sacrificing Oneself).

At the northern end below Shendao Platform, there is a clear mineral spring with sweet and refreshing water that flows all year round. No matter how many people drink from it, the water level never drops, so it is called "Immortal Water Spring".

Shangsheng Hall is located in the Beishan Temple area. The temple complex was built in the Sui and Tang dynasties. Although not large in area, it has a rigorous layout. More than ten temples of various sizes are built along the mountain slope, row upon row, majestic and spectacular, as if hanging in the air.

Shangsheng Hall is the treasure of the temple area. It consists of a main hall and an auxiliary hall, with carved beams and painted rafters, and flying eaves towering in the air, which is magnificent. The hall enshrines a statue of the Jade Emperor, accompanied by the Golden Boy and Jade Girl on both sides. In front of the auxiliary hall, there is a stone-carved archway with exquisite carvings, inscribed with "Yunmeng's Wonderful Scenery, a Marvel Under Heaven".