Kongtong Mountain 崆峒山

Kongtong Mountain is located 12 kilometers west of Pingliang City, Gansu Province, and was a vital fortress on the ancient Silk Road when exiting the Central Shaanxi Plain to the west. Covering an area of 84 square kilometers, its main peak stands at an altitude of 2,123.3 meters. It integrates spectacular, perilous, serene, and beautiful natural landscapes with ancient, exquisite cultural landscapes, boasting extremely high ornamental, cultural, and scientific research value. Since ancient times, it has been renowned as "the First Mountain from the West," "the Wonder of the Western Town," and "Kongtong Mountain's Scenery is the Most Beautiful Under Heaven."

Kongtong Mountain is famous for its towering peaks, abrupt cliffs, crisscrossing deep valleys, numerous caves, jagged rocks, and lush forests. It combines the grandeur of northern landscapes with the elegance of southern scenery, earning it the reputation of being a bright pearl on the Longdong Loess Plateau. Additionally, it is revered by Taoism as "the First Taoist Mountain Under Heaven" because it is said to be the place where the immortal Guangchengzi cultivated and attained enlightenment, and Xuanyuan Huangdi, the ancestor of humanities, once visited here to seek advice from Guangchengzi.

Wangjia Mountain is the eastern peak of Kongtong Mountain, facing the Pingliang-Jingyuan Highway to the front. At the foot of the mountain, the Yanzhi River and the Jing River converge, and its altitude is 1,926 meters. Wangjia Mountain stands abruptly with majestic momentum; standing on the peak, one can take in all the Jing River Valley and Pingliang City. Legend has it that when Huangdi came to seek advice from Guangchengzi, the mountain was shrouded in clouds and mist, appearing illusory. His ministers piled up earth at the foot of the mountain to look out for him, hence the name "Wangjia Mountain" (Mountain of Looking Out for the Emperor). There was originally a Huaikuang Pavilion on the peak, which no longer exists today.

Guangcheng Danxue is located on the cliff of the northern peak of Wangjia Mountain. Here, the cliff is as steep as a cut, extremely dangerous, and rarely visited by people. It is said that Guangchengzi lived in this cave to practice alchemy and Taoism. "Guangcheng Danxue" is one of the Twelve Scenic Spots of Kongtong. Luo Chao's poem Guangcheng Danxue reads: "The cliff juts into the sky, the alchemy cave is hidden among fragrant grasses; knowing this is where Guangcheng lived, I gaze disconsolate at the distant clouds."

Wendao Palace, also known as Xuanyuan Valley, is located in the front gorge of Kongtong Mountain, on the north bank of the Jing River. It backs onto the mountain and faces the water, with a quiet environment. When staying in the palace, one cannot hear the roaring of the Jing River. Legend has it that this is the place where Huangdi sought advice from Guangchengzi. There were already buildings here in the Tang Dynasty. The Wendao Palace was rebuilt during the Yuan Dynasty's Zhizheng period (1335–1340), and a stone stele titled "Stele of Rebuilding Wendao Palace" remains today. It was rebuilt again during the Xuande and Wanli periods of the Ming Dynasty, becoming a large complex of buildings. Tang Long of the Ming Dynasty wrote in his poem Wendao Palace: "I want to catch the white toad flying to the treetop, and search everywhere for the mythical crane in the clouds; the desolate buildings are just a temporary stop, as I disconsolate the Wendao Palace of bygone years."

Zhongtai is the center of Kongtong Mountain, at an altitude of 1,894 meters. It has a flat and broad terrain with an open view. There are paths leading to the East, West, South, and North Terraces, and it connects to the highway at the back of the mountain. Zhongtai originally had a large complex of buildings. In the center was the Minghui Zen Monastery of the Tang Dynasty, which was later renamed Hutuo Temple, with magnificent halls and numerous lifelike statues. To the west were the Shifang Courtyard and Qizhen Temple built in the Ming Dynasty. To the southwest was the Sanhuang Tower (also known as "First Heavenly Gate") built during the Xuantong period of the Qing Dynasty, which was rebuilt in 1985 with donations from the public. To the east were the Tripitaka Tower, Feisheng Palace, and Huairui Pagoda built in the Ming Dynasty.

Fenghuang Ridge is north of Linggui Platform and northeast of Mazong Mountain. Looking down from a height, this ridge resembles a phoenix spreading its wings, ready to fly, with a precipitous terrain. Whenever the rain stops and the sky clears, thin mist rises, and the morning sun shines, creating a colorful and spectacular scene. This is "Fenghuang Ridge with Colored Mist," one of the Twelve Scenic Spots of Kongtong. Luo Chao's poem about it reads: "Where has the sacred bird gone? The high hill is empty, watching; if there were Zhou Wenwang today, why wouldn't it go to the Western Mountain?" There was originally a Mituo Temple built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1573–1620) on Fenghuang Ridge, and only its ruins remain today. In 1988, a section of Taiqing Palace was restored here.