Qianshan Mountain 千山

"Ten thousand valleys echo with the roar of pines and a hundred zhang waves; a thousand peaks cast green shadows over a lake of lotus." Qianshan Mountain is composed of nearly a thousand peculiar peaks shaped like lotus flowers, boasting extremely beautiful natural scenery. Located 17 kilometers southeast of Anshan City, Liaoning Province, it covers a total area of 44 square kilometers and has long been known as the "Pearl of the Northeast". Facing the Bohai Sea to the south and connecting with the Changbai Mountains to the north, its peaks rise abruptly from the ground, renowned for their graceful peaks, steep rocks, secluded valleys, ancient temples, tall Buddha statues, rare pines, and blooming flowers.

Qianshan Mountain is a perfect integration of natural and cultural landscapes, with religious culture being the main body of its cultural attractions. For hundreds of years, Taoism has built more than 20 temples, palaces, and nunneries in Qianshan. Among them, Wuliangguan (Perfect Observation), Cixiangguan (Kindness Observation), Wulonggong (Five Dragons Palace), and Pu'anguan (Universal Peace Observation) have been the activity centers of Taoists. The Taoist sects in Qianshan include the Longmen (Dragon Gate), Huashan (Flower Mountain), Penglai (Fairy Island), and Jinshan (Golden Mountain) branches of Quanzhen Taoism, with the Longmen and Huashan sects having a greater influence. After years of development, the temples in Qianshan are filled with the smoke of incense and the melodious sound of bells and chimes, presenting a scene of a fairy mountain and blessed land.

Nanquan'an is a Taoist courtyard. According to the stele of reconstruction in the 40th year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1612), the nunnery was first built in the Tang Dynasty. It went through many dynasties and was repeatedly renovated. By the 37th year of the Wanli period (1609), "Lord Sun" and others saw that the ancient temple had become a ruin, so they raised funds to cut stones and began to rebuild Nanquan'an. They successively built a Buddha hall, a dining hall, a gate tower, and walls, and later, after several years of repairs, expanded the hall to three rooms. After Taoism entered Qianshan in the Qing Dynasty, the Buddha hall was converted into a Taoist nunnery in the 6th year of the Kangxi period (1667). Through successive renovations and expansions in the 50th year of the Qianlong period (1785), the 5th year of the Jiaqing period (1800), the 4th year of the Daoguang period (1824), and the 26th year of the Daoguang period (1846), Nanquan'an finally achieved its current scale.

Tianyingong, a folk auspicious temple of Qianshan Taoism, is a folk cultural and religious site with unique cultural characteristics. Enshrined in Tianyingong are the God of Fortune, the God of Officialdom, the God of Longevity, the God of Happiness, and the God of Wealth, which are sought after and worshipped in traditional Chinese folk culture, expressing people's hope and pursuit for a better life in the future. The architecture of Tianyingong is simple and elegant, with a strong atmosphere of traditional culture.

Wulonggong is located in Wulong Valley in the middle of Qianshan Mountain. It was founded in the 3rd year of the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (1738) by Taoist Peng Fuxing, and later went through multiple renovations and expansions during the Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Xianfeng reigns as well as the Republic of China period, gradually expanding its scale. The entire building complex consists of the main hall, front hall, side halls, bell tower, Yuhuangge (Jade Emperor Pavilion), and Daxiantang (Hall of Great Immortals). Inside, there are the main hall, front hall, study room, left and right side halls, and bell tower. The main hall has three rooms, with a plaque reading "Arctic Xuantian" hanging on the door, enshrining the statues of Zhenwu (True Martial Lord), the Medicine King, Ancestor Qiu, and Lingguan (Spirit Officer). The front hall houses eight painted clay Taoist statues, including Cihang Daoren (Daoist of Compassionate Navigation), Dragon Girl, and Shancai (Good Wealth). To the right of the hall, there is a huge stone, about 10 meters long, high in the front and low in the back, half-buried underground, shaped like a lying ox ruminating after eating, hence known as "Woniushi" (Lying Ox Stone). Close to the "ox's belly" on the right side of the lying ox, there is a crescent-shaped well called "Yueyajing" (Crescent Well). The well water is sweet and never dries up all year round, ranking as the top ancient well in Qianshan. Daxiantang and Yuhuangge are built on the peak behind Wulonggong, with small and exquisite structures, hidden among stone forests and green trees, like fairy pavilions in the air. Outside the palace, five mountain ranges wind from the south, west, and north, suddenly converging in front of an isolated peak, resembling five green dragons dancing, forming the scene of "Five Dragons Playing with a Pearl".

Wuliangguan is located in the North Valley of Qianshan, also known as Wuliangguan (Beamless Observation), said to be named because there were no beams when it was first built. It was founded in the 6th year of the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty (1667) by Liu Tailin, the eighth-generation disciple of the Quanzhen Longmen sect of Taoism, and has been repaired repeatedly since then. The main buildings inside and outside the observation include Laojundian (Hall of Lord Laozi), Sanguandian (Hall of Three Officials), Cihangdian (Hall of Compassionate Navigation), Nantianmen (South Heaven Gate), Eight Immortals Tower, Zushita (Ancestor Tower), and Gegongta (Master Ge Tower). Laojundian was built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty (1662–1722) and was repaired during the Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Tongzhi reigns, enshrining a statue of Taishang Laojun (the Supreme Old Lord). Sanguandian was built in the 26th year of the Daoguang period (1847) and named after enshrining the Three Officials. Cihangdian, originally named "Cihangge" (Pavilion of Compassionate Navigation), enshrines the sacred statue of Cihang Daoren. On the hillside in front of the observation, there is a stone platform with a stone table and stone stools, surrounded by short stone railings and stone slabs. It is said that immortals and Taoist priests often gathered here in the past, hence known as "Juxiantai" (Platform of Gathered Immortals). To the east of the platform, there are three towers: Baxian (Eight Immortals), Zushi (Ancestor), and Gegong (Master Ge). Climbing the steps from the mountain gate to the West Peak, the stone platform on the peak is called "Zhenyigang" (Clothing-Shaking Ridge). The peak north of the ridge, anciently known as "Baidoutai" (Platform for Worshiping the Big Dipper), was where Taoists in the observation worshipped the Big Dipper in the past. Surrounding the observation are overlapping peaks and a sea of pine trees, with many scenic spots such as Nantianmen, Bell Tower, Wanniansong (Ten-Thousand-Year Pine), Zhengzhisong (Upright Pine), and Shikansong (Stone Niche Pine). The entire building of Wuliangguan is constructed according to the mountain and scenery, with halls and houses arranged in a stepped pattern, rising layer by layer, presenting a spectacular momentum, natural layout, and ingenious structure. It is a famous Taoist temple in the Northeast.

Pu'anguan is located at the foot of Wufoding (Five Buddhas Summit). Originally named Ximing'an (West Name Nunnery), it was founded by monk Pu'an as a place for him to practice meditation, a pure land of Buddhism. After Pu'an's death, in the Qing Dynasty, Taoist Qian Laiji came here and saw that Ximing'an was severely damaged. So he traveled around to collect alms, converting the Buddhist temple into a Taoist temple. To commemorate Master Pu'an, he named it "Pu'anguan" using the name of the Buddhist monk Pu'an. Inside the observation, there are east and west halls. The east hall is Laoyedian (Hall of Lord), enshrining the statues of Guan Shengdijun (Emperor Guan), Yue Fei, and the Medicine King. The west hall is Laojunlou (Tower of Lord Laozi), enshrining Taishang Laojun, Lü Dongbin, and others. Behind the tower, there is a natural stone cave, in which the Jade Emperor is worshipped, hence known as "Yuhuangdong" (Jade Emperor Cave).