Jiugongzhai is located 30 kilometers southwest of Lu’an City, with an elevation of 342 meters. It is named after nine stone figures resembling humans on the mountaintop, believed to be transformed from nine individuals who provided temple construction materials for Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties. Jiugongzhai consists of two peaks, the southern one commonly referred to as Xiaozhai and the northern one as Dazhai. The Gaofeng Temple on top of Dazhai, originally named Jiugong Temple and Jiugong Chan Monastery, is also said to be named in memory of those nine individuals. Visitors come to Jiugongzhai mainly to climb the mountain and worship Buddha. Passing through the entrance gate inscribed with ‘Jiugongzhai’ and the second gate inscribed with ‘Jiugong Soaring Gracefully’, and crossing the Qingying Bridge, one can see the lush bamboo forest, which is very refreshing to the eyes. Then, passing by the small temple Yingmentemple, which enshrines the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, one arrives at a larger square with a statue of Guanyin. Behind the square, the Chessboard Stone is worth visiting, with the water in the adjacent pond resembling ink, said to be the inkstone of the top scholar Jiao Huan from ‘Lu’an Prefecture Chronicles’. Passing through the South Heavenly Gate and Lingguan Hall, one reaches the top of Dazhai, where one can overlook the scenery below, and then proceed to the ancient Gaofeng Temple to pay respects. Descending from the direction of Xiaozhai, if ascending the mountain is to experience the Buddhist culture of Jiugongzhai, then descending is to appreciate its natural beauty, with many peculiar rocks such as the Scholar’s Stone, Three Turtles Stone, and Wind-moving Stone visible along the way. At Wangta Cliff, one can stop to enjoy the view, where one can see the seven-story Song Dynasty pagoda standing opposite at Xihekou Wangjiang Temple, and the distant Pi River, the mother river of Western Anhui. Jiugongzhai is abundant in tea gardens and is famous for producing the renowned tea ‘Lu’an Guapian’. In autumn, the extensive chestnut trees bear fruit, and it is quite interesting to search for fallen chestnuts on the forest paths. Opening hours are from 08:00 to 17:00 all year round. Preferential policies include free admission for children under 1.2 meters (not including), discounted admission for children between 1.2 meters (including) and 1.4 meters (not including), free admission for seniors aged 65 and above with a senior citizen card or ID card, and discounted admission for seniors aged between 60 (including) and 65 (not including).
Jiugongzhai Scenic Spot
Jiugongzhai is located 30 kilometers southwest of Lu’an City, with an elevation of 342 meters.[...]
