Explore Ancient Temples and Admire the Earliest Stone Carving of ‘Ode to the Lotus’

Yudu County in Ganzhou, Jiangxi, is an ancient city with a history spanning over 2200 years. Despite[...]

Yudu County in Ganzhou, Jiangxi, is an ancient city with a history spanning over 2200 years. Despite its rich history, many visitors claim there are not many historical sites to see. This perception arises because they don’t know Yudu well enough. In reality, there are several historical sites worth visiting, such as Luotian Rock.

Luotian Rock Forest Park is easily accessible, with a 15-20 minute drive from the county town. Upon arrival, it’s important not to rush to climb the mountain. The main attractions of Luotian Rock include Yue Fei’s stone statue, Tiger Trace Pavilion, Luotian Rock Ancient Temple, and the stone carving of ‘Emperor’s Ten Thousand Years’.

Begin your visit with Yue Fei’s stone statue. Adjacent to the statue, you’ll find the Tiger Trace Pavilion. It might seem odd to find a statue of Yue Fei at Luotian Rock, given that the ancient temple is the main attraction. However, the connection becomes clear upon learning that Yue Fei visited Luotian Rock around 1133 during his military campaign to suppress bandits. Inspired by the site, he wrote a poem that includes the lines: “With a bamboo stick in hand, I visit the Yellow Dragon; the old den is empty, leaving only the trace of the tiger’s cub. The deep white clouds hide the place, half of the mountain’s pines and bamboo sway in the western wind.” The Tiger Trace Pavilion is named after the ‘trace of the tiger’s cub’ mentioned in the poem.

Luotian Rock Forest Park is a popular leisure and tourism destination for locals in Yudu. Many people visit to climb the mountains and enjoy the outdoors during holidays. To fully explore the entire forest park, it’s recommended to allocate at least half a day for your visit.
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If you’re seeking a concise yet enriching tour, consider revisiting the Luotian Rock Ancient Temple. Known also as Shanshan, this site was developed during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (558-566). It later saw the creation of the ‘Hua Yan Zen Temple’ during the Song Dynasty, where the renowned monk Huanglong Zen Master once resided.

The temple and pavilion occupy the southern half of the rock wall, their exquisite and unique design set against the natural backdrop, creating a distinctive style. Central to this area is the Guanyin Pavilion, which contains the Guanyin Hall. The phrase ‘Surely a Fairyland’ adorns the dome’s main wall, reportedly inscribed by the philosopher Zhu Xi.

Adjacent to the hall on the right, a spring emerges from the cliff, its water droplets creating a spectacle of flying foam and pearls, a sight that never ceases, known as ‘Flying Spring’. Despite the Luotian Rock Temple’s modest size, it is home to a few monks and has always been a site of thriving incense, making it an ideal place for the people of Yudu to pray and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

To the left of the ancient temple lies a steep cliff, a canvas for hundreds of poems and travel notes dating back to the Tang and Song dynasties. Spanning 2.5 square kilometers, this cliff hosts over 70 inscriptions by various historical figures, a number that surpasses any other in southern Jiangxi. Among these is Zhou Dunyi’s prose ‘Ode to the Lotus’, a piece we are familiar with from Chinese textbooks, which was first inscribed on Luotian Rock in May 1063. Additionally, there is the ‘Emperor’s Ten Thousand Years’ inscription by the famous general Yue Fei, located on the eastern cliff of the temple.

—The cliffs of Yudu are adorned with notes left by ancient celebrities, bearing witness to the ‘ancient’ history of the region. Among these historical figures, Zhou Dunyi, the author of “Ode to the Lotus,” once taught at Luotian Rock. In his honor, a Lianxi Temple was constructed at the site, which has since been renamed Lianxi Academy. The academy is situated in front of a pond graced by the presence of lotus flowers, which, when in bloom, evoke the artistic spirit of Mr. Zhou’s famous poem.

Since its establishment, Lianxi Academy has seen substantial support from social celebrities, reaching a peak with over 40 students enrolled. Each student residing at the academy was provided with three bushels of rice. The essence of Luotian Rock Forest Park lies in these historical sites. However, for those seeking leisure, the park also offers attractions such as Luotian Rock Reservoir, Bie Yidongtian, and other various points of interest.

A visit to Luotian Rock can provide a glimpse into a thousand years of Yudu’s history. For those planning a visit, here are the tourism tips: Luotian Rock Forest Park is located in Chaolin Village, Nanan of Gongjiang, Yudu County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, adjacent to National Highway 323. The park is best accessed by private vehicle, and admission is complimentary.