Jingxing Rock, known as one of the eight scenic spots of Xianju, is celebrated for its ‘Jingxing Night Moon’. Walking in the mist, one is accompanied by the rising fog, revealing a towering rock formation a hundred meters long and tens of meters high, resembling a deer’s stretched neck, aptly named ‘Deer Neck Rock’.
At the entrance of Jingxing Rock, one is greeted by towering bamboo and the rhythmic rustling of pines, a scene that invigorates the spirit. Within the heart of Jingxing Rock lies the Jingju Temple. Founded during the Tang Dynasty, the temple was later inhabited by the eminent monk Xingji during the Song Dynasty and expanded by Ming monk Shiqi and Qing monk Zhan’an. The temple’s grandeur was marred during the suppression of mountain bandits in the 15th year of Emperor Shunzhi’s reign, but the current abbot, Miaode, has tirelessly restored the temple, re-sculpted the Buddha statues, and once again, the temple thrives with a constant stream of worshippers throughout the seasons.
To the west of Jingju Temple, not far from the ‘Study Hall’, stands the ‘Star Picking Platform’ pavilion. To the northwest of the temple is the Echoing Bell Rock, named for the rock’s parallel fissures that create three cliffs rising abruptly from the valley floor, with falling stones striking the cliff walls and producing a bell-like echo that lingers.
The eastern side of Jingxing Rock features a sheer cliff, and a short distance away stands an independent, cylindrical rock column known as ‘Jade Pillar Peak’, rising hundreds of meters from the ground with a flat top and an area of several dozen square meters, covered with broadleaf forests such as the Chinese chestnut. Jingxing Rock stands out among the surrounding mountains, and from its cliffs, one can gaze upon a panorama of rolling hills and intertwined ridges.
During the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival, standing on the Moon Viewing Platform, one can witness the moon rising slowly from the east, while the Moon Reflecting Pond beside it mirrors the celestial body in its waters, creating a harmonious blend of sky and water as the breeze stirs the waves. The Echoing Bell Rock is particularly remarkable, located at the northwest corner of the Star Picking Platform, with a fissure forming a narrow, deep ravine where the sound of stones striking the walls creates a clear bell-like ring that lasts for over half a minute, a joy for hikers.
The scenic area also features the Moon Viewing Tower, Moon Viewing Pavilion, and Moon Appreciation Corridor, along with two moon-viewing hotels for visitors to rest and enjoy the moonlight. In October 2002, it served as one of the venues for the ‘First China-Xianju National North-South Folk Song Competition’. The night view of Jingxing Rock, with its layered mountains and the moon hanging in the east, appears to float on waves. Staying at Jingxing Rock gives one the sensation of reaching for the stars and embracing the moon, as if becoming an immortal. Hence, people refer to Jingxing Rock as a fairyland on earth.
Opening hours are from 08:00 to 17:00 all year round. Preferential policies include: Children under 1.2m in height enter for free; those between 1.2m and 1.5m in height receive a discounted ticket. Elderly aged 60 and above with a preferential card/ID card receive a discounted ticket. Students with a valid student ID receive a discounted ticket. Military personnel with a military ID receive a discounted ticket. Tour guides with a guide ID enter for free. Journalists with a press ID enter for free. Additional discounts are subject to the scenic area’s announcements.
