Lingyan Mountain, located 15 kilometers southwest of Suzhou city center, stands at an elevation of 182 meters and is renowned for its peculiar rocks. The Lingyan Mountain Temple, perched atop the mountain, is believed to be built on the site of the Guan Wa Palace, which was constructed by King Fu Chai for his beloved Xi Shi. The Ganoderma lucidum stone in front of the Lingyan Pagoda is the origin of the mountain’s name. On weekends, locals from Suzhou often visit to climb the mountain and offer prayers at the temple.
There are several trails to the summit, primarily the eastern gate mountain road inscribed with ‘Lingyan Mountain Scenic Area’ and the old mountain road on Su Fu Road (reachable by walking left from the eastern gate along the mountain). Upon entering the eastern gate, one finds the Lingyan Mountain Pavilion at the mountain’s base, originally a private garden built by Bi Yuan of the Qing Dynasty, which was later destroyed by war and has been restored in modern times. The old mountain road on Su Fu Road is a favorite among locals, and it is said that Emperor Qianlong also took this path to the summit, which takes approximately 30 minutes. Ascending along the imperial path of Emperor Qianlong, one passes by small scenic spots such as the Ji Lu Pavilion, Ying Xiao Pavilion, and Luo Hong Pavilion. To the east of Luo Hong Pavilion lies the Yin Guang Pagoda Court, and to the west is the Xi Shi Cave, where it is said that King Gou Jian and Fan Li waited while presenting Xi Shi to King Fu Chai. Today, the cave is dedicated to Guanyin and is also known as the Guanyin Cave. After climbing another 300 steps, one encounters another famous peculiar rock of Lingyan Mountain, ‘Tortoise Looking at Taihu Lake’, with footprints on the stone believed to be left by Xi Shi as she gazed longingly at her hometown. Continuing upwards, one arrives at Lingyan Mountain Temple, which was first established in the second year of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (420 AD), with most of the existing structures dating back to the late Qing and early Republic of China periods. Under the abbot’s insistence, the temple charges a symbolic entrance fee of 1 yuan, reflecting the temple’s commitment to goodness and attracting a thriving community of devotees. To the east of the temple stands the Lingyan Pagoda, also known as the Duo Bao Pagoda, a landmark of Lingyan Mountain. Originally constructed in the second year of the Tian Jian era of the Liang Dynasty and rebuilt in the 17th year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty (1147 AD), the pagoda stands seven stories tall, and it is said that walking around it three times clockwise can bestow blessings. Do not forget to visit the vegetarian noodle shop for a bowl of delicious vegetarian noodles. To the west of Lingyan Mountain Temple lies the garden, commonly known as the Summit Garden, where the traces of Fu Chai and Xi Shi are relatively concentrated, featuring the Play with Flowers Pond, Play with Moon Pond, King Wu Well, and the Stone City (a section of stone wall), as well as the Zhi Ji Well, which was repaired and dredged by the monk Zhi Ji of the Liang Dynasty. Note that Lingyan Mountain Temple is not at the summit; one must climb for another 10 minutes to reach the top, where several large rocks can be found, one of which is said to be the place where Xi Shi played the zither, known as the Zither Terrace. From the summit, one can see Lingyan Mountain Temple and Lingyan Pagoda to the south, Tianping Mountain to the north, and a clear view of Suzhou city. At the southern foot of Lingyan Mountain lies the tomb of Han Shizhong; the tomb of Qing Dynasty poet Zhang Yongfu, with its peculiarly inscribed tombstone known as the ‘Tomb of the One Who Will Return’; and Xi Shui Cai Xiang Jing, a man-made canal said to have been created by King Wu with an arrow shot, directing palace maids to Taihu Lake to collect fragrant herbs for Xi Shi.Every year around the Qingming Festival, peonies in full bloom at the Lingyan Peony Garden at the foot of the mountain’s southeast side make it an ideal spot for photography. Visiting at other times may not be as meaningful.
Lingyan Mountain is connected to the east with the ancient town of Mudu, which can be visited together. The history of the ancient town is as ancient as the city of Suzhou itself, featuring several beautiful classical gardens within the town.
Opening hours are from 08:30 to 17:00 all year round. It is advised to avoid weekends and holidays due to the high number of hikers; also, avoid the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month as there will be a large number of people burning incense.
