Xiao Nanhai Scenic Area is located 3 kilometers north of Longyou County, on the southern bank of the Qujiang River at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, belonging to Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province, right at the confluence of the Qujiang River and Lingshangang. The area is known for its exceptional scenery where ‘two streams converge, creating a breathtaking view’. According to legend, when Guanyin Bodhisattva returned from the West, she passed by Phoenix Mountain and, seeing the dense bamboo forest, mistook it for the Purple Bamboo Forest of the South Sea. She stopped to meditate and rest, only to discover upon leaving that it was not her sacred place, leaving behind a beautiful and touching story. Since then, Phoenix Mountain has been elegantly named ‘Xiao Nanhai’. On Phoenix Mountain stands the Bamboo Forest Zen Temple, which was originally built during the Ming Dynasty. In the first year of the Xuantong Emperor’s reign (1909), Master Zhong, sent from Nanhai Putuo Mountain, expanded the temple buildings, making it the Nanhai Lineage Temple of the Linji Sect, hence the name ‘Xiao Nanhai’. The temple is magnificent, with a thriving incense burner and a constant stream of visitors.
On the back of the mountain lies the ‘Longyou Grottoes’, known as the ‘Ninth Wonder of the World’. The Longyou Grottoes are characterized by their grand scale, ingenious and scientific design, fresh construction marks, majestic presence, magnificent beauty, and exquisite craftsmanship, making them a unique sight. Entering the grottoes feels like traveling back in time to ancient times. The ‘age of excavation’, ‘excavators’, and ‘purpose’ of the grottoes remain an eternal mystery.
Xiao Nanhai boasts a serene environment with buildings that follow the natural contours of the mountain, creating a picturesque and pleasant scenery with green hills and clear waters, complemented by ancient trees. The mountains, waters, caves, and temples blend harmoniously, captivating visitors. The river’s oasis, with lush grass, widespread reeds, dense poplars, and streams filled with piles of pebbles and patches of white sand, is an ideal place for vacations, leisure, and entertainment. The entire scenic area integrates natural and cultural landscapes, offering sightseeing, historical reflection, and religious pilgrimages in one location. The specific opening hours and business status are subject to the daily conditions of the site.
