Introduction to the Yandi Statue in Laodingshan, Changzhi Hurry! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Five kilometers northeast of Changzhi City, there is a large mountain running north to south. This is Baigu Mountain, commonly known as Laoding Mountain. This mountain has an area of ​​more than 40 square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of 70%. It is composed of five peaks from north to south, so it is also called Wuding Mountain. These five peaks are called Laoding, Nanding, Yuhuangding, Nainaiding and Xinding. It was designated as a national forest park in 1993. According to legend, Emperor Yan (Shen Nong), the ancestor of the Chinese nation, once "tasted grass, cultivated grass, taught people to cultivate, and started farming" here, realizing a major transition for mankind from nomadic to settled, and from fishing and hunting to agriculture. "Taiping Huanyu Ji" records: "Baigu Mountain is connected to Taihang and Wangwu. It has wind tunnels, spring valleys, and deep cliffs and ravines. It is the most beautiful place. In the past, Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs and obtained grains here, so he built temples because of the famous mountain."

< p> The main attraction in Laodingshan Scenic Area is Laodingshan National Forest Park. The park is located in the northeast of Changzhi City, 3 kilometers away from the city, adjacent to Huguan and Pingshun counties in the east, and Lucheng City in the north, covering an area of ​​more than 40 square kilometers. The mountain is mostly composed of Lower Paleozoic Cambrian and Ordovician limestone, with the highest altitude being 1,378 meters. The park consists of more than 40 peaks with five tops, 9 ridges, 18 valleys, and more than 30 natural caves. The forest area is 30,000 acres, and the forest coverage rate reaches 74%. The natural landscape is ethereal and beautiful, including more than 10 places such as the lion lying on its post, the sky-gazing stone, the chrysanthemums on the stone clusters, the sea of ​​rocks with slight waves, the five fingers reaching up to the sky, and the dangerous cliffs towering into the sky. The cultural landscape is extensive and rich, mainly including Jiulong Palace, Zushi Temple, cliff carvings, ancient mountain climbing roads, ancient fish ponds, Nanya Palace, Chaoyang Cave, Ancient Cold Spring, Shennong Well, Baigu Cave, Leisi Cave, etc. The rich cultural landscape of Laoding Mountain is because the Chinese ancestor Yan Emperor Shennong achieved a major turning point in human history here from fishing and hunting to farming, from nomadic to settled, and created the ancient civilization of the Chinese nation. This is also the reason why Laoding Mountain The main line and focus of mountain development and construction.

In the garden, there are green pines and cypresses, fragrant peaches and plums, hazy ancient caves, and winding paths. The Shennong Peak tourist area is located at the main entrance of the park. Here, there is a group of statues centered on the tallest bronze statue of Emperor Yan in Asia. There are mythological statues such as Emperor Yan sitting leisurely on the sacred bull, Nuwa mending the sky, Jingwei filling the sea, and Chang'e flying to the moon. It takes tourists into a wonderful mythical world. Climb up the winding paths in the forest from the foot of the mountain, and when you step into the tribal cave, you can see scenes of production activities where human ancestors gathered to discuss affairs and work in farming and weaving. Stepping onto Shennong Pavilion, you can remember the achievements of your ancestors and reminisce about human history, while also looking into the distance and enjoying the rows of high-rise buildings in modern cities and the vast countryside. Climbing to the TV broadcast station on the main peak of Laoding Mountain, you can see as far as the eye can see, green mountains and peaks. Laoding Mountain

Laoding Mountain is the highest of the five peaks, with an altitude of 1,378 meters. It is one of the main peaks in the southwestern Taihang Mountains. Climbing to the top of Laoding, you can see the scattered high-rise buildings, well-organized roads, and panoramic views of the city. From a distance, you can see the Zhangze Reservoir, which is like a ribbon, floating in the sky, and the Shangdang Basin can be seen at a glance. On the northeast peak of Laoding, there is a peak formed by natural boulders. It is high on the ridges and looks like a crouching lion. It is Shiluan Peak. "Changzhi County Chronicles" once recorded that someone in the Qing Dynasty once praised this peak: "Beiyu has lions and elephants, and he dominates this country ferociously. Woyun peaks are stacked on top of each other, and the holes and streams are gurgling." To the southeast of Laoding, there is a jungle. , has a wide slope. The large rocks on the slope seem to be arranged artificially. From a distance, they look like waves rising from the sea. This is the "Dead Sea Wave" landscape. On the undulating Jiulong Ridge, walking among the winding ancient roads, there is a huge rock on the back of the ridge facing west. The rock surface is flat and smooth. When the sun is high in the sky, the rock surface is green and glowing, shining. Uncertain, like a mirror. People call it "Jiantian Stone". To the south of Laoding, there is a peak standing with a flat top and lush vegetation. This is Nanding, also known as the dressing table. There was originally a two-story brick building on the mountain, but now it has collapsed and nothing remains. Only the stone ramming remains, and the bricks and tiles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are scattered on the ramming. There are five huge rocks on a peak south of Nanding. The five rocks are like five jade pillars, reaching straight up to the sky. They are commonly known as the "Five Tops of Heaven". It is majestic and breathtaking. Yuhuangding and Nainaiding are located on the Yudian side of Digusi Village. The mountains are gentle and continuous, densely covered with pines and cypresses, and the two tops are connected with each other. Jade Emperor Peak is located on Nainai Peak. It is composed of a natural boulder, 17 meters long and 19 meters wide. It houses the Jade Emperor Temple, commonly known as the Nine Gates and Nine Temples. It has a unique architectural style and is still well preserved. The grandma's head is placed on a flat spot halfway up the Jade Emperor's Peak. It was originally built with a "Bixia Yuanjun Palace" - a seat facing north and south. It is now a torch tower. The two top strokes echo each other, creating lush greenery and deep scenery. The new roof is low and flat, surrounded by arborvitae trees, neat and green, and the environment is elegant.

Standing on the Xinding Observation Tower, you can see the majestic Old Roof, the majestic Jade Emperor Roof, and the wonderful Grandma Roof. When the clouds and fog rise, the sea of ​​clouds and heavy fog surround the mountainside, which is very interesting. Laoding Mountain not only has beautiful mountains and lush forests, but also has many natural caves with different scenery. There are more than 30 caves, large and small, mostly located in the steep cliffs and deep valleys in the middle of the mountain. Some are small and exquisite, some are spacious and deep, some are several caves side by side, or the caves are connected. Most of them are related to Yan Emperor Shennong, Taoism, Xianshi, Related to literati.

Introduction to attractions

Shennong Cave

Halfway up the mountain due east of Digu Temple, there is Shennong Cave, which is said to be the place where Shennong tasted herbs. The entrance of the cave faces west and is carved out of a natural bluestone. The entrance of the cave is 1.7 meters high and about 1 meter wide. The inside of the cave is 5.7 meters wide, 6 meters deep and about 3 meters high. On the left side of the cave entrance is a rectangular stone wall, which looks like a natural stone plaque. The outside of the cave is flat, with green grass and surrounded by pines and cypresses. It is difficult to find it without someone to guide you. Being in the cave, a feeling of admiration for the ancestors arises spontaneously. Halfway up the mountainside of Yuhuangding, there is a natural cave with mountains on two sides and a valley on the back. The cave is 6 meters wide and 11 meters deep. There is a small hole inside. The cave walls are exquisite and flooded. There are five stone carvings in the cave, which are clearly preserved. , especially the inscriptions "Shu Gu Xingzhi", "Shu Gu Xingzhi", "Song Zhi Pingzhong" and "Song Zhi Ping Zhong" inscribed by the Secretary of the Song Dynasty supervising the military affairs and describing the ancient travel history. The fonts are smooth and the carvings are vigorous, just like stone patterns.

Nanya Palace

Halfway up the southeast side of Xinding, there is the largest natural cave in Laoding Mountain, called "Nanya Palace". The entrance of the cave is an antique gate, and above it is a colorful enameled pavilion. The cave is wide. The stream is tens of meters high and covers an area of ​​about 500 square meters. The seed milk droops on the roof of the cave and the walls of the cave are uneven. The belly of the cave is naturally divided into two holes: the inner and outer holes. The outer cave is dedicated to the statue of the ancestor god, and opposite is the statue of Avalokitesvara. The inner cave is slightly taller and wider than the outer cave, with numerous animal statues carved on the four walls. Another door opens on the stone wall on the right side of the cave, leading into a cave of about 20 square meters and 2.5 meters high. In the center of the cave is a statue of Tathagata Buddha, with uneven reliefs of Eighteen Arhats on both sides. The craftsmanship is exquisite and both the spirit and form are ready to be seen.

Ancient Cold Spring

In addition to the numerous caves in Laoding Mountain, there is also a "wonderful cold spring". There is a sweet clear spring in Digusi Village. The plaque at the entrance of the cave is inlaid with the regular script "Guhanquan" left by the Qing Dynasty. The ancient cold spring is Baigu Spring, also known as Shennong Spring. "Lu'an Prefecture Chronicles" says: "The Baigu Spring is located in front of the Shennong Temple on Baigu Mountain. The spring comes from a whetstone. The monks of the temple led it into a stream and poured it into a pond. It flew down from the mouth of the river into a large ravine and poured into the Shizi River. It has a sweet taste." There is a relief dragon head in the style of the Song Dynasty at the entrance of the cave, and a crouching dragon is carved at the mouth of the spring. The dragon's mouth is open, and below it is a small round stone well with an exquisite layout. Zhongqianhan Spring was listed as one of the eight scenic spots in ancient Lu County, and many legends have been passed down to this day. The most representative example is: when the Baigu Temple was first built, the grain was dripping from the stone dragon's mouth continuously, unhurriedly, and the flow was endless. It was just enough for all the craftsmen and monks to use. When the construction was completed, the grain was collected at the dragon's mouth. The little monk gradually felt monotonous, so he poked the dragon's mouth a few times with camphor, and suddenly ten pairs of white pigeons flew out of the dragon's mouth. From then on, the dragon's mouth no longer dripped grain, and only a thin stream of spring water came out. The white pigeon landed in Huguan and turned a mountain peak into a white mountain.

Bronze Statue of Emperor Yan

There are many legends about Emperor Yan and relics of Emperor Yan’s activities in Laoding Mountain. The development centered on Emperor Yan has made Laoding Mountain the mountain of ancestors, and its cultural connotation It has a long history, comparable to the large locust tree in Hongdong, Shanxi. In memory of Emperor Yan, the cultural relics management department invested more than 5 million yuan to build a bronze statue of Emperor Yan, with a total weight of 100 tons. It was designed by the famous Chinese sculptor Mr. Qian Shaowu. The foundation stone was laid on September 1, 1990, and the installation was completed in October 1995. The bronze statue of Emperor Yan on the base is a full-body standing statue with disheveled hair and bare arms. The upper body is covered with animal skins and the lower body is covered with leaves. The slightly raised hands hold a sheaf of grains. The expression on his face is solemn and solemn, with an extraordinary bearing. It is designed in the image of a deified person, which highlights the worship and respect for ancestors. The bronze statue faces the direction of Changzhi City, as if Emperor Yan, the ancestor of China, is still watching his descendants with concern.

Stone Stele

The giant stone stele on the left side of the bronze statue is 6 meters long and 3 meters high. It is engraved with an inscription about the glorious achievements of Emperor Yan here. The platform on which the bronze statue is placed is surrounded by white marble railings and surrounded by slope protection. The total height of the bronze statue is 39 meters, of which the statue is 25 meters high, the base is 14 meters high, 24 meters wide and 29 meters long.

The base is divided into two parts. The first part has three floors, each floor is 2 meters high, with white granite veneer on the surface and connected by steps. The second part is the exhibition hall, 8 meters high on the outside, red granite veneer and inlaid on the front. An 8-meter-long and 5-meter-high relief sculpture of an ox head laid on copper plates. The reason why the cow head is engraved is because the Yandi clan uses cows as their "totem", that is, their clan's patron saint. This also implies Yandi's immortal contribution to domesticating livestock and creating agriculture. Entering the exhibition hall from the steps behind the pedestal, the great contribution of Emperor Yan in creating ancient human agricultural civilization is displayed here in the form of pictures, text descriptions, physical objects, etc. The middle of the bronze statue of Emperor Yan is empty. You can go up the spiral staircase to the ear of the chest of Emperor Yan. This is a viewing platform that can accommodate 20 people. Standing at such a height, you can have a panoramic view of the Shangdang Basin, including the city outline, Farmhouses, high-rise buildings, and fields are all a myriad of sights, which evoke a sense of greatness and humility in people, as well as a sense of pride as a descendant of the Yan and Huang Dynasties.

Scenic area construction

In 1992, Laodingshan National Forest Park was established with the approval of the Ministry of Forestry. In March 1994, the Shanxi Provincial Forestry Survey and Design Institute completed the "Laodingshan National Forest Park Master Plan". According to the plan, the park can be divided into four scenic spots with different functions and distinctive features. The first is the animal breeding and viewing area, which mainly breeds and breeds endangered wild animals, economic animals and ornamental animals for protection, viewing and picnic consumption. The second is the forestry research and investigation area. Located in the southeastern part of the park, the area has a complete range of site conditions and varied forest landscapes, which can be used for visitors' viewing, scientific research and teaching activities. The third is Laoding Scenic Area, located in the middle of Laoding Mountain, where natural landscapes are concentrated for tourists to enjoy the natural scenery. The fourth is the Shennong Peak Scenic Area, which is the core and soul of the park. It mainly displays the great achievements of Emperor Yan, allowing people to remember the achievements of their ancestors and reminisce about human history. After the entire project is completed, 10 natural landscapes and 44 scenic spots will be open to tourists. Summit Pavilions

In recent years, Laodingshan Forest Park has proposed the main line of development and construction with the Chinese ancestor Yan Emperor Shennong as the soul of the park. In the development and construction, Emperor Yan was highlighted in Shangdang, and Emperor Yan made contributions to Baigu Mountain. According to historical legends, all-round development and construction has been carried out around the Yandi Shennong clan. It has successively invested in the restoration of the Xinding Digu Temple, the reconstruction of the Jiulong Palace Scenic Area, and the construction of new park entrance gates, entertainment slides, Shennong Ancestor Baicao Hall and other entertainment service facilities and tourist attractions. Laodingshan Forest Park has become a green barrier and Feng Shui treasure land in Changzhi City. It is particularly worth mentioning that in order to develop the relics of our ancestor Yan Emperor Shennong who tasted herbs and developed agriculture in the Taihang Mountains, realizing a major transition in human history from nomadic to settled, from fishing and hunting to farming, the Changzhi Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government have established a A grand Yandi Memorial Hall was built at the place where he used to taste hundreds of herbs. Now, a giant bronze statue of Emperor Yan, 39 meters high and the tallest in Asia, stands on the top of Baigu Mountain. The sacrificial altar, hall, and landscapes such as Baicao Hall, Shennong Well, Shennong Spring, Leisi Cave, Shennong Village, and Stele Inscriptions with bronze statues as the main body are under preparation.