Hengshan Mountain of Shanxi

Located in northern Shanxi Province, Hengshan is the northern one of the five sacred mountains in China.

The mountain is connected with the Taihang Mountains in the east and stops at Yanmen in the west. It shields the land of Sanjin in the south and protects the city of Datong in the north. Its 100 peaks are widely scattered on strategic points. In ancient times, troops camped on the mountain, building blockhouses and plank roads along the cliffs. Many ancient relics have been discovered and are well preserved to this day.

The mountain is famous for its "eighteen scenic spots", among which the Xuankong Temple, built in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), is the most renowned. The temple is built at the midpoint of the Cuiping Peak and along the face of a cliff. It faces a deep valley and dangerous rocks are hanging overhead while an abyss is at its foot. The temple is a labyrinth beneath the mountain with some 40 rooms in higher and lower buildings, which are linked by staircases, winding corridors and suspended planks. Besides, the Beiyue Temple, the Cave Feishi, the Taifeng Ridge, the Dazi Bank and the Jinlong Mouth are all popular scenic spots on Mt. Hengshan.