Shimen Mountain

Shimen Mountain is located in the West Qinling Mountains, 50 kilometers southeast of Beidao District, Tianshui City. It is 2,094 meters above sea level, with lush forests and green mountains. It is surrounded by the golden sky above and the Zhushui River below. Shimen is known as the "Little Huangshan" in Gansu because of its beautiful peaks and mists.

The construction of the temples on the mountain began relatively late in the Ming Dynasty, about 370 years ago. There are more than 20 statues from the Ming and Qing dynasties and 27 ancient buildings preserved. The natural scenery on the mountain is cleverly combined with artificial buildings, forming a seamless whole. The temples and pavilions are hidden among the towering ancient trees, deep and quiet.

The scenery of Shimen Mountain is mainly composed of five peaks: Doumu, Xinglong, Huangtian, Yuling and Qilin. Each peak has its own temple and is connected to each other, so it is also called Wuyang Temple. Huangtian Peak and Doumu Peak stand opposite each other, shaped like door pillars. Juxian Bridge spans between the two peaks. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the bright moon rises from the east, like a jade plate in the sky, engraved between the two peaks, shining brightly, and is known as the "Shimen Night Moon". There are also Gugong Hall and Qiuzu Hall on the western foot of the mountain.

There is an iron bell on the mountain, which was made in the first winter of the Wuchen year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1689). The bell records the four boundaries of Shimen Mountain: the watershed in the east, the Yanziguan River in the south, the Miaoerzui in the west, and the Liangzishu in the north. In addition, there are other wonders such as Liangshan Pine, Bailu Cliff, Hanging Painting Cliff, Nianzitai, and Translucent Mirror.