The Lion Mountain Scenic Area

The Lion Mountain Scenic Area

The Lion Mountain (Shi Zi Shan) Scenic Area is 3 km in the west of Wuding 
county seat, Chuxiong Prefecture. With the highest point being 2,451 meters
 above the sea level, the mountain is named after its resemblance to a 
crouching lion.

The Lion Mountain Scenic Area is mainly composed of tourist sights such as
 Zhengxuxian Buddhist Temple, Peony Garden, forests and grotesque rocks etc.
 Known for its magnificence, wonderfulness, antiquity and elegance, the Lion
 Mountain is dubbed as “the first mountain in the southwest”.

(1)-Zhengxuxian Buddhist Temple
Originally erected in 1331, the temple was once enlarged by an Indian Buddhist
 master named Zhi Kong. The Majestic Hall of the temple looks quite magnificent
 with an ancient cypress in the front. Couplets and inscriptions on the pavilions 
and stone steles around enrich greatly the cultural connotations of the temple.
 Zhu Yunwen or Jianwen Emperor (1377-?), the grandson of Zhu Yuanzhang who is
 the founder of the Ming Power, is said to be a monk in the temple after his
 throne was stone by his uncle Zhu Di.   

Zhi Kong master chose the Lion Mountain for preaching and sponsored enlargement
 to Zhengxuxian Temple. He then went to South Korea for further preaching hence
 is worshiped by South Koreans. 

(2)-The Peony Garden
The Peony Garden covers an area of more than 100 Mu (Chinese acre). Since the
 1990s when peonies were first introduced to the Lion Mountain from Luoyang and
 other places of China, the Peony Garden has been grown with over 10,000 peony 
plants of over 60 kinds. A theme festival for peony flowers is annually held 
from April 20-May 10.