This mountain lies in Liandong village, 30 kilometers away from Niujing township in Binchuan, 100 kilometers away from Dali, and 400 kilometers from Kunming. With its former names as Qingdian mountain, Jiuqu mountain, and Jiuchong cliff, Mount Jizu got its name for the three peaks in its front and one hill at its back which just resembles the shape of a chicken's claw. Connecting Eryuan in the west and Heqing in the north, Mount Jizu stretches over a length of 7 kilometers from east to west, 6 kilometers from south to north, with an area of 2, 822 hectares. Tianzhu Peak, the main peak of the mountain, is 3, 240 meters above sea level.

Mount Jizu, recognized as a multifunctional scenic spot, is characterized by its ecology, offering a set of activities to visitors on trekking, sightseeing, and scientific investigation. The temples on Mount Jizu, first built in the Tang Dynasty, were expanded and renovated during the successive dynasties up till today. The entire architectural complex was built on a large scale, leaving an impression of grandeur with ethnic and religious characteristics.

The most significant hall in this temple is the Majestic Hall. Above the door of it, two plaques are hanging: the plague inscribed by Sun Yat-sen with four characters "Yin Guan Yan Ran" as well as the plague inscribed by Liang Qichao with the characters "Lin Yue Chong Hui" (The holy mountain brightens up). Other architectures in this temple include the Hall of Heavenly Kings, and Bell Tower, together with storehouses in which many valuable cultural relics, calligraphy, and paintings by celebrities are kept. A couplet in Zhusheng temple reads, "Opportunity will escape if one doesn't cherish." Both dialectical and philosophical, this couplet fully illustrates the feeling when ascending Mount Jizu.

A visit to Mount Jizu won't be complete without ascending Jingding Temple. The initial golden temple was moved from the Phoenix Song Mountain in Kunming. This one was rebuilt later. It is located at the highest Tianzhu Peak with an altitude of 3,248 meters. What visitors will see at present is a rectangular yard, with Lengyan Pagoda and other halls arranged along the axis and surrounding monasteries.

Climbing up to the second floor, visitors can enjoy the panorama of the whole mountain and four fantastic views: the splendid sunrise in the east, the auspicious clouds in the south, the vast Erhai Lake in the west, and the magnificent Jade Dragon Sown Mountain (in Li- Jiang, a City 200 kilometers from Dali) in the north. With these, Mount Jizu is also known as "Four Views Observing Mountain".

Photo Resource: Internet

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