Part IV.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
IN EASTERN GANSU
Wushan
A Brief Summary
Wushan is located in the southeastern part of Gansu,
north of the Qinling Mountains and the upper reaches of the
Wei River. Itf s population is about 400,000 and it has an
area of 2011 square km. The average temperature is O. 6 de-
grees centigrade and the average rainfall is S00 mm.
Wushan enjoys exceptional advantages in natural re-
sources mainly in mandarin duck jade (serpentine), jasper,
marble, dolomite, granite and others. The serpentine and
iasper deposits are the third largest in the world.
With the Qinling Mountains in the south and the Wei
River flowing through, Wushan also has beautiful scenery.
The Silk Road passed through Wushan. Along the southern
and northern banks of the Wei River are scattered 36 arche-
ological sites of the ancient Yangshao, Maj3ayao and Qijia
Cultures which are interesting tourist sites.
Scenic Spots
Wushan Hot Springs
Wushan Hot Springs are at the foot of the luxuriantly
green Luzi Hills in Wenquan Township, Wushan County.
The daily volume of the eleven hot prings is 800 tons which
flow forth from the green hillsides. In the 1950's,Wushan
Mineral Spring Sanatorium and the Sanatouium of the
Lanzhou Railway Bureau were established and each year re-
ceive tens of thousands of patients and tourists.
It was a well--known stop on the Silk Road during the
prosperous'years of the Tang Dynasty; streams of western
patients came here to bathe in the "magic waters".
In general, the most theraputic elements in the mineral
spring water are radioactive redon, sodium bicarbonate and
sulphite ;few other springs in the world have these elements
in such abundance for medical purposes. Wushan Springs
are a radon spring satisfying human needs for trace elemnts
such as radon present in the vapor which reaches fifteen
nano. The clear, soft and pure water has an ideal natural
temperature of from 38 to 45 degrees centigrade. After thir-
ty years of research and experience, the staff has mastered
the use of radioactivity, ion exchange, and massage, all of
which have valuable curative effects on various types of dis-
eases. These treatments also promote resistance to disease
and enhance the longevity of the healthy. Recently other tra-
ditional methods and advanced technologies have been
adopted such as acupuncture and electric, magnetic, and
sonic therapies.
Shuilian Dong (Water Curtain Cave)
Shuilian Cave is located in the Lubanxia Mountains
about 25 km to the northeast of Wushan. Statues, relief
sculptures, and murals of the early Northern Wei Dynasty
have been discovered here.
Shuilian Cave consists of seven temples and five ter-
races including Xianling and Laxia Temples, Thousand Bud-
dha, Shuilian, and Sanqing Caves. Shuilian Cave got its
name because the water from several springs in the roof and
walls of the cave gives the appearance of a beautiful,
sparkling curtain of glistening pearls during the rainy sea-
son. The cave is 50 m long,30 m high, and 30 m wide.
At the east of Zhonglu terrace,a 60 m high precipice
extends over Xianling Temple in Luban Gorge. The figures
of Sakyamuni sitting at the Lianhua Terrace with Bod-
hisattvas on either side are carved into its face. The figure
of Sakyamuni is 41 m high and occupies over half of the cliff
face. This is the famous Laxiao Carved Fresco which is
about 1,400 ~,years old.
About half a kilometer away, oppostie the Laxiao Tem-
ple is a group of mountains surrounding Shuilian Cave which
give the appearance of a lotus, thus the name "Lotus Moun-
tainstr. Half way up one of the mountains is a pavilion for
vistors to rest in.
The Shuilian Curtain is easiest to see when it rains;
when it rains it creates a beautiful white waterfall. Among
the trees below the falls is the colorful Bodhisattva Pavilion;
below this flows the Bodhisattva Spring which is clear as a
mirror and sweet as dew.
Though not very large, Shuiliang Cave Grotto is a his-
torical and scenic gem deserving a visit.
Muti Temple
Muff Temple is about 35 km away from Wushan. It is
built on a mountain top of half a square kilometer. It is said
that in ancient times the top was accessible only by a single
wooden ladder ("mu ti"), thus its name. The temple is sor-
rounded by cliffs and trees, and can be entered only through
a single iron gate. The whole temple seems to'be a group of
relief sculptures inlaid among the green bushes, so it is also
named ~"Ling Temple"- --"Temple Among Bushestr.
Muff Temple has four temples, over 80 statues, 18
grottoes, and 234 murals covering 2,100 square meters;
these were all constructed during various dynasties.
Of the 18 grottoes, #5 and #7 are the best preserved.
5 is 4.9 m high, 6.7 m wide and 5.4 m deep and holds
eleven statues. The chief statue is that of Dipamkara, which
stands 2. 3 m tall; the rest include Tathagata, King Ras-
mipradhasa, Manjusri, and Samantadhadra£» all bear a
strong Tang Dynasty style.
Grotto # 7 is smaller and has only 8 statues, five of
which stand and three sit. The main statue is that of Sakya-
muni~ there are also two Buddhas, four Bodhisattvas and
one arhat. These statues are very lifelike and full of expres-
sion. Standing in Muti Temple, looking over the beauty of
the environment is an intoxicating experience.
Folk Legends
In the Bodhisattva Pavilion in the Shuilian Cave, there
is a plain clay sculpture of a calm, beautiful lady, It is said
that during the time of Emporer We,dj of the Sui Dynasty,
the Southern Sea Guanyin was reborn in Lijazhuang Village
nearby and named Li Xiuzhen. This village abounded in
hemp and the cloth of hemp she wove was more beautiful
than silk and satins she was honored as the "Hemp Girl".
When her brother and his wife tried to force her to marry
the son of a~rich family. She escaped and fled to Shuilian
Cave where she died in a sitting posture. When her brother
and his wife heard the news they came to see for them-
selves. She took the broom and fire stick from their hands
and stuck them into the ground where they immediateil took
root and became trees. Even today,there are two ancient
trees in the courtyard, one named "Broom Tree", the other
named "Firestick Tree". The exact species of the trees have
not been determined.
Local Products
Wushan Rice
This rice was used as imperial tribute rice and is men-
tioned in a line from a famous poem:" August swells the
golden paddy field; October brings silver rice". Mainly pro-
duced in the six local valleys, it is said to be especially deli-
cious because of the effects of the hot springs in the area.
Moonlight Cups
Sculptured from mandarin jade, the cups have a jadite
color, are beautifully veined, and have a shiny luster;thin
as paper, they seem to glow when filled with wine in the
moonlight.
Longquan Vermicelli
Made from local high quality beans using the"
Longquan Vermicelli" process, it won the title of Top Qual-
ity Rural Industry Product for its shiny white color and ex-
cellent qualities of maintaining its form during cooking.