Literally translated as ‘Green Cliff Mountain’, Cangyan Shan is enclosed by a dramatically scenic region in the Chinese province of Hebei, about 50kms southwest of Shijiazhuang. Its highest peak towers 1,000 meters above the eastern end of the Taihang mountain range, which is densely covered with verdant cypress trees.
The most renowned building complex on Cangyan Shan is Fu Qing Si, the elegant Fortune Celebration Temple that dates back to the Sui Dynasty. Fifty-two meters up on the almost vertical face of the mountain, this unique monastery balances on top of an arch bridge which is constructed from 365 stone blocks and spans a narrow cleft. Under the bridge, a staircase with over 360 stone steps leads up to the peak.
The diverse structures of the temple are well integrated into the topography of Mt Cangyan and comprise Tablets House, the Hall of the Giant Buddha, the Buddhist Canon Depository, the Hall of the Heavenly Kings and Bridge Tower Hall (Qiáo Lóu), which is the central landmark of the monastery complex.
The buildings are designed in Sui style and feature colorful roofs and lovely attached gardens that can be accessed by an undemanding two-hour walk along a winding cliff path.
Getting There & Away
Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport receives flights from more than 30 destinations, with the flight from Beijing taking around 22 minutes. The fastest train from Beijing reaches Shijiazhuang Railway Station within 2 hours. In summer, there are daily minibuses running from Shijiazhuang to the monastery, with the journey taking 2 hours, 30 minutes. Out of season, you can take a bus from the city’s long-distance bus station to Jingxing County, from where you can hire a motor-rickshaw for the last 10kms. During the wintertime, the path up to the temple is occasionally impassable due to snowfall.