Shibao Mountain,Dali

Located 25 km southwest of Jianchuan County, the Shibao (Stone Treasure) Hills are also called the Shizhong (Stone Bell) Hills. Built during the Tang and Song Dynasties, it is considered an offical historical site.

The Shibaoshan Mountain Scenic Area (Shibaoshan Nature Reserve ) is located in Jiangchuan County in the northwest section of the Dali-Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province. Shibaoshan, also known as Shanbao Mountain (lit. Stone Treasure Mountain), is the southern branch of the Laojun Mountain ranges. It is the center part of the ‘Three Paralled Rivers”, a UNESCO World Nature Heritage Site. Its total area is about 25 square km. the landscape here is fascinating and beautiful. You may find different seasons in the mountain, and experience different weather within the distance fo a few kilometers, as the elevation changes (from 2140 m to 3038 m). Here “The Stone’s in Blossom” (the name of Shibao means ‘Stone Treasure’ in Chinese) matches very well with the natural landscape of red sandstone turtle – back stones from created by a century of rainwater. One could imagine some stone figures to be a stone lion, a flower or a bell. Besides, the Danxia landscape is the most picturesque view of all, and it keeps developing continuously. Shibao Mountain is located in the midst of a picturesque landscape, with a broad view consisting of row upon row of mountain peaks, tranquil valleys, dense green forest, clear springs, and deep-buried ancient temple houses created by skilled Bai workers and talented artisans. Shibao Mountain was designated as the first important National tourist scenic area in China by the State Council in 1982.

Shibao Mountain is well known not only for its breathtaking landscape, but also for its marvelous grottoes. The Shizhongshan Grottoes, known as ‘the gem of the south in Yunnan’, were created by the ancient Bai People in the historical period of the Tang and Song dynasties ( 850 A.D – 1179A.D.). The figures carved in the grottoes, are the kings of the historical Nanzhao period of Yunnan. Buddhas, Boddhisattras, Guardian Kings, and even statues of foreign monks can be found here. Cave No. 6, the hall of the Heavenly Kings, was inspired by Esoteric Buddhism. This representation of the complete set of The Eight heavenly Kings is unique in China, and its form shows Tibetan and Indian influences. Cave No. 1 and No. 2 are a realistic representation of the political life at the Nanzhao court. It allows us to see anew the features and protocol of the King, servants and officials, their implements and their customs. Cave No. 8, Ayangbai (worship of the female reproductive organ), was displayed parallel with the holy Buddhas, Boddhisattras, and Kings. It is rarely seen in other historical sites in the world. The vivid portraits of the foreigners are a witness to the communication between Yunnan and other Asian countries in the old times. For its high value, the Shizhongshan Grottoes were listed as number one in the First Batch of National Major Cultural Relics under the State Protection level in 1961.

Shibao Mountain scenic region is consists of the Shizhong Temple, the Baoxiang Temple and Haiyunju County. One hundred and thirty-nine statues of Buddha in 16 grottoes are scattered throughout Shizhong Temple, and Shiziguan and Shadengqing of the Shizhong Temple section. The Baoxiang Temple section is the most scenic attraction of Shibao Hills. The Baoxiang Temple has a reputation as the "Suspended Temple ". Thousands of stone steps ascend to the Cascade, Stone Tower, Sky Ladder, and Ancient Bridge, halls and pavilions. The gate of the Shibao Hills is in the Haiyunju section.

The optimal season to visit the Shibao Hills is the end of the 7th month and the beginning of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. There is a traditional singing and dancing jamboree held each year, which never fails to enchant visitors.

Jianchuan is 524 km from Kunming. Bus tickets can be purchased from any bus station in Kunming to Jianchuan via Dali.

About 75km to the sonthwest of Lijiang (or 110km to the northwest of Dali)are the Stone Treasure Mountain Grottoes(Shibaoshan Shiku；admission Y30；dawn-dusk)．The local tourism bureau loves to tout purported(but anonymous)scholars who compare them favorably with the grottoes of Dunhuang, Dazu, and Datong．We don’t know anything about that, but this quite large—expansive but not that high—mountain is lovely, with tracts of old—growth Cypress and some fabulous sights． And, yes, this is a Chinese mountain, so there are also the renegade bands of bandit monkeys out there.
 
There are three temple groups:Stone Bell (Shizhong), the most famous； Lion Pass(Shizi Guan)；and Shadeng village(Shadeng Cun)．The Stone Bell monastery group includes some of the best Bai stone carvings in southern China and offer insights into life at the Nanzhao court of the 9th century．One of the best caves features images of Geluofeng, the fourth king of the Nanzhao kingdom．The sculpture of the Eight Kings in China is also among the finest works of Buddhist art in China．And then, ahem, the racy part for which the mountain is rather well known:carvings of female genitalia, which local women visit to boost their fertility．The local tourist PR words, not ours:‘This carving is the only case of engraved vulvas placed on equal terms with the Buddha and God in the world．’Goodness．
 
0n the way to the complex, 6km from the Stone Bell monastery．is the Baoxiang Si (Baoxiang Temple), at the edge of an enormous cliff.

At least 1000 steps lead up to the Golden Summit Temple(Jinding Si)on top of the mountain．
 
From July 27 to August 1 by the lunar calendar the mountain is home to the genuinely touching Festival of Songs, a three—day stretch in which Bai youth come to the mountain and express their love for each other in song．These dates in the western calendar are 27—31 August 2008；15—19 September 2009；and 5-8 September 2010．