Travel Diary: Self-Driving to Zichuan Magnetic Village Town, Mount Tai, Three Religions United, Legendary

Mount Sima Scenic Area is located in the east of Liuwa Dam, Zichuan District, Zibo City, Shandong Province, with an altitude of 162 meters, connected to Oil Head Mountain and Flat Mountain, forming a shape resembling a tripod. The buildings on Mount Sima were rebuilt in 2002.

Drive from Zhangdi, heading west on National Highway 205, continue south through Zichuan, and you will see a towering mountain on the right, with several building groups on it, which is Mount Sima. Park the car and start climbing. Mount Sima is a folk belief sacred site of three religions, after being destroyed by the Cultural Revolution, the local people donated one yuan each to build two small temples at the top, serving as a sacred site.

Due to Mount Sima being a folk religious organization, it is not under the jurisdiction of the local religious affairs bureau, so it has never charged entrance fees. First climb a steep staircase, then enter a Taoist courtyard with a chaotic mansion, a tall three-hole stone archway, standing prominently before you. There are stone carvings of the Four Heavenly Kings on both sides. Pass through the stone archway, you will enter a small courtyard with a stone Maitreya Buddha statue smiling welcomingly from all directions. There are also two rows of side houses, which are the offices of the management personnel.

After passing the Maitreya Buddha, you immediately encountered a steep stone staircase, so long and so steep, really comparable to the southern gate of Nanshan. Without saying anything, let's climb, if we don't reach the peak, it's still called climbing. Actually, the mountain isn't very high, only 162 meters, but it is extremely steep, and it’s a hot summer day, after climbing dozens of steps, you're already drenched in sweat. So you have to rest for a while in the shade of the roadside trees and continue climbing.

Finally, you saw the words ‘South Heavenly Gate’ in three large characters. Looking up from below, South Heavenly Gate is quite magnificent. The pale stone railing leads to a crimson gate, ancient and solemn. After climbing South Heavenly Gate, I was out of breath, and luckily there was a wrought-iron table and chair, so I sat down to rest. Because of the high altitude, the wind is quite cool. After resting, you pass through the stone gate.

Behind it is a Taoist temple, the main hall is the Three Harmony Hall, inside enshrined is the Goddess of the West Lake. There are also bell and drum towers on both sides. Because all the buildings on the mountain were rebuilt in 2002, they look quite new, and the courtyard is kept very clean. The offerings in front of the incense burner are fresh pears. Because it is a folk religious organization, there is no donation box in the temple.

After passing through the right angle door of this temple, it's a spacious courtyard with two low stone walls lying on them are two dragons, quite majestic. Beside it is a row of

The highest point is the famous South Heavenly Gate, also accessible through stone staircases with railings. It seems that the Southern Gate of Nanshan is famous all over the world, many mountains have a Southern Gate like this. Mount Masan in Zichuan also has a South Heavenly Gate. The meaning of South Heavenly Gate has become a synonym for steep and dangerous.

Finally, I reached South Heavenly Gate. Entering South Heavenly Gate, the main hall enshrines Emperor Jade. After turning around from the small hall, there are three halls behind it, called the Great Hall of Sakyamuni. The largest is the Sakyamuni Buddha, the second largest is Laozi, and the third largest is Confucius. This is the famous Three Religions Integration Hall. It is here that the fusion of Chinese traditional culture Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism is truly realized. I think, would they often argue with each other in one room!

Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are inseparable.