Qingyuan Mountain National Scenic Area is located in the northern part of Quanzhou, a city with a rich historical and cultural heritage.

It is the only national 5A-level tourist attraction in Quanzhou and has been included in the first batch of China's tentative list for natural and cultural heritage sites. The mountain boasts beautiful natural scenery and a wealth of cultural landmarks, with a long and storied history.

According to local records, human activity on Qingyuan Mountain began during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and expanded significantly during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), reaching its peak during the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties. Over the centuries, extensive development has left the mountain with numerous cultural relics and historical sites.

Among the well-preserved artifacts are seven stone carvings from the Song and Yuan dynasties, over 600 cliffside inscriptions from various periods, and several granite chambers from the Yuan and Ming dynasties (1271-1644) designed to resemble wooden structures.

The most famous sites, including the Laojun statue, the Jiuri Mountain Wind-Praying Inscriptions, and the Islamic Holy Tomb, are national key cultural relics protection units and are part of the "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" application for World Cultural Heritage status.

The Jiuri Mountain Wind-Praying Inscriptions are cliff-face inscriptions recording the ritual ceremonies held by state commissioners in charge of overseas trade. [Photo/lyj.fujian.gov.cn]

The Laojun statue is the biggest Chinese stone statue of its kind and illustrates the presence of Taoism in Quanzhou. [Photo/lyj.fujian.gov.cn]

Qingyuan Mountain National Scenic Area is located in the northern part of Quanzhou, a city with a rich historical and cultural heritage. [Photo/lyj.fujian.gov.cn]