Fangshan Mountain, Luzhou, Sichuan

Fangshan Mountain is a well-known Buddhist sacred site in Luzhou and the entire Southwest region. On the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, the incense never ceases, and devotees gather in large numbers.

Legend has it that Fangshan is composed of ninety-nine peaks, and from a distance, it looks square-shaped, hence the name "Fangshan" (Square Mountain).

When I was a child, my elders would bring me here to worship Buddha, praying for academic success and good health. The journey back then was long and far—being pulled out of a warm bed before dawn, half-asleep boarding a bus, then transferring to a ferry, and then another bus. After a bumpy ride, we often arrived at the foot of the mountain by noon. I remember the mountain air mixed with the scent of incense and the distant echoes of temple bells.

As an adult, revisiting the place no longer feels so "far"—the newly built road has greatly shortened the trip, taking less than an hour from the city center. The scenery along the way remains the same, but time has changed the way we see things. I’m not sure if the city has grown smaller or if our hearts have grown bigger.

The faces accompanying me up the mountain have changed one after another, but the mountain remains unchanged, quietly watching over the coming and going of believers and travelers. People believe in the power of nature to bring balance and positive energy to body and mind. Whether it’s devout worship or quiet contemplation, the mountain’s tranquility always soothes the restlessness of the world.

Of course, for many, Fangshan is not only a spiritual home but also a feast for the taste buds. Free-range chickens from the countryside are more fragrant, wild vegetables from the mountain are more tender, and farmhouse meals made with spring water have an indescribable sweetness. Perhaps that’s why city dwellers are always willing to “cross five mountains” to come here, just to breathe the mountain air, enjoy an authentic farmhouse meal, and find a bit of simple happiness.
Luzhou Fangshan Scenic Area

Post by cambered.deeanna | Oct 23, 2025