Ba Shan is located in the center of Lake Hongze, like a jade gem embedded in the lake. The mountain’s body was formed by geological movement millions of years ago, with strange rocks scattered like sculptures, stalactites, pillars, and peaks of various forms, with the “Sleeping Buddha Stone” being the most lifelike, attracting writers and artists to stop and recite poetry. Climbing to the summit allows you to fully see the vast and misty Hongze Lake, with the lake surface sometimes gently caressing reeds and sometimes a fleeting crane crossing the horizon, making people feel refreshed and relaxed. - At the waist of the mountain, cliff carvings are distributed along the mountain’s shape, with over a hundred places inscribed over the ages, of which “Ba Shan Zen Realm” four characters were written by Qing Dynasty calligrapher Ibingshou. The thousand-year-old temple, Ba Shan Temple, was first built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, with the existing Great Hall of the Sakyamuni Buddha having flying roofs and intricate bracket structures, with copper bells ringing in the eaves with the wind, harmonizing with the morning and evening bells in the mountains, creating a sense of Zen. Inside the temple, there is a stone carving of the “Heart Sutra” written by Ming Dynasty monk Han Shan De Qing, with the characters resembling dragons and snakes, inspiring awe. - According to the “Huai'an Prefecture Chronicle,” Ba Shan was a viewing spot for Su Shi when he cruised Lake Hongze. He wrote about it in “Ba Shan Record,” praising its “misty and strange mountain scenery.” The temple also has a legend that Zheng He prayed here before his voyage. The ancient cypress trees have gnarled branches, and you can still see the remnants of the horse-tie stone troughs. This place is not only a natural wonder but also a living museum where the millennium cultural lineage and faith intersect, with every inch of the mountain stone engraved with the years of time.
