Guanyinshan Scenic Area, Guanyin Lake Introduction
Guanyin Mountain, located at the boundary of Renwu and Dashu, was formerly known as "Cui Ping Rock." At an elevation of only 177 meters, it is one of the top ten famous mountains in Kaohsiung and is listed as the 075th peak in the Minor Hundred Peaks. Its main peak resembles Guanyin seated, surrounded by other peaks, which inspired its name. It is a popular choice for fitness, hiking, and religious pilgrimage, attracting many visitors during holidays. The Guanyin Mountain area is vast, predominantly consisting of iron-rich sandy rock that is soft and fine, making it suitable for barefoot walking, hence it is also called Barefoot Park. Additionally, it features the renowned "Eight Scenic Views of Guanyin," including Cui Ping Sunset, Golden Bell Spiritual Terrace, Stone Drum Shaking the Mountain, Ancient Tree Immortal Footsteps, Stone Brush Sprouting, Guanyin Ascending to the Sky, Lotus Pond Night Moon, and Heavenly Cave Morning Dawn, each with its own unique beauty. There are numerous hiking trails on Guanyin Mountain. For first-time visitors, it is recommended to plan a popular trail route. You can park your car at the Guanyin Mountain No. 7 public parking lot and start the hike to the main peak from the "Feng Yi Temple" trailhead at the back of the parking lot. Although the stone steps are steep and challenging, the scenery improves as you ascend, allowing for休憩along the way to enjoy the beautiful views. Upon reaching the highest point of Guanyin Mountain, you'll find a military tunnel called "Tian Dong," excavated during the Japanese occupation, representing the "Tian Dong Morning Dawn" of the Eight Scenic Views of Guanyin. The nearby Guanyin Pavilion is commonly a resting spot for many hikers to brew tea. Climbing up to the viewing platform and the "triangulation point" for photos, you'll see the North Peak and Middle Peak of Guanyin Mountain; this route is the fastest way to reach the summit. Following the downhill trail leads to the "Environmental Park," which is flat and spacious, equipped with public restrooms. Continuing down, you’ll gradually find some vendors; take a seat to taste natural aiyu jelly, cooling off from the heat. On weekends, the market at "Dajue Temple" allows you to shop; this route is the shortest hiking path up Guanyin Mountain, approximately 2.5 kilometers long, which can be completed in about an hour at a leisurely pace. Guanyin Lake is located on the southern side of Guanyin Mountain, originally named Governor's Pond. Its calm and clear waters and good ecological environment attract many migratory birds. Covering an area of 30 hectares, Guanyin Lake is divided into inner and outer lakes, serving the tasks of irrigation, water storage, and flood control. Its stunning mountain and water scenery is a must-visit secret spot after hiking the trails of Guanyin Mountain. The Eight Scenic Views of Guanyin: 1. Cui Ping Sunset: At the foot of Guanyin Mountain, there is a large rock surrounded by mountains on three sides, gathering wind and energy. It is said that Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty admired this area's beauty and named it "Cui Ping Rock." The "Cui Ping Sunset," one of the Eight Scenic Views of Fengshan, refers to this scenic spot. Climbing Guanyin Mountain is pleasant during the day, but experiencing the magnificent sunset at dusk embodies the beauty of "Cui Ping Sunset." 2. Golden Bell Spiritual Terrace: Located 30 meters southeast of Huafu Road's starting point, half of it has been removed due to road widening. You can follow the steps from the roadside to reach the ancient pavilion, which has an old anonymous couplet describing the legend of the Cui Ping Rock Temple's establishment. 3. Stone Drum Shaking the Mountain: This spot is located outside the southern wall of Dajue Temple, at the top of three pavilions. In the 1940s, mountain springs still flowed here. In the 1990s, due to renovations at Dajue Temple, the three pavilions were dismantled, and it has since been turned into an artificial waterfall. It is said that in ancient times, when the temple's bells and drums sounded, the echoes from the stone drum resonated, shaking the mountains. 4. Ancient Tree Immortal Footsteps: The ancient banyan tree originally grew on top of the stone drum, sprawling widely enough to accommodate several dozen people resting. In the 1970s, when the stone drum was no longer present, the banyan tree gradually withered, and due to pests, it had decayed by the 1980s. The current banyan tree is a new planting from the 1980s. 5. Stone Brush Sprouting: Located next to an ancient well on the northern section of the round mountain trail, this plateau rises and resembles a stone pillar, about 30 meters high, with its end resembling brush hairs. Under the moonlight, the shaft reflects the moon, and the brush tip appears dark, standing out alone. 6. Guanyin Ascending to the Sky: Among the three major peaks of Guanyin Mountain (Zhou Zi Keng Wei, Monkey Mountain, Chicken Zha Wei), Zhou Zi Keng Wei is the main peak, resembling Guanyin seated. The view extends from Anping to Fengbitou. This mountain has been flattened three times; the first was during the Japanese era to create a gun platform; the second occurred in the 1980s when the military expanded field operations and built a large water reservoir; the third was in the 1990s when a wooden viewing platform was constructed, obscuring the original shape of Guanyin Mountain seated. From there, Dongdi Mountain appears as its base mountain, with Warm Mountain and Half Screen Mountain flanking it. 7. Lotus Pond Night Moon: In front of Guanyin Ascending to the Sky, to the north is Kecai Pond, which irrigates 43 acres of farmland but has since shrunk; to the south is Dapu, which has been divided into several smaller ponds, previously serving as the large water reservoir of the old San Naitan. This area is closest to Guanyin Mountain and hence its name. 8. Tian Dong Morning Dawn: At the end of World War II, the Japanese excavated a military tunnel about 100 meters long on Zhou Zi Keng Wei, running from west to east. As the terrain descends, this ridgeline offers a view of the rolling mountains in the morning light.
