Lying just outside Lianyungang, the Yuntai Mountains have remained somewhat of a mystery throughout the ages. Ranging over thirty kilometers, the mountain range consists of about 136 peaks as well as the Eastern and Western Liandao, which is a nearby cluster of islands. Yunu Mountain (Jade Goddess Mountain) is the highest peak in the range and the highest also in Jiangsu Province. The mountains possess an alluring natural beauty, and with different varieties of rare trees, flowers, and other flora, which add elegance and charm to the mountains, and fill the air with fragrance year-round. Hua Guo Mountain, which is featured in Journey to the West, is a part of this mountain range.
Over the centuries, the Yuntai Mountains have been one of the four most important mountains for spiritual understanding and enlightenment in China. Since the Sui and Tang dynasties, Buddhists and Taoists, along with their disciples, have been here erecting temples and pagodas, ushering in a great number of pilgrims, believers, and scholars to make an offering of incense, to pray, or to partake in other spiritual activities. The largest temple in the mountains is Sanyuan, which was built during the Ming Dynasty. The monastery used to have a total of thirty-six units, consisting of the Scripture Storing Pavilion, Everlasting Convent, Grand Buddha Temple, Jade Emperor's Palace and the Hall of Ksitigarbha, as well as the Southern Heavenly Gate. Unfortunately these buildings were destroyed by the Japanese invaders but were reconstructed afterwards.
Yulin Temple also used to be situated in these hills, but the original site has now become a reservoir. However, there are still numerous inscriptions on large rocks and cliffs nearby which are left over from many dynasties, including the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing. Written in seal, official, regular and running-hand calligraphy styles, they are collectively known as the Stone Inscriptions of Yulin Temple. Carved on a large piece of rock is the Tang Dynasty Official Script, which is composed of 393 characters, while the Song Seal Script totals 102 characters, each thirty inches in size.
