Langyashan Mountain Scenic Zone

Langyashan Mountain Scenic Zone is located in the mountains, five kilometers far from the west of Chuzhou city. Anciently called Motuoling, it is named after Langyang King, who lived in East Jin Dynasty and sheltered here.

This scenic zone is comprised of Langyashan Mountain, Chengxi Lake, Gushan Lake, Hugu four scenic zones. The total area is 114 square kilometers; the main peaks are Muotuoling, Phoenix Mountain, Dafeng Mountain, Xiaofeng Mountain and Langyashan Mountain. The main attractions are forests, deep caves, lakes and running springs and streams. The rich cultural and historical sites are also attractive. The Langya Temple established in Tang Dynasty, a large amount of ancient relics and cultural sites of Piaojiadun, the Kwan-yin painting, created by Wu Daozi( in Chinese, 吴道子，who is a very famous Chinese painter in Tang Dynasty, and he is good at the painting on religion and characters ), carved on the stele; the cliff stele carving created by Li Youqing of Tang Dynasty and so on. Many famous celebrities in ancient China went there for relaxation. Langyashan Mountain is one of 24 cultural mountains in China. In 1988, it was listed to be the second batch of national-level scenic zone.

This mountain is also one of Chinese important Buddhism sites; Langya Temple is the famous attraction here. So many famous people visited here and left so many famous relics. Among these attractions, the most famous site is Zuiweng Pavilion, which was famous as the NO.1 Pavilion on the earth for Ouyang Xiu’s great article The Story of the Old Drunkard Tower，which was written by Ouyang Xiu when he was demoted to be a small official in Chuzhou. The ancient Bixia Palace is also famous as the Taoist site.

The English Version of  醉翁亭记 （The Story of the Old Drunkard Tower ）

环滁皆山也。其西南诸峰，林壑尤美。望之蔚然而深秀者，琅琊也。山行六七里，渐闻水声潺潺，而泻出于两峰之间者，酿泉也。峰回路转，有亭翼然临于泉上者，醉翁亭也。作亭者谁？山之僧智仙也。名之者谁？太守自谓也。太守与客来饮于此，饮少辄醉，而年又最高，故自号曰“醉翁”也。醉翁之意不在酒，在乎山水之间也。山水之乐，得之心而寓之酒也。

若夫日出而林霏开，云归而岩穴暝，晦明变化者，山间之朝暮也。野芳发而幽香，佳木秀而繁阴，风霜高洁，水落而石出者，山间之四时也。朝而往，暮而归，四时之景不同，而乐亦无穷也。

至于负者歌于途，行者休于树，前者呼，后者应，伛偻提携，往来而不绝者，滁人游也。临溪而渔，溪深而鱼肥；酿泉为酒，泉香而酒洌；山肴野蔌，杂然而前陈者，太守宴也。宴酣之乐，非丝非竹，射者中，弈者胜，觥筹交错，起坐而喧哗者，众宾欢也。苍颜白发，颓然乎其间者，太守醉也。

已而夕阳在山，人影散乱，太守归而宾客从也。树林阴翳，鸣声上下，游人去而禽鸟乐也。然而禽鸟知山林之乐，而不知人之乐；人知从太守游而乐，而不知太守之乐其乐也。醉能同其乐，醒能述以文者，太守也。太守谓谁？庐陵欧阳修也。

The prefecture of Chu is surrounded with hills on all sides. The wooded ravines of the south-west peaks are particularly beautiful. Lo, there is Lang Ya Hill shrouded in deep, luxuriant blue. After a few miles’ walk in the mountains, the murmur of a stream will gradually come within hearing—that is the Brewing Fountain poursing down between two peaks. By turning round the peak along a bending path there appears a tower standing like a perching bird above the fountain –that is the Old Drunkard Tower. Who built the tower? A Buddhist monk, the Wise Immortal. Who gave it the name? The Prefect refers to himself. The Prefect comes to drink here with his guests. Only a little drinking will make him drunk; and being the eldest he therefore calls himself the old drunkard. The old drunkard is not interested in the wine, but in the hills and rivers. The joy of hills and rivers, found in the heart, mingles itself with the wine.

To illustrate, the sunrise dispersing the mists over the woods, and the return of clouds dimming the caves below the rocks—this is the alteration of light and shade, which represents the morning and everning in the mountains. Sweet smell emitting from the fresh wild grass; luxuriant shades made by the fine trees; the high, clear skies, windy and frosty; rocks standing out of receding water—these are the changes of the four seasons in the mountains. Going out in the morning and coming back in the evening, one finds each of the four seasons has its different scenery, and the pleasure is inexhaustible.

As for the carriers on the road, the wayfarers taking rest under the trees, some shouting ahead and some score hehind, and others bent with burdens going to and fro without a break—these are visitors from Chu itself. To angle at the stream where the stream is deep and the fishes are fat; to brew the fountain water into wine where the water is delicious and the wine is clear; and with mountain game and wild vegetable placed before him in a confused manner—that is the Prefect at banquet. The pleasure of revelry is music neither of string, no of bamboo. The shooters hitting the marks; the chessplayers scoring vitory; winecups and counters mixed together; and people sitting down and rising up with much noise—the guests are happy and merry. And amidst the crowd a man with a sallow face and white hair, being hardly able to stand firm—that is the Prefect made drunk.

Soon the sun touching the mountain, and the shadows of men being scattered in confusion—the Prefect, followed by his guests, is going back. In the shades of the groves warbling is heard up and down—the birds are enjoying themselves after the departure of the visitors. The birds enjoy mountains and woods, but understand not the pleasure of men; and men enjoy the pleasure of following the Prefect in excursion, but they know not what pleasure the Prefect enjoys. He who shares their pleasures in drunkenness, and when awake can relate it in writing—this is the Prefect. Who is the Prefect?—Ou-yang Hsiu of Lu Ling.