Jiagu Mountain: Where nature meets history

Jiagu Mountain is an enchanting destination – located some 18 kilometers northeast of Linshu county, administered by Linyi city in East China's Shandong province.

Not only does it offer stunning natural vistas, but it also resonates with the echoes of ancient history and captivating legends.

Standing at a commanding height of 304.9 meters, Jiagu Mountain rises above 10 surrounding peaks. The highest one of them has a stone monument engraved with a single line of poetry – "It dwarfs all peaks under our feet" – written by Du Fu, a prominent poet during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

A giant boulder on the mountain provides a striking silhouette against the setting sun. [Photo provided by Zhangyun for chinadaily.com.cn]

Jiagu Mountain's historical significance is deeply rooted in the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC) of ancient China. At that time – during his political career – as a high official Confucius governed in the state of Lu, impressing but also worrying the neighboring state of Qi. Duke Jing of Qi – the ruler of Qi (547-490 BC) – felt remorse for not acknowledging Confucius earlier and wanted to make amends.

They decided to reconcile at Jiagu Mountain. Confucius, using his rapier-sharp diplomacy, prevented Duke Jing from using force against the state of Lu and he reclaimed land that Qi had taken from Lu secretly.

It was a landmark diplomatic win and nowadays, you can still find two stone monuments on Jiagu Mountain commemorating this important event.

Whether you're a nature lover or a history buff, Jiagu Mountain invites you to explore its unique blend of natural beauty and historical charm.

When you go there, you embark on a journey through time and space, with every step revealing an evocative piece of Shandong's rich past. (Edited by Zhou Yunlai)