West Hill / Xishan Longmen
West Hill is at the west suburb some 15 kilometers from the city proper. It contains the Huating Hill, Taihua Hill and Luohan Hill, extending a distance of more than 40 kilometers at an altitude of between 1900 meters to 2350 meters above sea level.
Legend goes that at ancient time locals mistook a phoenix for Jade Chicken and called the hill Jade Chicken Hill. The hill also called Lying Buddhist Hill for its resemblance of a sculpture of a lying Buddha.
West Hill is very beautiful with lush vegetation, blooming flowers, green grass and tranquil surroundings. West Hill has enjoyed great fame for its beautiful and unique natural scenery since ancient time and was renowned as " the most beautiful place in Yunnan". Looked from afar, the mountain looks like a sleeping beauty lying on the Dianchi Lake. The girl looks so fascinating with her dark long hair flowing on the water face and you can even distinguish her head, breast, belly and two slim long legs.
A tragic story related to this hill said that in remote time, a pretty princess escaped from the palace to seek freedom and love. The girl later met her prince and they got married soon. Unfortunately, their marriage encountered the king's strong opposition, who later killed that her husband. The princess was so sorrow that she cried days and nights and tears fell from her face and formed the Dian Lake. The girl's body formed the West Hill.
West Hill has become a popular attraction with many scenic spots. Each spring, the locals will gather here singing folk songs, playing dragon and lion show and enjoying the stunningly beautiful scenery around.
Looked afar, the mountain resembles a sleeping beauty lying on the Dianchi Lake. 19 kilometers from Kunming proper, Xishan is also known for stone sculptures on the cliff, represented by the Dragon Gate, which took 72 years to complete. Tourists can take a bird-eye view of the grand Dianchi Lake from the spot of the Dragon Gate. Attractions here include the Huating Temple, Taihua Temple, Sanqingge Pavilions, Longmen Grotto.
Huating Temple
At the belly of the West Hill, it is one of the grander Buddhist Temples in the region with a history of over 900 years. The temple has undergone several repair and reconstruction and the complex existing today was built in 1923 by a monk here. The temple contains a Great Hall, Heavenly Hall and Guanyin Tower, a tower for a huge clock, Yuhua Terrace and some other ancient buildings. In the Great Hall places three delicately carved golden Buddhist scriptures. The scriptures are in looks and grandeur in posture.
Taihua Temple
Tiahua Temple is at the highway up the Tiahua Mountain. The temple was built in the Yuan dynasty hundreds of years ago. It contains a Great Hall, A heavenly Hall, a Elusion Tower and Grand-view Pavilion and some mansions and winding corridors. Taihua Temple has been famous the lush vegetation and blooming flower in the temple. In later spring or early summer, variety of flowers scatter everywhere around the temple with the camellia, yulan the most impressive and famous. The area around the temple is blanketed by bamboo forest and old trees.
Outside the gate of the temple grows a 600-year old gingko tree, whose trunk takes four five men to circle with their arms stretched out. The branches of the tree spread out in all directions. The tree was said to be planted by one of the Ming Emperors.
Sanqingge Pavilions
The complex stands on a sheer cliff and is heavily sheltered by green vegetation. It contains 11 buildings including Linguang Hall, Laojun Hall and so on. The bird-eye view from the buildings top is superlative with precipitous rocks, tree-sheltered pavilions, towers.
Longmen Grotto
This is the largest and most beautiful Taoist stone carvings in Yunnan. It has four famous features of uniqueness, distinctiveness, danger and tranquility. Longmen Grotto ranks top of all the cultural heritage in and around Kunming and enjoys great fame internationally.