Lanke Mountain
烂柯山
The birthplace of the legend 'Wang Zhi watches a game of Go, and his axe handle rots.' Known as the 'Immortal Land of Go,' the mountain has a huge natural stone beam on its summit.
Lanke Mountain is about 10 kilometers south of central Quzhou, in Shishi Township. The Southern Dynasties text 'Records of the Strange' tells of a woodcutter, Wang Zhi, who entered the mountain and watched two boys play a game of Go. When the game ended, his axe handle had rotted away, and when he returned home, a century had passed. The phrase 'lanke' (rotten axe handle) became a traditional term for Go, and the mountain is known as the 'Immortal Land of Go,' hosting Go culture events every year. The highlight of the scenic area is a giant natural stone beam spanning the summit, known as Qingxia Cave Heaven, under which several hundred people can gather. Other attractions include Baoyan Temple and cliff inscriptions. The round-trip hike takes about 1 hour. Check ticket prices on site. It is about 20 minutes by taxi from downtown.
Opening hours
08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Quzhou City Wall
- Quzhou Museum
- Southern Kong Family Temple
- Tianning Temple
- Quzhou Bell Tower
- Tianwang Pagoda
- Shuitingmen Historic Block
- Xin'an Lake