Mount Jizu, Buddhist mountain in Dali Prefecture, Yunnan, China

Mount Jizu is a mountain range in Jizushan Town, in China's Yunnan province, rising to around 3,240 meters and defined by three main peaks that together form the shape of a chicken's foot when seen from afar. Dense forests and bamboo groves cover the slopes, which are home to dozens of temples and monasteries spread along the paths.

The mountain's religious life began during the Three Kingdoms period, when the first shrines were built on its slopes. Over the following centuries, especially under the Ming and Qing dynasties, dozens of temples and nunneries were added, making it one of the main Buddhist sites in southwestern China.

The name Jizu, "chicken foot," comes from the three ranges that resemble a cock's claw; a Ming gazetteer linked it to the Sanskrit Kukkatapadagiri. The mountain is the bodhimandala of Mahakasyapa, who is said to dwell in the rock beside Huashou Gate awaiting Maitreya. It is a meeting point of Chinese, Tibetan and Theravada Buddhism, and the Upa-yoga tantras first appeared here.

The summit can be reached by cable car in a few minutes or on foot via stone steps in around two hours, so different options are available depending on the time available. Visitors who want to see several temples should plan for at least half a day, as the paths between sites can be long.

The Zhusheng Temple has a semi-elliptical pond with an octagonal pavilion at its center, an arrangement that is rare in Chinese temple architecture. The pavilion was once connected to the banks by narrow walkways, giving it the appearance of a small island floating on the water.