Langshan, Mountain formation in Jiangsu, China.
Langshan is a hill of about 106.94 metres in the south of Nantong, Jiangsu, near the Yangtze River, covering 18 hectares. It is the highest of the five hills of the Langshan scenic area — Langshan, Huangnishan, Jianshan, Junshan and Ma'anshan — all surrounded by water. Its summit holds the Guangjiao Temple, and the Langshan Holy Mother Church stands to its north.
In 990–994 the official Yangjun, in charge of Nantong, renamed the hill Langshan to replace the name "Wolf Hill". Later, purple rocks on the hill led people to call it Zilangshan, and Nantong took the name Zilang. The monk Sengjia is credited as the hill's founder and with subduing the white wolf spirit and building Guangjiao Temple.
The name Langshan replaced "Wolf Hill" in 990–994, when an official named Yangjun renamed the hill for its beauty; later the many purple rocks gave it the name Zilangshan, and Nantong itself became known as Zilang. The hill is one of China's eight lesser Buddhist mountains, with Guangjiao Temple, founded by the monk Sengjia, at its centre. Since the 1930s, when the Roman Curia granted a plenary indulgence, the Marian shrine of Langshan Shengmu Tang north of the hill has been one of twelve Catholic pilgrimage sites in China.
The five hills of the scenic area — Langshan, Jianshan, Junshan, Ma'anshan and Huangnishan — stand surrounded by water, with Langshan, at 106.94 m the highest, reached by stone steps up to Guangjiao Temple. The summit is the goal for most visitors, so allow time for the climb and for the temple courtyards. The Catholic pilgrimage site of Langshan Notre-Dame lies north of the hill.
The scenic area records 13 ancient caves among its 43 old buildings, 8 old tombs and 23 inscriptions. The hill's name was changed in 990–994 by an official called Yangjun, who disliked "Wolf Hill"; purple rocks later gave Nantong the name Zilang. The poet Luo Binwang is said to be buried here.
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