Yüquan Monastery is located at the foot of Mount Hua and is the main venue for Taoist activities on Mount Hua. It is also a must-visit place for tourists exploring Mount Hua through Huashan Valley. Legend has it that Yüquan Monastery was built by the patriarch Chentuan during the Five Dynasties period. There are several local proverbs passed down: "The mountain belongs to the Taoists, the trees belong to the emperor, Mount Hua does not pay taxes or colorful tributes, and trees cannot be cut down randomly." Originally, when Patriarch Chentuan played chess with Zhao Kuangyin on Mount Hua, Zhao Kuangyin lost Mount Hua to Chentuan and exempted it from taxation.
Yüquan Monastery is a garden-style architectural complex, backed by Mount Hua, with ancient towering trees surrounding it. Inside the courtyard lies a spring with sweet and clear water. According to legend, Princess Jinsian of the Tang Dynasty accidentally dropped her jade hairpin into the Jade Well while drawing water at Zhenyue Palace on the mountain. After returning to Yüquan Monastery, she unexpectedly found the jade hairpin while washing her hands in the spring water, realizing that this spring was connected to the Jade Well. Therefore, the princess named the spring Yüquan, and Yüquan Monastery got its name.
The gate of Yüquan Monastery was reconstructed on its original site according to historical records, featuring a Ming-style column and overhanging eaves architecture. Above the gate hangs a plaque inscribed by Guo Moruo, reading "Yüquan Monastery," with powerful and vigorous strokes. The tall poplar trees by the road in front of the gate were planted by Feng Yuxiang himself when he stationed his troops here. On a huge rock inside the gate, there are prominent inscriptions such as "Water conservancy saves people," "Human equality," and "Break superstition," all written by Feng Yuxiang. With lush greenery shading the sky and winding corridors, Yüquan Monastery has always been a preferred resting spot for tourists climbing Mount Hua before setting off to ascend the mountain.
Around 9 o'clock, the square of Yüquan Monastery was cordoned off by the police, prohibiting entry to casual visitors. However, since we were members of the artistic exploration group, we were allowed to enter freely. Before touring the garden, we watched Tai Chi sword performances and fan dances. During the performances, one of our famous photographers was roughly pushed by the police while maintaining order, which was strongly protested by everyone in our group.
After the performances ended, we entered Yüquan Monastery to watch the worship ceremonies.