Fuzhou - Yushan Hill

On the top of Yushan Hill can be seen the Hall of the Great Master (Dashi Dian), or Guanyin Hall (Guanyin Ge), built in 1713. In 1911 it was used as the headquarters of the revolutionary army. An inscription by the Emperor Qianlong (1736-96) on a stone tablet relates how Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara changed into a woman, the Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin), who is so revered by Chinese Buddhists.

The town's symbol, the 41m/135ft high, seven-story White Pagoda (Baita) at the western foot of the hill, was built in 904 as a wooden-clad brick building; however, it burned down in 1534 after being struck by lightning. It was rebuilt in brick in 1548.

Behind it stands a temple (Baita Si) built in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) on the foundations of a Buddhist temple dating from 905. Today it houses a library.

The temple to the east was built in 1918 in honor of General Qi Jiguang (1528-87), who had fought against Japanese pirates in 1562.