Hometown of Immortal Huang
At the mention of Jinhua, the first thing that comes to a Chinese person's mind is perhaps Jinhua ham, a local specialty. Few people, however, know that it is also the hometown of Immortal Huang, a man who practiced Taoism here and become a local god.
As a city with a history of 1, 700 years, Jinhua boasts many ancient architectural structures, including Bayong tower built in 494, Tianning Temple built between 1008 and 1016, and the former mansion of Lishixian, a general in Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
The mountain and river scenery around Jinhua is unique, and the historical sites and scenic spots related to the stories of Immortal Huang are particularly interesting. Part of the ruins of Baoji Temple, also known as Chisong (Red Pine) Temple, can still be seen at a mountain pass near a village also called Chisong. Opposite to the temple is Woyang (Reclining Sheep) Mountain, believed to be where Immortal Huang "Shouted at rocks and turned them into sheep". At the back of temple lies the legendary Liandan Hill, on which Immortal Huang made immortality pills with his elder brother. Others, like Jinhua Temple, Shishi (Stone Lion) Cave, Shengshi (Holy Stone) Hill and Yuxian (Encountering Immortal) Rock, all have similar tales related to Immortal Huang.
Actually all the tales are about both Immortal Huang and his elder brother, who were together known as the Two Immortals. Originally named Huang Chuping, Immortal Huang was born in a village about 10 kilometres from Jinhua in the year 328. His brother, Huang Chuqi, was 10 years his senior. When he was 15, Huang Chuqi met a Taoist immortal named Chisongzi, who gave him instructions on how to develop his mind towards great concentration. He read sutras diligently for many years and finally mastered the magical skill of being able to turn a sheep into stone or vice versa.
Meanwhile, his brother spent 40 years looking for Chuping before he finally found him again, thanks to the help of a Taoist priest. Having learned that Chuping had become an immortal, the elder brother kowtowed to his younger brother and asked him to accept him as his disciple. Afterwards, the two brothers practiced Taoism and made immortality pills together on Jinhua Mountain.
When Huang Chuqi had become an immortal, the two brothers- the younger riding on a crane while the elder sat on a deer-ascended to Heaven carried by the clouds. They were ever after greatly revered by the villagers and were regarded as the Two Immortals, with Huang Chuping known as Immortal Huang. Later, Chisong Temples in Zhejiang are frequented by continuous worshippers, it once ranked first among all the Taoist temples in southern China and was given an honorary title by imperial mandate. In the mid-1100's during the Song Dynasty, Huang Chuqi and his brother were posthumously granted high-ranking titles. The tablets which record these events still stand at Jinhua Temple.