Mount Mian (绵山) is located on the southern side of the Fen River, 20 kilometres from Jiexiu City in central Shanxi Province. At about 2,000 meters above sea level, Mount Mian provides tourists with various means to enjoy its spectacular scenery. The mountain with various and plenty of cultural relics was named after Jie Zhitui, a well-known loyal official from ancient China, who was burned to death here.

Steeped in legend and ancient history, Mount Mian, also called Mount Jie (介山), was named after Jie Zhitui. His story can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period, some 2,500 years ago, when China consisted of various kingdoms. When the Jin State (nowadays Shanxi Province) was in turmoil, one of Jin's princes, Chong'er, was exiled. When he was on the verge of starvation, one of his faithful followers, Jie Zhitui, saved him by slicing some flesh off his own leg for the prince to eat.

After the prince was restored to the throne as Duke Wen of Jin, he gradually forgot his saviour. Jie retreated to Mount Mian and lived in seclusion with his mother. Years later Chong'er felt so guilty that he went deep into the mountain to look for Jie. But his efforts were in vain, because it was impossible for him to climb the steep slopes and search among the endless trees and hills. Eventually, the king ordered the entire mountain to be set on fire to force Jie out of hiding. But Jie and his mother were later found dead on the mountain after the fire was extinguished.

To convey his grief and to keep Jie Zhitui's memory alive, Chong'er issued an order marking the day of Jie Zhitui's death as Hanshi Day, which means Cold Food Day in Chinese. It falls one day before the nation's Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Festival, that's held every spring. On that day, no fires or smoke were allowed, and people had to eat cold food only.
 
It was not until the Qing Dynasty about 300 years ago that the practice of eating cold food was replaced by Qingming Festival, which has now become an annual occasion for people to visit family graves.
 
After Jie Zhitui died, Chong'er ordered that a tomb be built to commemorate his most loyal follower and bury his used articles. Since that time, a countless number of people began to visit his tomb and pay their respects. A temple in the name of Lord Jie has been established on the ridge, displaying his life story through murals and sculptures. They provide details about his birth, his studies as a youngster, his exile with Chong'er and his retreat to Mount Mian.

Mount Mian and Jie Zhitui passed together into folklore. Since then, religious masters and court officials have meditated and sought refuge here. Groups of Taoist and Buddhist monks subsequently built wondrous temples that perch atop the impossibly craggy cliffs.

Gone are the days of dangerous climbs to access the temples. Now a road runs halfway up the mountain, leading cars and buses to every scenic spot. Visitors see breathtaking views on both sides of the road, featuring steep precipices and ravines. A three-hundred-meter plank way that winds along the cliff face has also been built, adding more charm to this dramatic landscape.

A strong Taoist atmosphere pervades the place among a cluster of Taoist temples and pavilions that dot the cliffs and exuberant hillside. Among them, Daluo Temple is the largest and most magnificent temple on Mount Mian. It houses a great number of Taoist texts, including the wooden engravings of Dao De Jing. This Taoist classic written by ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi is gaining increasing popularity at home and abroad, and Mount Mian has attracted an increasing number of religious followers and visitors because of it.

Buddhist temples also made their way to Mount Mian. Among the mountain's hundreds of caves, Baofu Temple is located in the largest one called Baofu Cave. The cave resembles two hands holding a stomach. The "stomach" is so huge that it houses more than 200 temple rooms and can hold thousands of people. Looking forward from the bottom of the cave, the temple and winding paths seem to hover in the air of the beautiful mountainous surroundings. According to legend, Baofu Cave used to be the lecture site of a Buddhist master named Zhichao in the Tang Dynasty, some 1,400 years ago. During the reign of Taizong, the capital city of Chang'an suffered a terrible drought. When Emperor Taizong came here and prayed for rain with Monk Zhichao, a heavy rain poured down immediately. Since then, it has been regarded as a holy Buddhist site, attracting countless emperors and officials from successive dynasties to pray for peace and prosperity. To express his thanks to Monk Zhichao, emperor Taizong had the first thanksgiving bell hung at Baofu Temple. Nowadays, visitors can watch the bell-hanging ceremony during festivals and other special occasions.

Natural scenery is one of Mount Mian's biggest draws for visitors in search of an unspoiled piece of land. Shuitao Valley is surely not to be missed. The valley is covered with dense, verdant plants year-round. It is more enjoyable in the spring and summer time when flowers blossom luxuriantly. The green vegetation not only endows the mountain with vitality, but also creates a natural fairyland for animals. Looking from afar, a stretch of mountain peaks extend far from visibility. When you go into the valley, you will have an immediate sense of being refreshed by the plants and water. Dozens of waterfalls cascade down the mountain slopes and the crystal brooks babble from afar. The main sights in the valley include the fall of the ox-fighting-tiger, two dragons playing in the water, the five-dragon falls and the water curtain cave. At the end of the snake path in the valley lies the water curtain cave. Water pours down like a curtain shielding the cave's entrance and splashes onto the rocks. The diversity of the well-preserved plant species and the fresh cool water here make it a natural oxygen bar for visitors.

Besides such natural scenes, temples and relics, some particular religious elements have been integrated into Mount Mian, lending a mysterious and charming sense to the mountain at night. Lights forming religious designs are cast on the cliff at each temple's site, such as the 28 constellations and Taichi lights, which are closely associated with Taoism. All of these are for bringing forth blessings and good luck.