Mount Cangyan in Jingxing County, about 50 kilometres southwest of Shijiazhuang, is one of those places where the natural landscape and the built environment have conspired to produce something genuinely extraordinary. Temples and halls have been cantilevered from cliff faces, inserted into cave openings, and connected to each other by bridges spanning gorges. The Rainbow Bridge, crossing between two rock faces above a steep forested ravine, is the most photographed element, but the whole complex rewards exploration.
The principal temple is the Cangyan Temple, parts of which date to the Northern Qi dynasty in the sixth century. The main hall is supported by a stone arch bridge spanning a gorge, with the temple built directly on top of the arch — so the floor of the hall is also the crown of the bridge. It is a kind of architectural audacity that makes you wonder both how it was done and why no one else tried it.
The mountain is accessible by road from Shijiazhuang and most popular at weekends. On a quiet weekday morning, the combination of limestone crags, deep green forest, and improbable architecture is undisturbed. Entry fee is moderate.