明朝曾(ceng)于(yu)山上蓋有城(cheng)樓(lou)樣樓(lou),是當時(shi)福州較高(gao)的(de)建筑物,又稱鎮(zhen)海樓(lou)。登樓(lou)眺望,可極目(mu)閩江口。不幸的(de)是此樓(lou)毀于(yu)“文化大革(ge)命”中。2006年在原(yuan)址重建新樓(lou)。
屏(ping)(ping)山高62米,東南為(wei)冶(ye)山,旁(pang)有歐冶(ye)池,相傳(chuan)為(wei)春秋(qiu)時(shi)歐冶(ye)子鑄劍處,又稱劍池,華林寺。北麓有1987年(nian)新辟的(de)屏(ping)(ping)山公園,園中有不(bu)少游(you)覽點。
漢閩(min)越(yue)(yue)(yue)王無諸建冶(ye)(ye)城(cheng),相傳(chuan)就(jiu)在山(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)(de)東南(nan)(nan)(nan)冶(ye)(ye)山(shan)(shan)一(yi)帶。冶(ye)(ye)山(shan)(shan)北有(you)福(fu)州(zhou)較早(zao)的(de)(de)(de)冶(ye)(ye)煉遺址(zhi)歐冶(ye)(ye)池。晉子城(cheng)、唐羅城(cheng),也都是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)從此向南(nan)(nan)(nan)擴展的(de)(de)(de)。越(yue)(yue)(yue)山(shan)(shan)巔舊有(you)環峰亭、絕學寮,為(wei)宋(song)丞相張浚讀(du)書(shu)處。又有(you)天泉(quan)池、泉(quan)山(shan)(shan)堂、玩琴(qin)石,相傳(chuan)為(wei)閩(min)越(yue)(yue)(yue)王鼓琴(qin)處。山(shan)(shan)下(xia)一(yi)泓清泉(quan),傳(chuan)為(wei)閩(min)越(yue)(yue)(yue)王飲馬泉(quan),在今華林寺(si)大殿前(qian)院(yuan)東南(nan)(nan)(nan)。山(shan)(shan)南(nan)(nan)(nan)麓有(you)福(fu)州(zhou)第一(yi)座佛寺(si)——乾元寺(si),毀于明(ming)初(chu),今半(ban)野軒系其殘(can)余部分。山(shan)(shan)南(nan)(nan)(nan)現存(cun)(cun)(cun)五代(dai)(dai)(dai)十國(guo)(guo)之(zhi)一(yi)吳越(yue)(yue)(yue)鮑修讓興建的(de)(de)(de)“越(yue)(yue)(yue)山(shan)(shan)吉祥禪(chan)院(yuan)”,即今之(zhi)華林寺(si)。“寶剎越(yue)(yue)(yue)城(cheng)邊(bian),千花(hua)繡佛前(qian)”,越(yue)(yue)(yue)王山(shan)(shan)在宋(song)代(dai)(dai)(dai)就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)福(fu)州(zhou)的(de)(de)(de)游覽勝地。南(nan)(nan)(nan)宋(song)高宗趙構曾御書(shu)“越(yue)(yue)(yue)山(shan)(shan)”、“環峰”刻(ke)石于寺(si),今殘(can)碑(bei)猶存(cun)(cun)(cun)。寺(si)幾(ji)經興廢,僅存(cun)(cun)(cun)大殿,經專家學者論證和C14測定,確認華林寺(si)大殿是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)千年(nian)以前(qian)原(yuan)構,是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)長江以南(nan)(nan)(nan)較古老的(de)(de)(de)木構建筑(zhu),已列為(wei)全國(guo)(guo)重(zhong)點文物保護單位(wei),在全國(guo)(guo)古建筑(zhu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)占(zhan)有(you)一(yi)席之(zhi)地。明(ming)洪武(wu)初(chu),跨(kua)越(yue)(yue)(yue)王山(shan)(shan)砌石城(cheng),建城(cheng)樓于其上,稱為(wei)“樣樓”,后更名(ming)鎮海樓,屢(lv)(lv)毀屢(lv)(lv)建,民國(guo)(guo)時期(qi)改為(wei)林森紀念堂,“文化大革命”中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)被炸毀。山(shan)(shan)西北有(you)井“苔泉(quan)”,又稱龍(long)舌泉(quan)。水從山(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)(de)峭壁裂(lie)縫中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)涌出,流(liu)注井中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),微呈(cheng)澄(cheng)藍色,味清甜,宋(song)代(dai)(dai)(dai)書(shu)法家蔡襄(xiang)知福(fu)州(zhou)時,喜用這里的(de)(de)(de)水烹茶(cha),今井旁一(yi)方(fang)石碑(bei),刻(ke)“苔泉(quan)”,相傳(chuan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)蔡襄(xiang)的(de)(de)(de)手(shou)跡(ji)。越(yue)(yue)(yue)王山(shan)(shan)因為(wei)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)閩(min)越(yue)(yue)(yue)國(guo)(guo)發祥地,早(zao)在唐宋(song)就(jiu)禁止樵采,是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)福(fu)州(zhou)較早(zao)的(de)(de)(de)歷史文化保護區。
主(zhu)(zhu)峰從(cong)南向(xiang)北居(ju)高(gao)臨下,勢如率領群(qun)山(shan)(shan)奔向(xiang)大(da)海,為主(zhu)(zhu)村之屏(ping)風,故(gu)(gu)名(ming)。宋理學(xue)家朱熹結(jie)舍講學(xue)于山(shan)(shan)旁(pang),因(yin)此又叫賢(xian)(xian)人(ren)山(shan)(shan)。古時(shi)還(huan)叫魁(kui)山(shan)(shan),唐代(dai)以前,山(shan)(shan)的(de)前面一片汪洋,民居(ju)只(zhi)能沿山(shan)(shan)建(jian)屋,唐末至兩(liang)宋間,這里(li)(li)人(ren)才輩出,高(gao)魁(kui)蟬朕(zhen),故(gu)(gu)得名(ming)魁(kui)山(shan)(shan),境為魁(kui)山(shan)(shan)境。山(shan)(shan)旁(pang)路邊大(da)崖面上勒有楷書“魁(kui)山(shan)(shan)”二字,后因(yin)建(jian)設水渠被打(da)掉,福(fu)建(jian)省副省長潘心(xin)城在原處補書“魁(kui)元”二字,里(li)(li)面有一處山(shan)(shan)峪,地名(ming)叫魁(kui)山(shan)(shan)里(li)(li),故(gu)(gu)屏(ping)山(shan)(shan)、賢(xian)(xian)人(ren)山(shan)(shan)、魁(kui)山(shan)(shan),三名(ming)并傳。
該山海(hai)拔500米,面(mian)積約(yue)1000畝,北面(mian)臨鼎(ding)溪(xi)(xi),與柏山對峙,東面(mian)一片平原,萬(wan)畝良田(tian),距山三公里就(jiu)是大(da)(da)海(hai)。西(xi)面(mian)是蓄(xu)水一千(qian)萬(wan)立方米的(de)三溪(xi)(xi)水庫,以(yi)及(ji)環山諸(zhu)村。南(nan)面(mian)與邦上(shang)村、犰侖山及(ji)福清七(qi)社諸(zhu)村交界(jie)。山巔(dian)羅列(lie)大(da)(da)小不一、千(qian)姿百態、挺(ting)秀(xiu)而出的(de)奇峰怪石(shi),猶(you)如(ru)萬(wan)笏朝天,生長(chang)有(you)兩(liang)面(mian)針、鳳(feng)尾草等(deng)多(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)藥材,種(zhong)(zhong)植地瓜(gua)(甘(gan)薯)、果樹等(deng),并儲存大(da)(da)量優質花崗石(shi)。有(you)天龍井、豸石(shi)、龍嗡(weng)泉等(deng)名勝(sheng)古跡(ji)和邑十二大(da)(da)景之一“屏嶂鋪霞”,千(qian)年古剎(cha)——朝元觀,朱熹講(jiang)學處——紫(zi)陽(yang)閣,香梅軒,鐘(zhong)秀(xiu)毓英牌坊等(deng)古建筑,明代陳省(sheng)崖(ya)刻(ke)等(deng)亦在其旁。來(lai)在山上(shang)新建觀海(hai)亭、望月(yue)亭和各(ge)種(zhong)(zhong)休閑場所,通往各(ge)個景點道路都鋪上(shang)石(shi)條。巖(yan)石(shi)中有(you)華國鋒、賈慶林(lin)、田(tian)紀云、王兆國、賀(he)國強等(deng)黨和國家領導人,以(yi)及(ji)陳明義、袁啟彤、游德馨、何少川、張家坤、潘心城、陳奮武等(deng)省(sheng)領導和書法(fa)名家的(de)書寫巖(yan)刻(ke)。