青海(hai)省南(nan)朔山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),在(zai)湟中縣境內,最早稱(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)朔山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),道(dao)(dao)教(jiao)徒居(ju)住此(ci)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)后(hou),改稱(cheng)(cheng)西(xi)玄(xuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),傳說元(yuan)、明時期山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)中各有一名道(dao)(dao)士(shi)修(xiu)煉成仙,即被道(dao)(dao)教(jiao)定為(wei)全國道(dao)(dao)教(jiao)十(shi)大洞天(tian)之四,命名為(wei)“太玄(xuan)極(ji)真(zhen)洞天(tian)”,后(hou)改“玄(xuan)”為(wei)“元(yuan)”稱(cheng)(cheng)“西(xi)元(yuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)”,道(dao)(dao)名“太元(yuan)極(ji)真(zhen)洞天(tian)”。明代(dai)是西(xi)元(yuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)道(dao)(dao)教(jiao)活動的(de)全盛時期,建筑規模(mo)宏大,道(dao)(dao)士(shi)眾多,香火旺盛。清順治初,塔爾寺阿嘉活佛朝山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)進香,認為(wei)這里(li)是靜修(xiu)的(de)好地(di)方,即在(zai)廣闊平衍的(de)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)頂上(shang)修(xiu)建了佛殿,因此(ci)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)佛道(dao)(dao)合一,為(wei)道(dao)(dao)家、佛家共(gong)同尊崇(chong)的(de)修(xiu)行(xing)“靈山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)”故而又被稱(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)南(nan)佛山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)。遠眺該山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),如彩(cai)繪的(de)屏(ping)風(feng),故民國年間文人墨客(ke)又稱(cheng)(cheng)它為(wei)朔屏(ping)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)。
山頂(ding)稱弗屏(ping)臺(tai),廣闊平(ping)坦,上(shang)有鰲頭(tou)閣(ge)(ge)、奎光閣(ge)(ge)、玄芳(fang)嘴(zui)、歇涼亭,右峰(feng)為(wei)(wei)求壽臺(tai),東(dong)邊有三(san)清(qing)宮、三(san)宮殿、玉皇(huang)洞、藥石洞和(he)平(ping)樓3間,坪臺(tai)四周(zhou)有8座(zuo)天然石峰(feng),酷(ku)似人(ren)形,姿(zi)態各異,栩栩如(ru)生,道佛信眾(zhong)(zhong)稱之(zhi)為(wei)(wei)“八大金剛(gang)”。由于該山自然景(jing)觀秀(xiu)麗,空(kong)氣新(xin)鮮,山清(qing)水秀(xiu),鳥語(yu)花香,成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)各族人(ren)民消(xiao)夏、游覽的勝(sheng)地(di),每當春(chun)夏之(zhi)交到(dao)夏秋之(zhi)交,西寧(ning)和(he)海東(dong)地(di)區各族群眾(zhong)(zhong)云集(ji)這里尋芳(fang)攬(lan)勝(sheng),盡興消(xiao)遣。
南朔山(shan)(shan)位(wei)于縣城(cheng)魯沙爾鎮西面15公里處(chu)(chu),自(zi)然(ran)景色秀麗迷人(ren)(ren),山(shan)(shan)下沿公路邊流淌(tang)著清澈(che)見(jian)底的(de)湟水(shui)支流石惠(hui)溝(gou)水(shui),山(shan)(shan)峰(feng)奇(qi)異(yi),高(gao)聳入(ru)云,五(wu)彩繽紛的(de)灌木花(hua)卉(hui)清香(xiang)(xiang)四溢。一(yi)條陡峭的(de)羊腸小(xiao)(xiao)道(dao)(dao)直達山(shan)(shan)巔(dian)。半山(shan)(shan)腰,被(bei)稱作“滴(di)水(shui)崖”的(de)山(shan)(shan)泉(quan)瀉(xie)玉噴(pen)珠,清冽甘甜,穿過山(shan)(shan)泉(quan)飛瀑,即到達道(dao)(dao)教廟觀所在(zai)(zai)地。廟觀依山(shan)(shan)勢修建,原(yuan)有(you)(you)大小(xiao)(xiao)洞(dong)(dong)府(fu)9處(chu)(chu),現有(you)(you)5處(chu)(chu),分散(san)在(zai)(zai)山(shan)(shan)坳處(chu)(chu),規模有(you)(you)大有(you)(you)小(xiao)(xiao),中間一(yi)排(pai)平房為道(dao)(dao)士、道(dao)(dao)姑食(shi)宿和接待朝山(shan)(shan)者之(zhi)所。洞(dong)(dong)府(fu)、客房、宿舍均隱藏在(zai)(zai)樹木花(hua)草叢中,清幽寧謐,香(xiang)(xiang)煙繚繞,給(gei)人(ren)(ren)以飄(piao)飄(piao)欲仙之(zhi)感。天然(ran)形成(cheng)的(de)綠陽洞(dong)(dong),傳說為張道(dao)(dao)士修煉成(cheng)仙之(zhi)所,洞(dong)(dong)中有(you)(you)小(xiao)(xiao)洞(dong)(dong)名黑虎洞(dong)(dong),小(xiao)(xiao)洞(dong)(dong)口原(yuan)繪有(you)(you)黑虎飼子(zi)圖,洞(dong)(dong)前原(yuan)有(you)(you)一(yi)個600斤重的(de)古銅(tong)鼎,洞(dong)(dong)頂有(you)(you)古柏一(yi)株(zhu),形似盤(pan)龍,皂(zao)角樹兩株(zhu),盛夏(xia)開花(hua),周圍的(de)山(shan)(shan)杜(du)鵲、映山(shan)(shan)紅等爭奇(qi)斗艷,花(hua)香(xiang)(xiang)宜人(ren)(ren)。