青海省南(nan)(nan)朔山(shan)(shan)(shan),在湟中縣境內,最早稱(cheng)南(nan)(nan)朔山(shan)(shan)(shan),道(dao)(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)徒居住(zhu)此山(shan)(shan)(shan)后(hou),改稱(cheng)西玄山(shan)(shan)(shan),傳說元、明(ming)時(shi)(shi)期山(shan)(shan)(shan)中各有一名(ming)道(dao)(dao)士(shi)(shi)修煉成仙(xian),即被(bei)道(dao)(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)定為(wei)(wei)(wei)全國道(dao)(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)十大洞(dong)天之四,命(ming)名(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)“太玄極真洞(dong)天”,后(hou)改“玄”為(wei)(wei)(wei)“元”稱(cheng)“西元山(shan)(shan)(shan)”,道(dao)(dao)名(ming)“太元極真洞(dong)天”。明(ming)代是西元山(shan)(shan)(shan)道(dao)(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)活動(dong)的全盛時(shi)(shi)期,建筑(zhu)規模(mo)宏大,道(dao)(dao)士(shi)(shi)眾(zhong)多(duo),香火旺盛。清順治(zhi)初,塔爾寺(si)阿(a)嘉活佛朝山(shan)(shan)(shan)進(jin)香,認為(wei)(wei)(wei)這(zhe)里是靜修的好地方(fang),即在廣闊平衍的山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂上修建了佛殿,因此山(shan)(shan)(shan)佛道(dao)(dao)合一,為(wei)(wei)(wei)道(dao)(dao)家、佛家共同(tong)尊崇的修行(xing)“靈山(shan)(shan)(shan)”故而又被(bei)稱(cheng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)南(nan)(nan)佛山(shan)(shan)(shan)。遠眺(tiao)該山(shan)(shan)(shan),如(ru)彩繪(hui)的屏風,故民(min)國年間文(wen)人墨客又稱(cheng)它為(wei)(wei)(wei)朔屏山(shan)(shan)(shan)。
山頂稱弗(fu)屏臺(tai)(tai)(tai),廣闊平坦,上有鰲頭閣、奎(kui)光閣、玄芳嘴(zui)、歇涼亭(ting),右峰為求壽臺(tai)(tai)(tai),東邊有三(san)清(qing)宮、三(san)宮殿、玉皇洞、藥石(shi)洞和(he)平樓3間,坪(ping)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)四周有8座天然(ran)(ran)石(shi)峰,酷似人形(xing),姿態各(ge)異,栩栩如生,道佛信眾(zhong)稱之為“八大(da)金剛”。由于該山自然(ran)(ran)景觀秀(xiu)麗,空氣新鮮,山清(qing)水秀(xiu),鳥語花香,成為各(ge)族人民(min)消夏、游覽的勝地,每(mei)當春夏之交(jiao)到夏秋之交(jiao),西(xi)寧和(he)海(hai)東地區各(ge)族群眾(zhong)云集這(zhe)里尋(xun)芳攬勝,盡興消遣。
南朔(shuo)山(shan)位于縣(xian)城魯沙爾鎮(zhen)西面15公里處(chu),自然景色秀(xiu)麗(li)迷(mi)人(ren),山(shan)下(xia)沿公路邊流(liu)淌著清(qing)澈(che)見(jian)底的(de)湟(huang)水(shui)(shui)支流(liu)石(shi)惠溝水(shui)(shui),山(shan)峰奇(qi)異,高(gao)聳入(ru)云,五彩(cai)繽紛的(de)灌木花(hua)(hua)卉清(qing)香四溢。一條陡峭(qiao)的(de)羊腸小(xiao)道(dao)(dao)直(zhi)達山(shan)巔。半山(shan)腰(yao),被稱作“滴水(shui)(shui)崖”的(de)山(shan)泉(quan)(quan)瀉玉噴珠,清(qing)冽甘甜,穿過山(shan)泉(quan)(quan)飛瀑,即到達道(dao)(dao)教廟觀所在(zai)(zai)(zai)地。廟觀依(yi)山(shan)勢修建,原有(you)(you)(you)大(da)小(xiao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)府9處(chu),現有(you)(you)(you)5處(chu),分(fen)散在(zai)(zai)(zai)山(shan)坳處(chu),規(gui)模有(you)(you)(you)大(da)有(you)(you)(you)小(xiao),中間(jian)一排平房為(wei)道(dao)(dao)士、道(dao)(dao)姑食宿和接待朝山(shan)者之所。洞(dong)(dong)(dong)府、客房、宿舍均隱藏(zang)在(zai)(zai)(zai)樹木花(hua)(hua)草叢(cong)中,清(qing)幽寧謐,香煙繚(liao)繞,給人(ren)以飄飄欲仙(xian)之感。天然形成(cheng)的(de)綠陽洞(dong)(dong)(dong),傳說為(wei)張(zhang)道(dao)(dao)士修煉成(cheng)仙(xian)之所,洞(dong)(dong)(dong)中有(you)(you)(you)小(xiao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)名黑虎洞(dong)(dong)(dong),小(xiao)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口原繪(hui)有(you)(you)(you)黑虎飼子(zi)圖,洞(dong)(dong)(dong)前原有(you)(you)(you)一個600斤重(zhong)的(de)古銅鼎,洞(dong)(dong)(dong)頂(ding)有(you)(you)(you)古柏一株,形似盤龍,皂角樹兩株,盛夏開花(hua)(hua),周圍的(de)山(shan)杜鵲、映山(shan)紅等爭奇(qi)斗艷,花(hua)(hua)香宜人(ren)。