青海省南朔(shuo)(shuo)山(shan)(shan),在湟中縣境內(nei),最早稱(cheng)(cheng)南朔(shuo)(shuo)山(shan)(shan),道(dao)(dao)(dao)教徒(tu)居住此(ci)山(shan)(shan)后,改稱(cheng)(cheng)西(xi)玄山(shan)(shan),傳說元、明(ming)時期山(shan)(shan)中各有一(yi)名道(dao)(dao)(dao)士修(xiu)煉(lian)成仙,即被道(dao)(dao)(dao)教定為(wei)全國(guo)道(dao)(dao)(dao)教十大(da)洞天之(zhi)四(si),命(ming)名為(wei)“太玄極真洞天”,后改“玄”為(wei)“元”稱(cheng)(cheng)“西(xi)元山(shan)(shan)”,道(dao)(dao)(dao)名“太元極真洞天”。明(ming)代(dai)是西(xi)元山(shan)(shan)道(dao)(dao)(dao)教活(huo)動的全盛(sheng)時期,建筑規模宏大(da),道(dao)(dao)(dao)士眾多,香火旺盛(sheng)。清順治初(chu),塔爾(er)寺阿(a)嘉活(huo)佛(fo)朝山(shan)(shan)進香,認為(wei)這里是靜修(xiu)的好(hao)地方(fang),即在廣闊平衍的山(shan)(shan)頂(ding)上修(xiu)建了佛(fo)殿(dian),因此(ci)山(shan)(shan)佛(fo)道(dao)(dao)(dao)合一(yi),為(wei)道(dao)(dao)(dao)家(jia)、佛(fo)家(jia)共(gong)同(tong)尊崇的修(xiu)行“靈山(shan)(shan)”故(gu)而又被稱(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)南佛(fo)山(shan)(shan)。遠(yuan)眺該(gai)山(shan)(shan),如(ru)彩繪的屏風,故(gu)民國(guo)年間文(wen)人墨客又稱(cheng)(cheng)它為(wei)朔(shuo)(shuo)屏山(shan)(shan)。
山(shan)(shan)頂稱弗屏臺(tai),廣闊平(ping)坦,上(shang)有(you)鰲(ao)頭閣、奎(kui)光閣、玄芳(fang)嘴、歇涼(liang)亭(ting),右峰為求壽(shou)臺(tai),東(dong)邊有(you)三清(qing)宮、三宮殿、玉皇洞(dong)、藥石(shi)洞(dong)和平(ping)樓3間,坪臺(tai)四(si)周(zhou)有(you)8座天然石(shi)峰,酷(ku)似人(ren)形(xing),姿態各(ge)異,栩栩如(ru)生(sheng),道(dao)佛(fo)信眾(zhong)稱之為“八(ba)大金剛”。由于該山(shan)(shan)自然景觀秀麗,空氣新鮮,山(shan)(shan)清(qing)水秀,鳥語(yu)花(hua)香(xiang),成為各(ge)族人(ren)民消夏、游(you)覽的勝地(di),每當春夏之交到夏秋之交,西寧和海東(dong)地(di)區各(ge)族群眾(zhong)云集這里尋(xun)芳(fang)攬勝,盡興消遣。
南朔山(shan)位于縣(xian)城魯沙(sha)爾鎮西面15公里(li)處(chu),自然景(jing)色(se)秀麗迷人(ren),山(shan)下沿公路邊流淌(tang)著清澈見底的湟水(shui)支流石惠溝(gou)水(shui),山(shan)峰奇異,高(gao)聳入(ru)云,五彩繽紛的灌木花(hua)(hua)卉(hui)清香(xiang)四溢。一(yi)條陡峭的羊腸小道直達(da)山(shan)巔。半山(shan)腰(yao),被稱作“滴水(shui)崖(ya)”的山(shan)泉瀉玉噴(pen)珠(zhu),清冽甘甜,穿過(guo)山(shan)泉飛瀑,即到達(da)道教廟觀所在地。廟觀依山(shan)勢修(xiu)建,原(yuan)(yuan)有(you)大小洞府9處(chu),現有(you)5處(chu),分散在山(shan)坳處(chu),規模(mo)有(you)大有(you)小,中間一(yi)排平房(fang)為(wei)道士(shi)(shi)、道姑食宿和接待(dai)朝山(shan)者之所。洞府、客房(fang)、宿舍均(jun)隱(yin)藏在樹(shu)木花(hua)(hua)草叢(cong)中,清幽寧謐,香(xiang)煙(yan)繚繞,給人(ren)以飄(piao)飄(piao)欲仙之感(gan)。天(tian)然形成的綠陽洞,傳說為(wei)張道士(shi)(shi)修(xiu)煉成仙之所,洞中有(you)小洞名黑虎洞,小洞口原(yuan)(yuan)繪有(you)黑虎飼子圖,洞前原(yuan)(yuan)有(you)一(yi)個(ge)600斤重(zhong)的古(gu)銅鼎,洞頂(ding)有(you)古(gu)柏一(yi)株(zhu),形似盤(pan)龍,皂(zao)角樹(shu)兩株(zhu),盛夏開花(hua)(hua),周圍的山(shan)杜鵲、映山(shan)紅等(deng)爭奇斗艷(yan),花(hua)(hua)香(xiang)宜人(ren)。