(Clearwisdom.net) Recently, officials in Shandong Province deliberately destroyed a scenic spot inside Longquan Temple in Baimaiquan Park in Jinan in order to welcome Jiang Zemin, who is scheduled to visit.

Photo taken on January 26, 2006, before the six Chinese characters were obliterated

Photo taken on May 2, 2006, after the six Chinese characters were covered over

Baimaiquan (Hundred Arteries Springs) Park is located within the boundaries of Mingshui in Zhangqiu, Jinan City, Shandong Province. It is famous for its lake, which formed as the result of naturally occurring springs. Among the springs, Baimaiquan, Meihuaquan (Plum Blossom Spring), Moquan (Ink Spring), and Longquan (Dragon Spring) have unique characteristics and are reputed to be among "the world's most marvelous sights." Longquan Temple is a famous Buddhist temple in the Jinan area. It was constructed in the Mingjing Taiyuan Year (1450) in Baimaiquan Park. When it was renovated in 1996, six large brush-written Chinese characters were carved in about one-meter circles on the west wall. They read: "Jing-Qi-Shen, Zhen-Shan-Ren," meaning "Essence-Qi-Spirit, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." The site has attracted many tourists from inside the province and around the country and has also led to the flourishing and development of tourism and industry in the Zhangqiu, Jinan area.

In mid-April, former Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin was scheduled to visit Shandong. Because it was reported that Jiang will visit Baimaiquan Park during the May 1 holidays, the provincial government appropriated 400 to 500 million yuan in special funds to repair the park. In the past several days, they have whitewashed the walls, replaced the old lawns with new ones, shipped in massive numbers of flowers, and planted trees. According to the staff in the garden, city leaders gave the following instructions, "Since 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance' is something for 'Falun Gong,' the leader does not like it, and we must erase these characters." On April 25, Baimaiquan Park covered the six Chinese characters with cement, smeared them with white powder, and then brushed them with red paint. All of this was done in three days, but from afar, one can still see traces of the underlying forms.

Tourists who came to visit said angrily, "'Zhen-Shan-Ren, and Jing-Qi-Shen' are part of our traditional culture. How come they are no longer good? Because some leader doesn't like them our traditional culture has to be destroyed, and the temple's historic scenery has to be damaged? Are good people afraid of 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance?' Jiang is so afraid of Falun Gong that he dares not even see a few characters."

Staff of the garden also said with irritation, "We haven't been paid for two months. The authorities have used people's hard-earned money to pave the road and deface the wall. The Communist Party should soon be finished, and Longquan Temple will resume its original appearance." Someone said, "This thing (referring to the persecution of Falun Gong) will soon be reversed. Otherwise, Jiang would not be so afraid of these characters."

In addition, all the steps inside Baimaiquan and Longquan Temple have been changed to ramps with wooden boards, because it is rumored that Jiang is unable to walk and must use a wheelchair.