Gourd Cliff

Gourd Cliff

The Immortal’s Abode is located about 60 to 70 meters west of Longevity Hill, on the mountainside north of the reservoir. Originally called “Gourd Cliff,” it is a natural stone cave that can accommodate twenty to thirty people. It features an overhanging eave, is 13 meters long and 2 meters high, with entrances on the east and west sides and windows on the south. A horizontal stone inside resembles a writing desk and can hold hundreds of scrolls. The east entrance overlooks a steep cliff. In the crevices of the cave grow several clumps of green reeds and a few sprigs of fragrant mugwort, which emit moisture and fragrance, creating a delightful sight.

In the 15th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty, Tao Shu, who served as the military inspection commissioner for three provinces, explored this scenic spot in Sucheng. He renamed “Gourd Cliff” to “The Immortal’s Abode” and inscribed the three regular-script characters “The Immortal’s Abode” on the stone wall at the cave’s ceiling.

On the western side of the stone desk inside The Immortal’s Abode, there are three characters “Ban Ban Ju” (Half-Half Abode) engraved by the monk Tongsu, who was the abbot of Faxi Temple during the Qing Dynasty. Above the southern window is inscribed “Jade Maiden Window,” written by Tao Shu. Through the Jade Maiden Window, the water of the Sucheng Reservoir is as smooth as a mirror, and Baojia Mountain appears like a green snail floating on a sea of emerald. The shimmering water and verdant mountain form a breathtakingly beautiful scene.