Furong Gorge

Furong Gorge

Furong Gorge

Furong Gorge Furong Gorge, about three to four kilometers upstream along Haoxi Stream from Dinghu Peak, requires crossing the stream to enter the valley. The steep cliffs on both sides are entirely pitch black, and the entire mountain looks like a stone fortress cast from steel. The further you go in, the higher the cliffs become and the narrower the valley gets. At its narrowest point, the gorge splits in the middle like a gate, allowing only one person to pass through at a time, creating an imposing sight reminiscent of “one man guarding the pass, ten thousand unable to get through.” Hence, it is called Iron Gate Gorge. The scene in the movie Ashima where Ah He shoots an arrow through the cliff was filmed here. Further inside, you'll find another hidden world — surrounded by towering cliffs, the center is covered in lush green grass, known as Zizhi Valley. Legend says this is where the Eight Immortals of the East Sea drank from mountain springs and tasted purple lingzhi mushrooms. Within the valley lies the foundation of a house, the site where four reclusive scholars of the Ming Dynasty built huts and lived in seclusion.

Zizhi Valley

The central point of Furong Ridge is flanked by towering black cliffs, while the center is a low-lying area covered in vegetation and greenery. Mountain streams flow out from Iron Gate Gorge, the mouth of which is so narrow that only one person can pass through at a time. With cliffs towering a hundred zhang high, this is a famous gorge in Jinyun Xiandu, and also the legendary place where immortals grew purple lingzhi and tasted them. Hence, it is named Zizhi Valley. The Ming poet Wu Guan wrote: “In the mountains, white clouds abound, but purple lingzhi in the valley is scarce; the purple lingzhi cannot be found — for whom then are the white clouds good?” Another poet, Li Shu, wrote: “I see no one gathering lingzhi, only hear of Zizhi Valley. I come to get drunk on the white clouds, resting my head on stones beside fragrant azaleas.”

Iron Gate Gorge Iron Gate Gorge is narrow within but wide outside, extending all the way to Peacock Rock and Immortal Palm Rock by Haoxi Stream. Inside are several gorges resembling gourds, representing the essence of Furong Ridge. The Ming poet Li Tiecheng wrote: “From ancient times, this profound gorge has concealed immortal peaks; with eyes seeking truth, I gather the grand view. Cliffs embrace the valley like lotus flowers, connecting to stone chambers; coiling dragons and chrysanthemums age in the rapid currents. Letting worldly affairs fade, I forget self and ego, as if celestial winds carry me on wings. Should I meet the floating immortal and journey with him, where else could we go to refine golden elixirs?”

Screw Rock Looking from the entrance of Furong Gorge toward Zizhi Valley, in the center stands a huge rock suspended in mid-air, shaped like a snail, commonly known as Screw Rock. If you climb to the top of Furong Ridge and look down into Zizhi Valley, this rock resembles a jade qilin with a lion’s head, deer’s body, wolf’s hooves, and ox’s tail. Ancient people, believing in deities, called it the Elixir Cauldron. The Ming writer Zheng Rubi wrote in "A Record of Visiting Xiandu": “After several turns, the path narrows even more. Clinging to the gorge, facing each other, the stone gate opens in the middle, about a zhang wide. Going a little further, two pillars stand tall, suddenly splitting into steep cliffs, embraced by two mountains. In the middle appears a rock like an alchemy cauldron, round on top and hollowed below, able to seat a hundred people.”

Address: Jiǔqū Liànxī, Xiandu Scenic Area, Jinyun County, Lishui City

Type: Gorge

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour

Opening hours:

7:00–17:30

Ticket price:

25 RMB