Southeast Screen

Southeast Screen

Near Dong Cave. Walking south from Aishan Pavilion, you can see a solitary peak standing tall, composed of three massive rocks arranged in a “品” shape. Ascending dozens of stone steps, you’ll feel as if Mount Tai is pressing down on you — this is the outstanding Jinping Peak among the many strange peaks and rocks of Nan Yan, also known as Stone Screen or Stone Gate Tower.

This site has been a major attraction of Nan Yan since ancient times, developed in the mid-Tang Dynasty and referred to as Stone Gate Tower during the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty poet Chen Yougong wrote, “A hundred miles around, the Yan Mountains stand; the Stone Gate is nature’s gate, no need for bolts or bars.” The Qing Dynasty poet Huang Qingxiao wrote, “Jagged cliffs rise like a painted screen from the earth, while winding waters cradle the green of surrounding hills.”

The peak stands 33 meters high, 50 meters wide, and about 4 meters thick. Beneath the main peak is a cave entrance, 4 meters high and 6 meters wide, with cliff inscriptions reading “Southeast Screen” above the lintel.

Looking through the cave entrance to the south, you’ll see two connected rocks — one resembling a snake’s head, the other a turtle — known as “Turtle and Snake Meeting.” There are also two large rocks, one like a lion and the other a tiger, called “Lion and Tiger Duel.”

Viewed from the mountain ridge, this peak resembles a “welcoming monk” wearing a square hat, extending his sleeves in a respectful greeting to visitors, competing with the “Guest-Receiving Monk” of North Yan in hospitality.