Shaoxing Dongshan Scenic Area

Shaoxing Dongshan Scenic Area

Dongshan, also known as Xie An Mountain, was not very well-known originally. However, after the renowned Eastern Jin scholar Xie An chose to live in seclusion here, many fascinating stories emerged, gradually making it a famous mountain in southeastern China. Literary figures such as Li Bai, He Zhizhang, Liu Changqing, Fang Ping, Su Dongpo, and Lu You all spent time here, leaving behind numerous celebrated poems.

Located within Shangpu Town, Shangyu, it lies 13 kilometers south of downtown Shangyu and is accessible by both land and water. Dongshan, also called Xie An Mountain, is recorded in the Shangyu County Annals as the place where the Eastern Jin scholar Xie An lived in seclusion until the age of 41. In the fourth year of the Taihe era during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (360 AD), Xie An left Dongshan to enter politics and became a renowned statesman. The idiom “rising again from Dongshan” originates from this. Poets from the Tang and Song dynasties, including Li Bai, He Zhizhang, Liu Changqing, Fang Ping, Su Dongpo, and Lu You, all lingered here and composed many famous poems. Walking along the path by the stream into the mountain, the first sight to greet you is a striking rock perched by the river — this is the “Xie An Rock” mentioned in Li Bai’s poetry, also known as “Finger Rock.” From a distance, it resembles a finger pointing toward the river and sky. On the opposite bank lies a faintly visible sandbar, with the stream winding around it to form the shape of a lute, together with the “Finger Rock” creating a vivid scene known as “the Finger Rock Playing the Lute,” hence it is also called “the Number One Finger in the South” and “the Kuaiji Lute Shoal.” Continuing along the path, you’ll come across a large flat rock jutting out over the river. The rock face is covered with vines and dotted with velvety moss — this is the famous Yanxi Fishing Stone, also known as Xie An’s Fishing Platform. A unique species of fish called “Ci Fu bream” can be found here. With a pointed head, flat body, and fan-like tail, its flesh is tender, its scales fine, and it is virtually odorless. Xie An loved eating this fish and often invited Wang Xizhi and others to fish here. If you look carefully on this mystical slab of rock, you might spot footprints of various sizes resembling wooden clogs. Legend has it that these were left by Xie An himself.

The Cao’e River winds westward along the base of Dongshan. At the point where the river bends sharply, there stands a massive rock, like a stone pillar jutting directly into the river. The top of the pillar forms a small platform that can seat one person. The area is overgrown with deadwood and weeds. The river here flows turbulently on the outside but remains calm within, making it a well-known habitat for Dongshan’s blue bream.

Xie An (320–385 AD), a prominent statesman and literatus of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, styled himself Anshi and was a native of Yangling in Chen Commandery (modern-day Taikang, Henan). During the reign of Emperor Jianwen, he served as Prefect of Wuxing, where he constructed the Western Official Pond in the city, bringing benefits to the people, and it was named “Xie Gong Pond” in his honor. In the reign of Emperor Xiaowu, he rose to the positions of Director of the Palace Secretariat and Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat. In the eighth year of the Taiyuan era (383 AD), he commanded the “Battle of Fei River,” achieving a great victory over the Qin army. Later, due to court intrigue, he was sidelined and sent to govern Guangling (modern-day Yangzhou). He soon returned to the capital, where he fell ill and passed away. Originally buried at Meishan in Jiankang (modern-day Nanjing), his tomb was disturbed in the eleventh year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty (579 AD) when Chen Shubao’s second son, Shuling, exhumed Xie An’s coffin to bury his own mother, Lady Peng. At that time, Xie An’s descendant, Xie Yiwu, who was serving as magistrate of Changcheng (modern-day Changxing), had the coffin reburied at Sanya Ridge. During the Tang Dynasty’s Dazhong era, Sanya Ridge belonged to Wan’an Township, and the Xie An Tomb still featured a stele and pillars, covering an area of over sixteen mu. In the first year of the Kangding era (1040 AD) and the fourth year of the Zhiping era (1067 AD) of the Song Dynasty, local magistrates oversaw further restorations and erected new tombstones. In the twelfth year of the Jiajing era (1533 AD) and the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen era (1642 AD), magistrates Huang Guangsheng and Li Xiangzhong respectively renovated the tomb pathway. In the fourth year of the Jiaqing era (1799 AD), Magistrate Xing Shu and Xie An’s descendant, Xie Qikun (then Governor-General of Guangxi), restored the tomb site and the Temple of the Grand Tutor. The renowned Qing scholar and Viceroy of Huguang, Yunnan, and Guizhou, Ruan Yuan, composed a five-character poem titled “Xie An at Sanya Ridge”: *“Of the Six Dynasties’ great men, Xie’s fame alone shone bright. Entrusting foes to his sons, he brushed off war’s fright. Lying low east of the hills, his glories stood through two reigns. At Meiling he first chose his tomb, then moved to Crow Village’s domains. At sunset, stone statues sleep; foxes and hares hide in wild briar. Lofty is Magistrate Xing, who mourned the past with insight.”* During the Tongzhi era, Bao (with the speech radical replaced by the gold radical) wrote: *“At Sanya Ridge, the grasses sway thick and wide; Through countless kalpas, the Grand Tutor’s mound survives. Repairing fallen traces beneath the hanging plaques, We must let woodcutters and herders know the sage who thrives.”* The Temple and Tomb of Grand Tutor Xie An were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, leaving only two tombstones — one from the Jiaqing era, now kept at the township government office, and the other embedded in a bridge pier. The tomb has since been restored.

Scenic Area Address:

Hengting Village, Shangpu Town, Shangyu City

Opening Hours: Open all day

Ticket Price: Free

Contact Number:

0575-82366112

Transportation: First go to Shangyu East Bus Station, then take bus no. 7,

and get off at Shangpu Town.

Xie An (320 – October 12, 385), styled Anshi, also known as Grand Tutor Xie, Duke Wenjing of Xie, and Xie of Dongshan, was a renowned statesman of the Eastern Jin period. Xie An studied semi-cursive script under Wang Xizhi and excelled in calligraphy, particularly in running script, authoring works such as “Two Poems from the Orchid Pavilion” and “Poems to Wang Huzhi.” He thwarted Huan Wen’s attempt to usurp the throne and was the key strategist behind the Eastern Jin victory at the Battle of Fei River. For his achievements, he was granted the title of Duke of Jianchang County. However, after the battle, his growing prestige aroused the suspicion of Emperor Xiaowu, prompting him to seek refuge in Guangling. Xie An passed away in Jiankang in 385 at the age of 66. He was posthumously honored as Grand Tutor and given the posthumous name Wenjing. … More detailed information about Xie An++