Sandao Rock

Sandao Rock

The Sandao Rock Scenic Area is located in Taochong Town, Tongcheng City, covering an area of approximately 10 square kilometers. The area features undulating peaks, cascading waterfalls, colorful Danxia landforms, and rising mist, resembling a natural landscape painting. It is divided into three levels: Lower Rock, Middle Rock, and Upper Rock. At Lower Rock, a waterfall plunges from the sky, scattering pearls and jade-like droplets, its roar audible hundreds of meters away; Middle Rock boasts jagged rocks and spraying springs that form a rainbow; Upper Rock cascades down from the cliff top, creating multiple-tiered waterfalls that resemble snowy curtains hanging down, with beads of water glistening like jade. In spring and autumn, clouds and mist envelop the rocks, and sunlight refracts to create dazzling, multicolored halos known as "divine light." The spectacular waterfalls and beautiful scenery make visitors linger and forget to leave. This area was also part of the “Red Tourism” route, commemorating events such as the Liu-Deng Army’s advance into the Dabie Mountains and the Crossing-the-Yangtze Campaign. The Huaguoyuan Monument and the Pannian Reservoir bear witness to this history. The renowned Wangwu Temple, its pagoda and tomb complex, the Jianggao Tomb, and the Shixing Mountain ruins are unique cultural resources within the Sandao Rock Scenic Area.

The first stop at Sandao Rock is the Jianggao Tomb, said to be a recently discovered ancient site. The Jianggao Tomb is located in the mountains beside Jiangda Road and can be found after a short walk. Both the burial mound and the tombstone are well-preserved, and the inscription by Zhang Tingyu is clearly legible. The central text reads: “The tomb of Jiang Gong, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, concurrently serving as the Pacification Commissioner of Xingquan Circuit in Fujian, and the Provincial Administration Commissioner of the Ministry of Revenue, posthumously honored with the title of Tongfeng, of the Qing Dynasty, second rank, from Leizhai,” the right side reads: “Inscribed by his nephew by marriage, Zhang Tingyu,” and the left lists the names of his descendants and great-grandchildren. The well-preserved condition of the Jianggao Tomb is largely due to its deep mountain location, coupled with the protection of dense forests. Had it been in the suburbs, it might have long since vanished. Near the tomb live several families surnamed Pan. Their houses may not look remarkable from the outside, but their layout has strong characteristics of the western part of the region. There is a central courtyard, only a few square feet in size, yet the rooms are bright—far more so than the so-called “dark six-room” houses of the northern region. On either side of the Pan family’s doorstep are stone carvings, likely remnants from wealthy households of earlier dynasties. How they ended up with common folk remains unknown. According to the Pan family, descendants of Jianggao live at the foot of the mountain, in Jiangling. The name Jiangling is likely related to Jianggao.

Near Jiangling, there is a pavilion situated in a great spot, standing in the mountains with a full view of the landscape below. Though the pavilion itself is nice, its name is rather poor. Why not call it Leizhai Pavilion or Jianggao Pavilion? A short walk past the Jianggao Tomb leads to the entrance of Sandao Rock. It is a river valley, and following the valley downward, you walk along a nearly dry riverbed filled with all kinds of oddly shaped rocks, which somewhat make up for the lack of water. In some sections, there is barely any water at all, having completely seeped under the sand to become groundwater, only resurfacing further along where the valley becomes steep.

Walking through the river valley, there are several perilous spots, but the most stunning scenery and peculiar rocks are also found in these dangerous areas. One spot is called Dragon Palace, where a stream pours down from a cave like a curtain, flowing into a deep pool. The pool is crystal clear, with fish and pebbles visible at the bottom. Inside the Water Curtain Cave, there appears to be a large snake, but upon closer inspection, it is a triangular rock embedded in the cave. Above, there are several-meter-high upside-down rocks, and below, an even taller waterfall. Due to low water volume, the waterfall has thinned to a thread, with moss growing along the water’s edge.

Another spot resembles a beautiful woman lying in a bath, or upon closer look, a mermaid playing in the water—full of charm and whimsy. Exiting the Sandao Rock river valley, you can see the legendary southern fragrant wood. The southern fragrant wood is not far from here, with a canopy-like top and distinct layers—it truly lives up to its reputation. We speculate that this tree might be several hundred years old, though locals say it’s only a few decades. A metal tag is hung on the tree, indicating its name as Southern Fragrant Wood, origin Vietnam, and identified by He Jiaqing. Sandao Rock is hailed as the finest among Tongcheng City’s ancient cliffs and famous waterfalls, complemented by rich and unique cultural landscapes, making it highly valuable for sightseeing and appreciation.