Tianzhu Peak of Tianzhu Mountain

Tianzhu Peak of Tianzhu Mountain

Tianzhu Peak, standing at an elevation of 1,489.8 meters, towers dramatically above the earth like a solitary pillar reaching into the sky. Its rugged, jagged body is made entirely of stone, magnificent and exquisite in beauty — resembling a pillar, a cone, a torch, a sword, a pavilion, or even a magical brush pen. Hence, it has earned the praise: “After seeing the Five Great Mountains, no other mountains need be seen; after seeing Huangshan, no other peaks in the Five Great Mountains need be seen; and after seeing Tianzhu, no other peaks need be seen!” When the great Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai passed by the Yangtze River near Susong, he caught sight of the majestic beauty of Tianzhu Peak and burst into song: “A wondrous peak emerges from wondrous clouds; graceful trees are filled with graceful aura. The clear sky over Mount Wan (Tianzhu), steep and sheer, pleases the heart….” Bai Juyi also once praised: “Tianzhu Peak alone holds up sun and moon; the cave gate, a thousand ren high, locks in clouds and thunder.” The Song Dynasty scholar Zhu Xi sighed deeply: “Lofty as Heaven’s single pillar, it stands majestically in the east. They speak only of how vast Heaven and Earth are — but who knows the merit of this pillar that holds them up?” The Ming Dynasty’s Li Geng also lauded: “Majestically stands Tianzhu Peak, towering sharply into the heavens. Before even halfway up, one feels already in Penglai. Leaning on emptiness among cranes and phoenixes, every step shrouded in mist and cloud. In all the world there are wondrous mountains — yet none compare to this one.”

Tianzhu Peak rises abruptly and stands alone, with sheer cliffs that make it extremely difficult to climb. According to records, to date, only two tourists have successfully reached its summit.

Tianzhu Peak has many other names:

Chaoyang Peak (Sunrise Peak): Tianzhu Peak towers above all other peaks, and when the sun rises above the horizon, the first ray of sunlight shines on its summit, while the last ray also fades there. It basks in sunlight all day, though it remains hidden in clouds most of the year. Due to the frequent fog and mist in the Jianghuai region, the main peak remains enshrouded in cloud about half the year.

Siming Peak (Lord of Life Peak): Tianzhu Mountain is a famous Taoist mountain, known as the 14th Grotto-Heaven and the 57th Blessed Land, under the jurisdiction of the deity Siming Zhenjun (Lord of Life). Thus, the main peak is called Siming Peak.

Hèjià Peak (Crane Carriage Peak): Old records state that every mid-spring (February), thousands of white cranes fly in from the southwest to circle and hover around Tianzhu Peak. This is actually due to the seasonal migration of birds as spring returns.

Wǎnbó Jiān (Wan Lord’s Summit): The Tianzhu Mountain area was historically part of the ancient Wan Kingdom, which derived its name from Wan Gong (Lord Wan). Therefore, Tianzhu Peak is the summit of Wan Lord’s Mountain. Sǔnzi Jiān (Bamboo Shoot Summit): Named for its shape, the Qing Dynasty writer Chu Guangqian wrote in *A Travelogue of Mount Wan* that Tianzhu Peak is “sharp at the top and full at the base, rugged on all sides, like a spring bamboo shoot breaking through the soil and spreading its sheath.” On the southern cliff of the peak’s summit are eight large horizontally inscribed characters: “Gūlì Qíngxiāo” (Solitary, Holding Up the Sky) and “Zhōngtiān Yīzhù” (Pillar of Mid-Heaven), each five square feet in size. “Gūlì Qíngxiāo” was written by Li Yunlin, a general under Zeng Guofan and military commander of the Qing army, during his stationing in Qianshan. It was carved by the medicinal herb gatherers He Liangmou and He Liangzuo. “Zhōngtiān Yīzhù” was inscribed by Zhang Gan, Deputy Commander of the Fifth War Zone, during his visit to Tianzhu. It was carved by He Liangmou’s great-grandson He Laichao and He Laibin.