Longxu Mountain

Longxu Mountain

Longxu Mountain is located on the eastern bank of Dengyuan River in Jixi, Anhui. It connects to Qigu Mountain in the east and features two peaks. The main peak, Long Peak, stands at an elevation of 1048.6 meters and has a Dragon Pool at its summit that never dries up throughout the year. The secondary peak, Baisha Peak, boasts scenic spots such as Dragon Terrace Rock, Stone Gate, Stone Stairs, and Waterfalls. A Ming Dynasty poet, Chen Zhang, once wrote: “The major and minor peaks are sharp as forged iron, their towering summits even more extraordinarily spectacular. Where has the Taoist built his cloud bridge? Ascend straight to the mountaintop to gaze upon the dragon’s cave.”

On the western foothills, there used to be the Longfeng Chan Temple and Guqiao An, both of which have been destroyed. It is said that the Longfeng Chan Temple was where Hu Zongxian, a Ming Dynasty figure, studied. The mountain grows Longxu grass, which was used to make high-quality paper known as Longxu Paper in ancient times. Li Yu, the last ruler of the Southern Tang Dynasty, cherished this paper greatly and stored it in his “Chengxin Hall,” making Longxu Paper famous throughout the land and even more valuable than those from Bashu. The mountain is named after this grass. Longxu Mountain is home to many peculiar peaks, strange rocks, lush vegetation, cascading waterfalls, flowing springs, sea of clouds, and rosy clouds, making it one of the notable mountains in the region.

Longxu Mountain features many peculiar peaks, strange rocks, lush vegetation, cascading waterfalls, flowing springs, sea of clouds, and rosy clouds. On the western foothills, there used to be the Longfeng Chan Temple and Guqiao An, both of which have been destroyed. It is said that the Longfeng Chan Temple was where Hu Zongxian, a Ming Dynasty figure, studied. The mountain grows Longxu grass, which was used to make high-quality paper known as Longxu Paper in ancient times. Li Yu, the last ruler of the Southern Tang Dynasty, cherished this paper greatly and stored it in his “Chengxin Hall,” making Longxu Paper famous throughout the land and even more valuable than those from Bashu. The mountain is named after this grass.

A Ming Dynasty poet, Chen Zhang, once wrote: “The major and minor peaks are sharp as forged iron, their towering summits even more extraordinarily spectacular. Where has the Taoist built his cloud bridge? Ascend straight to the mountaintop to gaze upon the dragon’s cave.” Longxu Mountain is a desertified mountain, where the narrowest parts of the ridgeline can only accommodate one foot, with cliffs on either side. Most of the rocks on the ridgeline have weathered into gravel and white sand, with some areas being rather slippery.

Scenic views can be seen from the ridgeline in front of the main peak and the observation decks at the passes. The northwest mountain path offers views throughout, with landscapes distinct from those of nearby mountains—featuring numerous peculiar rocks and waterfalls, and offering very beautiful scenery. The entire hike is mostly along the ridgeline of Baisha Peak, with panoramic views all around. In the northwest direction, one can clearly see Qingliang Peak, Dazhang Mountain, Baizhang Cliff, Zhangshan Grand Canyon, and the winding mountain path toward Lüjing. The surrounding peaks rise in layers, while several ancient villages—including Yulongchuan, Beicun, Hucun, and Fuling—are dotted among vast fields of rapeseed flowers.

There is a small cliff on the mountain body, and several sections of the path cling to the cliffside, about 4 to 5 meters high. From the mountaintop, one can clearly see sights such as Qingliang Peak and Zhangshan Grand Canyon. Some parts of the ridgeline resemble the Yellow Mountain’s “Crabshell Ridge,” with cliffs on either side. At the foot of the mountain, a clear river meanders through, its surface reflecting the green spring trees on both banks. Not far away, verdant mountains loom under a thin veil of mist—a truly breathtaking scene.

This is a unique landform, with the mountain consisting of weathered rocks and gravel, creating a sharp contrast with the lush green mountains nearby. It is truly a mountain with a strong character. Compared to the other mountain ranges nearby, Longxu Mountain stands out prominently, bearing the desolate and proud aura of weathering through the ages...