Qin Gao Mountain Cliff Inscriptions

Qin Gao Mountain Cliff Inscriptions

The Qin Gao Mountain Cliff Inscriptions are a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The Qin Gao Mountain Cliff Inscriptions are located in Qinxī Town, Jing County.

Qin Gao Mountain Cliff Inscriptions are located in Qinxī Town, Qinxī County.

Qin Gao Mountain stands majestically by the Qinxī River and is also known as Qin Gao Peak. In ancient times, it was also called Qin Gao Terrace. Legend says that the Han recluse Qin Gao practiced alchemy here, attained enlightenment and became immortal, and then “rode a carp to ascend to heaven.” The mountain and river thus gained their name.

The Qing Dynasty scholar Zhao Qingli wrote in “The Ballad of Qin Gao”: “North of Jingchuan City stands Qinxi Peak, beneath which lies an exquisite cave. It is said to be the place of Qin Gao, where after refining elixirs, he rode a carp into the heavenly wind.” The mountain features a solitary peak, with steep cliffs resembling a majestic lion, hence locals also call it Lion Mountain. The mountain hosts historic sites such as Hidden Rain Rock and Alchemy Cave. Inside the Alchemy Cave, there are peculiar stones like an alchemy stove, stone table, and stone stools, all believed to be relics of the immortal Qin Gao’s alchemical practices. Outside and to the left of the cave stands a striking rock, upright and proud like a rooster, known as “Golden Rooster Stone.” Legend has it that a golden rooster once perched on this rock and would crow loudly upon hearing the sounds of music or drums. During the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing era, Wang Tinggan, a scholar from Jing County who once served as an external member of the Ministry of Revenue, composed a poem titled “Golden Rooster Stone at Qinxī,” which reads: “Qinxī opens a jade cave, strange rocks resemble a golden rooster...” According to old county records, the cliffs of Qin Gao Mountain feature twenty to thirty cliff inscriptions from various dynasties, the most in the entire county. These include quatrains and long poems inscribed by Xing Ju, Wu Pingyi, and Du Wei from the Tang Dynasty’s Kaiyuan era; by Jiang Yingshu, Guo Xiangzheng, Chao Duanben, Liu Yi, and Zhao Jingchen during the Song Dynasty; by Lin Chun’s seal script “Qin Gao Terrace” inscribed on the steepest cliff by the river during the Southern Song Dynasty; and by Chen Xiao’s characters “Fairy Peak” carved into the stone during the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era, each character spanning over a foot. Most of these cliff inscriptions were created by master calligraphers, elegant yet vigorous, each showcasing distinct styles. The engravers were also highly skilled artisans, adept in carving techniques, with every stroke vividly conveying the original brushwork. Despite centuries of weathering, these inscriptions remain largely uneroded to this day, with “Fairy Peak” still as clear and spiritually resonant as ever. The existence of these cliff inscriptions constitutes precious historical artifacts. In the past, at the foot of Qin Gao Mountain, there were also ancient structures such as “Qin Gao Temple,” “Sen Cui Tower,” “Cui Hai Villa,” and “Official-Receiving Pavilion,” all of which were destroyed during the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods, leaving only ruins today.

“Timeless fame calls forth travelers.” The Qinxī scenery centered around Qin Gao Mountain boasts not only the beauty of green mountains and clear waters but also the wonder of secluded caves and peculiar rocks, making it a renowned scenic attraction since ancient times. Ever since the Tang Dynasty, it has drawn crowds of visitors, with scholars and celebrities frequently visiting. The “Poet Immortal” Li Bai wrote in “Climbing Xiangshan on the Ninth Day”: “A crimson carp surges where Qin Gao dwelt, a white turtle guides the River God. The spirits and immortals seem near, yet how can I repay such distant knowledge?” And in “In Reply to Cui Fifteen’s Invitation”: “You have writing like birds’ tracks, inviting me to drink at Qinxī. Your handwriting in the letter is like heavenly brocade falling from the clouds.” The Song Dynasty literary giant Ouyang Xiu once composed a poem: “Since Qin Gao departed, he has never returned—what use are immortals even if they exist?” The Qing Dynasty’s Yuan Mei specially wrote the poem “Qinxī, Said to Be Where Qin Gao Rode a Carp”: “Qinxī Mountain, as if waiting for someone, stands like a goose facing the river all day. Qinxī Water, so clear to play in, mist rises from the eleven arches of the central bridge. The alchemical inscriptions in the cave cannot be deciphered, wild cold smoke sways the stone walls, riverside grass and flowers bloom autumn and spring again, the immortal strikes once but there is no reply. I laugh at Qin Gao—you were no true immortal after all. You rode a carp away, but never rode one back.” The numerous poems and writings by literati through the ages have left behind timeless tales about Qin Gao Mountain.

Protected Area: East to the village-level cement road at the foot of the mountain (16 meters), south and west extending 20 meters outward from the foot of the mountain, north to Qinxī Canal (10–16 meters).

Construction Control Zone: Outside the protected area, east to the Qinxī River floodplain (approximately 50 meters), south and west same as the protected area, north 100 meters.

Qinxī Town: Qinxī Town is located 10 kilometers northeast of Jing County, covering a total area of 93.12 square kilometers, including 57,000 mu of mountainous land and 18,660 mu of arable land. It administers 8 village committees, 192 villager groups, 1 neighborhood committee, 3 resident groups, 5,936 households, and a population of 19,955.

Provincial Highway 322 runs through the town, providing very convenient transportation. The area features lofty mountains, long-flowing green waters, vast territory, and abundant resources. It mainly produces coal, yellow sand, refractory clay, limestone, flint clay, marble, iron ore, bamboo, and timber. In recent years, our town has focused on... More detailed information on Qinxī Town++