Shiren Peak

Shiren Peak

Introduction: Shiren Peak is located in the southwestern part of Huangshan Mountain, to the west of Shichuang Peak and near Shizhu Peak. It is one of the 36 major peaks, with an elevation of 1,310 meters. The peak is small but steep, and at its summit there are rocks that strikingly resemble two elderly men sitting facing each other. Unchanged through wind, dew, and the shifting tides of time, they have stood the test of ages—hence the name. A Song Dynasty poet, Jiao Cuifeng, wrote: “Stone may form their bones, yet surely that’s not real; / Iron might make their hearts—but is that truly felt? / Back when Rongcheng attained his elixir and left, / Why not turn these stones to immortals as well?” The poet suggests that Shiren Peak was transformed through Rongcheng’s alchemical enlightenment, thus bestowing upon it a mystical aura and enhancing its allure. A Ming Dynasty poet, Chen Gong, also wrote: “Gazing through the misty haze, all is embraced; / Did the stubborn neck ever bow its face? / Standing alone on high cliffs through timeless years, / It shames all worldly souls so soft and sere.”

Anhui, Huangshan City