Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder

Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder

Introduction The Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder is located on the cliffs on the northwest side of Lotus Peak. Not far from the “Lotus Stalk,” there are two large rocks—one shaped like a turtle and the other like a snake—lying parallel to each other. Over a hundred steep and perilous steps are carved out of the cliff face, passing between the two rocks and descending downwards. Viewed from the opposite Ao Fish Cave, the steps hang above a deep abyss, resembling a long ladder leaning against the cliff wall, often shrouded in mist, making it extremely treacherous. This is the “Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder.” The turtle and snake rocks just happen to be at the entrance of the ladder, as if guarding it, hence the name “Turtle and Snake Guarding the Cloud Ladder.” During the Ming Dynasty, Hou Shijing once wrote a poem: “The crevice in the sky is too high to ascend; deep within the clouds lies a ladder to climb. Monkeys, startled, dare not scale the rugged rocks; birds, terrified, delay their flight and land on wild vines. Travelers with walking sticks often tread up and down; monks in straw sandals frequently brave the challenge. The later steps are fortunate to be sheltered by wondrous pines, standing alone to shield the most perilous sections.” Modern poets have also written: “A hundred steps on the cloud ladder startle the heart, winding and twisting toward the heavens. Do not say nature holds many dangers; the journey of life is even harder.”

Legend has it that long ago, there lived a kind-hearted man named Huang at the foot of the mountain, who spent his days repairing bridges, mending roads, and doing good deeds. At that time, the front mountain and the back mountain were not connected, and the bottleneck was this cliff between Lotus Stamen Peak and Ba Fish Peak. Locals called this cliff the “Head-Chopping Cliff.” Huang, willing to pay a high price, could not hire any help, leaving him no choice but to do the work himself. His kindness reached Tieguai Li, the immortal beggar known for saving the suffering. To test Huang’s determination to open the path, Tieguai Li transformed into a beautiful young woman hiking and got lost in front of the Head-Chopping Cliff, asking Huang to escort her out of the mountain. Huang agreed to guide the lost woman down the mountain, but unexpectedly, she kept finding ways to make things difficult for him—first spraining her ankle, then scraping her skin—insisting that he carry her down. After descending, she told him: “I will come to take you to heaven tomorrow to join the immortals.” Only then did Huang realize that the beggar was actually Tieguai Li. The next day, Huang found himself effortlessly carving out several stone steps. When he straightened up, the sky was clear and light, and a flat, wide stone stairway stretched all the way from the mountain foot to the summit. Tieguai Li approached with a smile. Huang quickly said, “Immortal, please wait. Let me carve the words ‘Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder Built by Tieguai Li’ as a memento, would you?” Tieguai Li replied, “No need, no need. Immortals seek no fame; mortals can hardly be free of vanity. Come with me now!” He then took Huang’s hand, and together they ascended into the clouds. Later, a wandering monk, seeing that the Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder was the key passage between the front and back mountains, harbored evil thoughts and falsely claimed that he had funded its construction, demanding tolls from all passersby. This violated Buddhist precepts, and the Jade Emperor sent a golden-armored deity who struck him with a whip, turning him into the “Meditating Old Monk” rock formation.

Anhui, Huangshan City