Suspended Sword Mountain

Suspended Sword Mountain

Suspended Sword Mountain is located in the northwest of Taoling Township, Jinzhai, approximately 20 kilometers west of Jinzhai County. Provincial Highway 210 leads directly to about 1 kilometer from the foot of the mountain. The high mountain, standing at an altitude of 915 meters, is called Suspended Sword Mountain, covering a total area of 572.1 hectares. It is situated within Xin'an Village, Taoling Township, and boasts numerous scenic spots and natural landscapes rich with beautiful and mysterious legends that are widely praised and admired. It serves as a tourist destination that combines religious pilgrimage with sightseeing, and holds broad development prospects.

Suspended Sword Mountain is located in the inland area of the county. Though not particularly high in elevation, it is quite famous. Legend has it that this was where the Yellow Dragon Immortal and the Immortal Maid Ma practiced asceticism and attained enlightenment, with the Maiden Ma Cave serving as evidence. Thus, it was originally called “Erxian Mountain” (Two Immortals Mountain). Later, during the Qing Dynasty, Chen Boqing, unable to bear the oppression and corruption of the Qing court, gathered several righteous men on the mountain. To rally support, Chen placed military treatises at the mountain peak and hung a treasured sword from the cliff, claiming them to be divine artifacts bestowed by heaven. This was meant to signify that their rebellion was divinely ordained and in accordance with fate. The rebel army continued to grow, repeatedly inflicting heavy defeats on Qing troops, creating quite a stir. Since then, “Erxian Mountain” was renamed Suspended Sword Mountain.

The massive body of Suspended Sword Mountain is entirely composed of rock, with cliffs rising steeply thousands of feet high. There are nine peaks arranged in a row, as if cleaved by axe and chisel, resembling swords carried on the mountaintop. Since ancient times, it has been said that there is only one path leading to the mountain peaks. Along the way, there are countless twists and turns, fraught with danger, where every step reveals a new scene. Known for its precipitous peaks, rugged rocks, primitive forests, secluded caves, peculiar pines and stones, morning mists and clouds, spring blossoms and autumn fruits, summer shade and winter frost, as well as the simple and honest folk customs and beautiful, mystical legends, it has gained renown. Preliminary surveys have identified ruins of three strongholds—North, South, and Central—as well as a horse racing ground, the Welcoming Pine of the Immortal Mountain, the Stone Divine Sword, the Stone Heavenly Book, the Stone Chair, the Stone Rooster, the Stone Dog, the Stone Elephant, the Stone Table, the Stone Gate, the Stone Forest, the Stone Bamboo Shoot, the Stone Mother, the Stone Father, the Stone Chessboard, the Token Stone, the Flying Stone, the Jade Fragrant Stone, the Heavenly Spring, the Heavenly Cave, the Maiden Ma Cave, the Three Immortals Ascending the Mountain, the Arhat’s Belly, the One-Line Sky, the Cloud Pine Pavilion, the Wind-Moving Stone, the Lovers’ Tree, the Eagle Seeking Treasure, the Echoing Pool, the Challenge Platform, the Southern Heaven Pillar, the Southern Heaven Gate, the Lifesaving Stone, the Immortal Path, and the Boqing Tomb. There are also dozens of other sites awaiting recognition and naming by experts and scholars. With numerous spots, each vividly lifelike—some endearing in their simplicity, others exquisite and profound, some vast and unfathomable, and others quietly hidden—the mountain offers rich tourism value and deep cultural significance.

Suspended Sword Mountain spans an area of 25 square kilometers. According to investigations and evaluations by professors from Anhui Agricultural University, the mountain still retains nearly 100 acres of tea tree forests, which form the most well-preserved contiguous tea forest in western Anhui. Scenic views abound here in every season, each with its own unique charm. Travelers arriving via boat tours from Meishan Lake, the Dam, Swan Island, and Meishan Reservoir to Longtan Wharf can retrace the Red Army's route and then walk 5 kilometers to the foot of the South Stronghold of Suspended Sword Mountain. There, they can admire the picturesque scenery of the mountain, gaze into the distance, look up and down, and take in the vibrant layers of forest—all while experiencing the thrill of its dangers, the simplicity of its rustic charm, and the joy of its wilderness. From this lofty vantage point, all worldly worries instantly vanish, and one’s mind is filled with clarity and contentment.

Suspended Sword Mountain enjoys a superior geographical location, just 20 kilometers from the county seat, with Provincial Highway 210 running close by, ensuring convenient transportation. All of the mountain’s scenic spots are located within Xin'an Village, Taoling Township. The mountain faces Meishan Reservoir, backs onto Shuanghe Temple, overlooks Lotus Mountain nearby, neighbors Jinguangtai, and stands opposite the distant Tian Tang Zhai. Once comprehensively developed, it will integrate with other attractions within the county seat, forming a cohesive network. This makes it a strategic move to establish one- or two-day tour routes within Jinzhai County, achieving multiple benefits at once.

Development conditions for tourism at Suspended Sword Mountain. Tourism is one of the fastest-growing and most promising industries of the new century, and ecotourism is among the most potential and highly regarded forms of tourism in the market. Suspended Sword Mountain features breathtaking scenery and beautiful legends. Throughout the year, visitors flock here, drawn by its fame, to climb the mountain, enjoy the sights, reflect on history, and pray to the deities. At its peak, thousands visit daily. People from all directions come together, awakening local awareness of tourism development. The community has voluntarily contributed over 100,000 yuan to build the Yellow Dragon Immortal Pavilion, construct more than 500 steps, and install four water pumps that bring water uphill. The foundation for the “Three Pure Ones Hall” temple has also been completed. As people’s material and cultural living standards continue to rise, more and more people are engaging in sightseeing and travel, and the desire for development among locals is growing stronger. The leadership of Taoling Township Party Committee and government also attaches great importance to this and is committed to developing Suspended Sword Mountain tourism as quickly as possible.

Taoling Township: Located in the heartland of Jinzhai County, on the northwest bank of Meishan Reservoir, Taoling Township is 41 kilometers from the county seat of Meishan. The terrain is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast, with water on the east, south, and west sides, and mountains encircling the northwest. It is a typical agricultural township that combines characteristics of a reservoir area, a cold highland region, and a poverty-stricken area.

　 The township governs 14 villages, 208 groups, 7,318 households, and a population of 27,850, covering a total area of 119.5 square kilometers, including 128,000 mu of mountainous land. There are 7,000 mu of arable land, averaging only 0.26 mu per person. At the end of 2004, farmers... More detailed information about Taoling Township ++