Eagle Beak Rock

Eagle Beak Rock

Eagle Beak Rock is located in the North Tianxin Scenic Area of Wuyi Mountain, Fujian. A few hundred meters west of the Ancient Cliff Dwellings, you can see a massive rock that resembles an eagle. This is a single, cohesive boulder with a bare summit; its eastern end juts forward, sharply curved like a beak, resembling an eagle about to spread its wings and soar. The hook-shaped “eagle beak” features an ancient juniper growing on it, which adds a touch of magic and elegance, leaving visitors in awe. For this reason, it is also known as the most peculiar rocky peak in Wuyi Mountain.

Eagle Beak Rock is a massive, unified boulder with a bare summit and an eastern end that thrusts forward, sharply curved like a beak. Strikingly, a gnarled ancient juniper grows atop the hook-shaped “eagle beak,” lending it an air of grace and vitality. The vertical cliffs descending from the summit are smooth and glossy, white with hints of red, while the gently arched ridges are dark, faintly etched with cracks that resemble plump feathers. Standing by Zhangtang Stream and looking up at Eagle Beak Rock, one sees it standing tall on the mountaintop, reaching toward the blue sky, as if poised to flap its wings and soar into the heavens—an awe-inspiring sight of grandeur.

Legend has it that Eagle Beak Rock was once a monstrous eagle in Wuyi Mountain. It is said that when the Queen Mother of the West was nursing the infant Golden Boy during her visit to Wuyi Mountain, the evil eagle swooped down from the sky and snatched one of her breasts. Furious, the Queen Mother turned the eagle into stone, giving rise to scenic spots such as the Twin Breast Peaks, the Monk Carrying the Nun, and the Boy Worshipping Guanyin. At the foot of Eagle Beak Rock lies a triangular fallen stone by the roadside, resembling the eagle’s lower jaw—reportedly struck down by lightning. Perhaps it is the remnant that fell from the “eagle beak.”

Beneath the outstretched wings of this soaring eagle lies a cave chamber formed by Eagle Beak Rock and several nearby stones stacked together. Triangular in shape, the cave is six meters deep and about four meters wide. Inside, there are simple stone beds, tables, and chairs, as well as diagrams of the Eight Trigrams and celestial constellations. The entrance of the cave faces the sea and is bright, bathed in gentle breezes, offering views of majestic landscapes and natural beauty that are truly enchanting. Inside, the cave is dark but quiet, making it an ideal spot for reading, reflecting, and cultivating one’s character. In his youth, Huang Daozhou, a Ming Dynasty scholar and Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall, once studied diligently here and called himself “Mr. Stone Studio.” On the left wing of the giant eagle are carved the characters “Stone Studio,” accompanied by a few lines: “The master’s integrity shines through the ages; though the stone studio is desolate, only ruins remain. Fish leap and kites soar, embodying the great way. These two characters are inscribed to inspire future generations.” This inscription was made in the fourth year of the Republic of China (1915) by Xu Shiying, the imperial inspector, during his visit to Dongmen Islet. It signifies that Huang Daozhou’s moral virtue had reached the highest realm, illuminating all things in heaven and earth—a supreme compliment to his knowledge and character. Huang Daozhou was the most erudite scholar of the Ming Dynasty, excelling in I Ching studies, Neo-Confucianism, astronomy, and calligraphy, leading the late Ming era in these fields. The Ming geographer Xu Xiake praised him: “Among all men, only Shi Zhai [Huang Daozhou] stands above; his calligraphy ranks first among court scholars, his writings first in our dynasty, his character first in the land, and his learning directly inherited from the sages Zhou and Confucius, making him foremost through the ages.” Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty lauded him as “truly the most virtuous man under heaven.” And yet, it was under such humble conditions that Huang Daozhou acquired profound knowledge and cultivated unyielding integrity, eventually soaring like an eagle through the skies—showcasing how difficult it was for ancient scholars to achieve greatness. Behind Eagle Beak Rock lies a huge stone inscribed with four bold, powerful regular script characters: “Haibin Zoulu” (Coastal Land of Eminent Scholars). Written in strong, upright strokes, these characters were jointly inscribed in the 11th year of the Guangxu reign (1886) by Wu Fang of Ningxiang (Ningxiang County, Hunan), Cheng Xinzhi of Chuxi (Hubei), and Zhang Tingzhen of Yuzhang (Jiangxi) during their visit to Dongmen Islet. Inspired by Huang Daozhou’s scholarship and integrity, they compared Dongshan to the birthplace of Confucius and Mencius, signifying a place of flourishing culture and education. Even while studying in the Stone Studio of Eagle Beak Rock, Huang Daozhou remarked, “Even the boatmen of my hometown can compose fine writings.” Though Dongshan is tucked away in a remote corner of the southeast, it boasts a rich cultural heritage and a tradition of scholarship—“Haibin Zoulu” is the highest praise for this.

Scenic Spot Location

North Tianxin Scenic Area, Wuyi Mountain National Tourism Resort, Wuyishan City, Nanping, Fujian (a few hundred meters west of the Ancient Cliff Dwellings)

Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area

Dahongpao Scenic Area

Da’anyuan Ecological Tourism Area

China Wuyi Tea Expo Park

Nine Bend Stream

Azure Dragon Waterfall

Wuyi Royal Purple Auto-Themed Park

Wuyi Mountain Water Curtain Cave

Great King Peak

Wuyi Mountain One-Line Sky

Wuyi Palace

Tiger Roaring Rock

Cloud Nest

Wuyi Mountain Jade Valley

Imperial Tea Garden Ruins

Yulong Valley

Chengcun Han City Ruins

Liu Yong Memorial Hall