Nanping Jinjiling

Nanping Jinjiling

In front of the Golden Rooster Stone is Camel Peak, and behind it is Hedgehog Mountain. Beside Hat Peak, there is a group of peaks— one large and five small— arranged in an orderly fashion, known as Five Monkeys Worshiping Guanyin. Legend has it that these were five mischievous monkeys turned to stone by Guanyin's immobilizing spell. Under the rock to the southeast of the Golden Rooster Stone lies a reclining Buddha, approximately 5 meters long, resting its head on a palm-leaf fan, bare-chested and smiling warmly, hence called the “Smiling Buddha Resting on the Rock.” Above the rock is a boldly carved character “佛” (Buddha), and a horizontal inscription on the cliff: “Having witnessed all worldly 0,” which truly captures the essence of this smiling Buddha. No wonder visitors love to rub his big belly or lie in his embrace, sharing the view of worldly 0 with him. A couplet written for the Smiling Buddha reads: “A broad belly that can tolerate all unbearable things under heaven; an ever-smiling mouth that laughs at all the laughable people in the world.”

Starting from the entrance gate of Jinjiling at the central street of Pingshi Town and climbing up the steps, you will see the towering Yizifeng (One-Line Peak), with its steep red cliffs. Stretching over 350 meters in length and 3–6 meters in width, it resembles a massive barrier— appearing as a wall when viewed head-on, a peak from the side, and a dragon when seen from above. Upon reaching the top of Yizifeng, you can see the winding Wu River, flowing from Hunan into Guangdong like a silk ribbon. Gazing into the distance, the vast landscapes of both Hunan and Guangdong, with distant mountains and nearby rivers, along with the entire town, are spread out before your eyes. To the right of Yizifeng are the Sea Snail Peak and the Peacock Peak, both vividly shaped and lifelike. Midway along Yizifeng stands an elegant pavilion named Shengqing Pavilion. From here, you can capture many beautiful sunrise moments. Moreover, Shengqing Pavilion has a legend linked to Hong Xuanjiao, the sister of Taiping Rebellion leader Hong Xiuquan, who fought against the Qing dynasty.

The hill still preserves many legends and relics related to Hong Xuanjiao. On the Commanding Platform stands a tall statue of Hong Xuanjiao, who holds a battle saber in her hand, looking heroic and vigilant as she gazes toward the training ground ahead. When the female soldiers of the Taiping Army were stationed at Jinjiling, these heroic women often trained here. The cave where Hong Xuanjiao’s female troops stored their weapons is also called Biedong (Separate Cave). Its uniqueness lies in the fact that there are mountains beyond mountains and caves within caves. In the past, it was used to store weapons, but now it houses an 86-meter-long series of 16 stone carvings depicting the story of Hong Xuanjiao’s resistance against the Qing at Jinjiling. These carvings, rich in illustrations and finely crafted in relief, portray vivid and lifelike figures. About a hundred steps away from the Weapon Rock is the “Scenic Viewing Pavilion.” Upon arriving here, visitors are greeted with an open and uplifting view. At dawn, one can see the charming sight of fairy-like mountains lining up to welcome guests, and the glorious moment when the red sun rises behind the Danxia rocks.

Here, the scenery varies with the seasons and even changes between morning and evening. Behind the mountain lodge, nestled within the valley, is the Xuanjiao Pavilion, hidden beneath dense foliage, making it a hard-to-find and extremely secluded spot. Legend says that Hong Xuanjiao planned military strategies here during her time stationed at Jinjiling. Poet Li Rulun visited and named it “Jiao Pavilion Discussing Strategy,” composing a poem: “Steep cliffs and dense forests tempt flags to flutter; the female general tries her blade before battle. Valley winds follow songs that never cease; Xuanjiao is truly our people’s pride.”