Evening Greenery of the Taihang Mountains

Evening Greenery of the Taihang Mountains

Evening Greenery of the Taihang Mountains

The Taihang Mountains stretch like a giant screen guarding the golden sky, as miles of clear sunset clouds rise over fields and paths. Among them, a sage gathers acorns, and surely there are heroes hidden in forest springs. Clouds connect—flying toward the morning moon, the land borders You and Bing regions as evening smoke descends. Gazing west at the Three Peaks, the horse often halts; the gnarled pines and ancient trees have stood for many years. — Qing Dynasty, Wei Yilu, Baixiang County

The Taihang Mountain Range stands like a colossal screen to the west of the county, winding and undulating endlessly, with layered ridges and peaks piercing the clouds. The nearest Baiyun Mountain is about fifty li from the county town. Standing atop the city wall and gazing at the magnificent scenery of the Taihang Mountains under the setting sun creates one of the “Eight Scenic Views of Huaiyang,” known as the “Evening Greenery of the Taihang Mountains.” In the south, mountains wear a cloak of green, giving an impression of delicacy and tranquility. In the north, however, they reveal their bare blackish-brown bodies dotted with peculiar rocks and stones, exuding a rugged and bold character. The Taihang lacks the misty, dew-kissed lush beauty, but instead boasts the majestic spectacle of snow flurries and mountains dancing like silver snakes. Yet in summer and autumn, when viewed under the glow of dawn and dusk, the Taihang mountain range displays a dazzling array of colors. In the evening, take a stroll atop the western city wall and gaze into the distance. That distant mountain range, when viewed from foot to summit, shows hues of dark brown, crimson purple, deep blue, light cyan, and eventually fades into the white clouds. When the sun hangs atop Cangyan Mountain and the white clouds turn into a sky full of red glow, the area south of Cangyan’s white rocks—peaks like Xiong’er and Pengque—resemble lotus flowers touching the crimson clouds. The colors of the great mountains invert from top to bottom: ochre-red, crimson purple, deep blue, and blackish-brown. As the sun sinks in the west and dusk deepens, the mountain tones shift from blue to green, then green to dark blue-gray. By the time the evening mist gradually rises, a white misty ribbon already coils around the mountain base. In the distance, crows return to their nests in small groups; in the fields, farmers, having toiled all day, return home with their hoes. “Gazing afar at the green mountains bathed in evening light, heroes descend through the sunset haze”—what a beautiful scene is this “Evening Greenery of the Taihang Mountains.”