Intoxicating Stone

Intoxicating Stone

The scientific name of the Intoxicating Stone is "diabase vortex column structure." It consists of many cylindrical rocks lying horizontally in the valley floor, oriented mostly from east to west and varying in size. These cylinders have a central stone core in their cross-section, from which fractures radiate outward.

This peculiar rock formation has long intrigued ancient people. Han Dynasty scholar Mei Cheng called it the "stream that pierces through the stone on Mount Tai," commonly known as Black Stone Wharf. It is a diabase rock featuring annular joints, which is rare both domestically and internationally. Some even carved the two characters “醉心” (Intoxicating) on the cross-section of one stone pillar, expressing the ancients’ awe at the miraculous craftsmanship of Mount Tai’s extraordinary stones.

The formation of the Intoxicating Stone still lacks a definitive explanation, yet it continues to draw numerous visitors and scholars each year for observation and study. Here, the valley winds around, with clear streams, green pools, forested mountain slopes, and lush undergrowth, creating a truly secluded paradise.

After exiting the archway of Red Gate Palace and heading north, the mountain scenery suddenly opens up. To the right of the mountain path, the sound of tinkling water can be heard from the stream in the middle of the mountain. The “Little Grotto Heaven” of Mount Tai lies hidden within the valley. Turning right along the winding path and proceeding northeast for a short distance brings you to Little Grotto Heaven, where lush soft grass, verdant cypress trees, and murmuring streams create a serene atmosphere.

Descending into the valley, you’ll find a huge flat rock slab resembling a broad table, spanning 12 square meters and 1.5 meters thick. On the southern side, there is an inscription by Gan Yingjia, the magistrate of Tai’an Prefecture during the Ming Dynasty, and written by Fan Guang, reading “Little Grotto Heaven.” To the left is a rocky ravine filled with uniquely shaped, rugged rocks. The valley bottom features cascading cliffs and a horizontal waterfall. During the rainy season, the clear waters of the middle stream trickle out from crevices in the rocks. Over the years, this has eroded three water basins: Willow Branch Bay, Horse Drinking Bay, and Stone Gorge Bay.

On nights when the moon is full and the water is high, the moon reflects in the basins, creating three beautiful moonlit silhouettes — a scene filled with poetic charm.

Red Gate Palace, fully named Mount Tai Red Gate Palace, is located on the southern foothills of Mount Tai in Tai’an City, Shandong Province, within the territories of Licheng and Changqing counties, northwest of Queen Mother’s Pool. It serves as the starting point for climbing Mount Tai and gets its name from two red-colored cliffs resembling gate doors on the northwest cliff.

The founding date of Red Gate Palace is unknown. In front of the palace are three stone memorial archways: “One-Day Gate,” “Where Confucius Ascended,” and “Heavenly Stairs.” Inside the palace, there are separate eastern and western courtyards. The main hall of the eastern courtyard has three rooms and was originally a Taoist temple, later used to enshrine the Maitreya Buddha, commonly known as the Maitreya Hall. There are also three-room rest pavilions and changing rooms. The main hall of the western courtyard has three rooms dedicated to the worship of Bixia Yuanjun, the Goddess of Mount Tai. South of the hall is the Heyun Pavilion, and to the right of the hall is the Qiezi Pavilion.