Xisai Mountain Scenic Area

Xisai Mountain Scenic Area

Xisai Mountain Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Xisai Mountain Scenic Area is located on the southern bank of the Yangtze River in the eastern part of Huangshi City. It covers a planned total area of 0.495 square kilometers. The area features the rugged and picturesque natural landscapes of Xisai Mountain along with its diverse historical sites as its physical mainstay, and combines the long and eventful history of the ancient Huangshi City at Daosifu as well as ancient poetry from bygone eras as its important cultural essence.

Also known as Daosifuji or Jitou Mountain, Xisai Mountain has an elevation of 176.5 meters. From the late Eastern Han Dynasty to before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, there were over 100 battles fought at Xisai Mountain. Literati and scholars who came to admire the mountain’s morning light and evening hues composed nearly a hundred poems and lyrics expressing their aspirations and emotions, leaving behind numerous cliff inscriptions on the steep rock faces. Starting in May 1985, the city’s gardening authorities began developing walking trails, corridors, the Shangguan Pavilion, the Taohua Pavilion, iron chain railings along the river, as well as restoring the Taohua Ancient Cave and the ancient Fishing Platform. The scenic spots have since been continuously developed and utilized.

The Taohua Ancient Cave is situated in the steep cliffs on the northern side of Xisai Mountain, facing the river. The cave is about 3 meters high, round at the top and square at the bottom, resembling a temple gate. About 2 meters inside, it is sealed off by stalactites. Legend has it that this was a place where the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Zhihe rested or took shelter from wind and rain while living in seclusion and fishing. The cave entrance is inscribed with the words “Taohua Ancient Cave.” In 1985, the perilous path known as Yixian Gorge, which was the only way to reach the ancient cave, was widened, and a 90-meter-long iron chain railing was installed to ensure visitor safety.

On the northeastern cliffs of the mountain, there used to be many cliff inscriptions, such as Flying Boat, Turtle Rock, Tiger and Leopard Pass, Dragon Cave, Cloud Forest Delight, Towering Pinnacle, as well as Bell Cliff and Buddha’s Palm, some of which have faded over time.

On a stone stele over 4 meters high on the river-facing side of Xisai Mountain, the three large characters “Xisai Mountain” are engraved, each measuring one square meter. They were handwritten by Zhu Qichang, a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations during the Ming Dynasty.

The Xisai Mountain Iron Stake is located on the jetty head to the right of the Taohua Cave. It is 8.2 cm high, 3 cm wide, and 1 cm thick, with a groove in the middle and a wedge beside it. It is said to be a remnant of King Sun Hao of Wu’s iron chains stretched across the river.

Longkui Temple is located at the foot of the eastern side of Xisai Mountain. It is a relic from the Tang Dynasty and was partially restored in 1986. Legend has it that a peony tree planted during the Ming Dynasty once grew in the temple. A maid from the Jia family in the area defied her master’s wishes to help a poor scholar travel to the capital for imperial examinations, only to die tragically. After achieving success, the scholar returned to repay the kindness, and the maid used the peony to prove her innocence, causing the flower to turn pure white, fragrant, and dazzlingly beautiful. The flower was taken away by the Japanese during World War II.

The Beiwang Pavilion, a classical-style structure, is located atop the northern peak of Xisai Mountain. From here, visitors can look down at the surging river flowing eastward and the vast green expanse of Sanhua Isle north of the river and Ce Lake. The three characters “Beiwang Pavilion” at the main entrance of the pavilion were inscribed by Fan Jiaosheng. On the northern side of the pavilion is a couplet: the upper line reads “Unfurl thoughts through the events of past and present,” and the lower line reads “Gaze afar with a heart embracing heaven and earth.” The southern side also has a couplet: the upper line reads “A scenic wonder lies at the border of Wu and Chu,” and the lower line reads “Its charm spans from ancient times to today.”

Address: Southern Bank of the Yangtze River, Eastern Part, Xisai District, Huangshi City, Hubei Province

Type: Geological Landform Mountain