Changshan

Changshan

Changshan, meaning "the magnificent and beautiful mountain," is located at the border between Shigu Town in the southwestern edge of Xiangtan County and Jiangshi Street Town in Shuangfeng County, 85 kilometers from downtown Xiangtan. Majestic and steep, with a grand atmosphere, it spans 20 kilometers in circumference and stands 755.1 meters above sea level, making it the highest peak within Xiangtan County and a natural barrier. The northern side of the mountain is steep, with zigzagging “zigzag” mountain paths leading to the summit from Shilongkou in Anle Village and Tashanchong. The southern side meanders

for several miles, extending into the territory of Jiangshi Street Town. To the west, it is separated from Tongliang Mountain by just a stream. To the southeast, it stands facing Mount Nanyue from afar, as if competing in height. Locals refer to Mount Nanyue and Changshan as “sister mountains,” and there are various legends about “Mount Nanyue the elder sister, Changshan the younger sister.”

The splendid landscapes of Changshan represent the typical scenery of the mountainous regions of central Hunan. First, the scenery changes with the seasons, each displaying its unique charm and offering visual delight. In mid-spring, all trees turn green and flowers bloom competitively, resembling a giant landscape painting hanging high in the sky; in midsummer, streams run swiftly, forming waterfalls that look like white silk ribbons cascading from the heavens; in autumn, the sunlight is brilliant, tung trees and tea bushes ripen to red, scattering like pearls and agates across the hills; in deep winter, the earth is frozen, leaving only a vast expanse of white, draped in red against the snow, exceptionally enchanting. Second, the natural scenery blends seamlessly with cultural sites, complementing each other. Natural attractions mainly include Jinping Peak, Fairy Peak, Guanyin Stockade, Incense Burner Stockade, Qinglong Ridge, Seven Star Caves, Big Dipper Support, Old Man Fishing, Three Bowls of Vegetarian Meal, and Dragon Cave. Cultural sites mainly include Dinghai Temple, Thunder Ancestor Temple, and Mid-mountain Pavilion.

Jinping Peak is the main peak of Changshan. It is referred to as Ziyun Peak in the Hunan Provincial Geographic Records and as Lingying Peak in the Nanyue Records. Located 45 kilometers from Nanyue, it is one of the 72 peaks of Nanyue. The Qianlong-era Xiangtan County Annals also state: “Lingying Peak, referred to in the Nanyue Records as being at the junction of Hengshan, Xiangxiang, and Xiangtan counties. Current research confirms it is located in the western part of the county. Legend says Deng Yu’s son Yuan Da from Xinye, Nanyang, resided here.” During the Ming Dynasty, the imperial censor Li Xun, while inspecting Huguang, traveled to Nanyue with Vice Censor Lu Zhongtian of Dongyang and Bian Weitan of Peng County, and later composed the “Song of the Seventy-Two Peaks of Nanyue,” which includes: “Guanyin, Lingying, Buddha.” The Qing Dynasty literati Li Qiliu also wrote

the “Song of the Seventy-Two Peaks of Nanyue,” which reads: “Lingying, the Amitabha Buddha rides the yellow crane.” Meanwhile, the Qing Dynasty scholar Yi Zhenwu wrote in the “Ode to the Seventy-Two Peaks of Nanyue”: “The mystical transformations of Lingying and Ruiying.” Jinping Peak has long been praised as “the finest of Changshan.” It is shrouded in mist, with various unique peaks standing to its sides. To the north of the peak, there used to be Dinghai Temple. Ascending from Quanjingtang Well at the foot of the peak along a bluestone path and turning 36 bends, one can reach the temple. The temple was built by the late Ming Dynasty monk Zhulang. During the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, Zhao Qilin (1859–1935), a calligrapher and educational commissioner of Sichuan, donated funds for its renovation. In 1947, led by Lieutenant General Tang Peigen of the Nationalist Army, further donations were made to expand it into a grand structure with two courtyards, one main hall, double eaves, Dougong brackets, and carved beams and painted rafters. Inside stands a large bell approximately 2 meters high. The temple gate features a horizontal plaque inscribed with “Dinghai Temple,” flanked by a couplet reading: “Calm in composure; the sea without waves.” The interior plaque reads: “Rainfall for the people.” Both the couplet and plaque were inscribed by Zhao Qilin. The Mid-mountain Pavilion on the mountainside serves as a resting spot for hikers. Around the pavilion live about ten households, living up to the poetic saying “where there are clouds, there are homes.” To the west of the pavilion lies Dragon Cave, a natural rock cave large enough for one person to pass through. At the entrance is a round stone known as the “Giant Dragon Holding a Pearl.” The depth of the cave is unfathomable, and the air inside is chilling. Above the cave rise peaks, and beside it flows a mountain spring, sounding like jade pendants.

Centered around Jinping Peak, the “Nine Scenic Spots of Changshan” are formed. To the northeast is Fairy Peak, atop which stands Thunder Ancestor Temple, constructed with granite slabs. Despite the passage of time, it remains intact. The temple is over three meters deep and more than two meters wide. The terrain in front of the temple is flat with lush grass, accommodating over a thousand visitors. To the east of the peak is Guanyin Stockade, also known as Guanyin Grand Formation. To the west is a straight ridge stretching one li. On the western side of the ridge stands an eagle-beak-like cliff hundreds of meters high, barren of vegetation, known as “Eagle Beak Rock,” also called “Old Man Fishing.” About 300 meters above it lies a rock formation called “Seven Star Rock,” also known as “Seven Star Groove.” Approximately 500 meters below the rock is Qinglong Nunnery. Crossing the saddle leads to Beidou Soil

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. Southwest of Eagle Beak Rock are three peaks collectively known as “Three Bowls of Vegetarian Meal.” To the west is Incense Burner Stockade. The Qing Dynasty scholar Zhao Qilin composed a couplet combining all these scenic spots: “The fairy worships Guanyin, holding the incense burner, with three bowls of vegetarian meal above her head; the old man fishes the golden turtle, riding the green dragon, treading the Big Dipper stars.” This couplet is well-balanced and perfectly apt.

Throughout history, Changshan has witnessed little-known events. According to the Kangxi and Guangxu-era Xiangtan County Annals: “In the second year of the Song Dynasty’s Qingyuan era, grain prices soared across Huxiang, and food was scarce even in the suburbs. Within Xiangtan County lies Changshan, spanning 40 kilometers, densely covered with bamboo

, with a thousand households living around it, typically relying on bamboo for their needs. Some would pound it into paper, others sell its nodes, make brushes, or craft shoes—the uses varied—but none focused on farming. Previously, in the year of Yimao, the bamboo on the connected mountains all bloomed, and after the blossoms faded, they bore fruit resembling wheat grains. The residents used long poles to strike the tips of the bamboo, harvested and processed them like rice, yielding five or four dou of rice per dan. When cooked by mixing one-tenth with japonica rice and boiling it into soup, the aroma was identical to that of japonica rice, which helped the people survive. It was also sold in the county markets, and people from nearby hundred li all came to buy it, stabilizing the grain prices.” “In the early years of the Jiaqing era, the bamboo flowers bore fruit again.” The villagers regarded Changshan as a “auspicious mountain.” The same annals also record: “In the first month of the fourth year of the Shunzhi era, Changshan roared.” “In the fifth year of Shunzhi, hunters in Changshan caught a bear.” “In the fifth year of the Kangxi era, elk also appeared and were hunted.” Today, Changshan is covered with bamboo forests. In 1983, the Xiangtan County Forestry Bureau chartered a plane to aerially sow seeds of exotic pine on Changshan. Today, the pine forest is thriving. As a result, Changshan has become even greener and more splendid. Those with ambition must visit.