Huixian Bridge on Mount Heng

Huixian Bridge on Mount Heng

Huixian Bridge on Mount Heng in Nanyue, commonly known as the Heart-Testing Bridge and also called the Immortals’ Bridge, is one of the “Eight Wonders” of Mount Heng. It is located at Qingyutan, on the side of the summit of Zhurong Peak, the main peak of Mount Heng. The platform is a vast flat rock that can accommodate dozens of people. Beneath the rock are two stones of different sizes—the smaller one is only half the size of the larger—and there is a stone bridge connecting them. The bridge is extremely narrow and perilous, barely wide enough for one person to step across. Many dare not cross it, which is why it is also called the Heart-Testing Bridge. According to Taoist tradition, Qingyutan was established by Wu Qingyun and is the 24th Blessed Land, a gathering place for immortals, hence its name.

Standing on Huixian Bridge, you can also see a huge rock beside Zhurong Peak that resembles a turtle, known as the “Golden Turtle Paying Homage.” Visiting this spot feels like entering a fairyland. It is said that Cao Jinhua, a renowned painter from Mount Heng, was so moved by the beauty of this place—considered the most breathtaking spot on Mount Heng—that he named it his favorite place in life, and thus took the alias “Mountain Hermit of Nanyue” to express his deep attachment to Mount Heng.

Beneath Huixian Rock, there is also an ancient path leading to the entrance of Baoxin Ridge at the foot of the mountain. This ancient path was first built in the late Tang and early Song dynasties and served as a pilgrimage route to Zhurong Peak, the main peak of northern Mount Heng. In the late Qing Dynasty, the famous statesman and leader of the Xiang Army, Zeng Guofan, had the path renovated into a bluestone road for his mother during the Guangxu era. Stretching seven kilometers, it is commonly known as the “Zeng Guofan Ancient Path,” also called the “Northern Mountain Pilgrimage Path.”

The reason it is called Huixian Bridge is that legend has it that some people have encountered immortals here. However, there are several versions of the legend.

Walking westward along the stone path from Shangfeng Temple, with cypresses lining the way, you will reach Buyuyan, beside Zhurong Peak, in less than a mile. Below Buyuyan is a stone cave, on the wall of which are carved four regular-script characters: “Bu Yu Gua Xi” (Silent Monk Hangs His Staff), as well as four-inch regular-script words: “Qu Zhong Yi Li” (One Hat Removed). The Nanyue Annals record that in the past, a monk from Nantai Temple often sat in meditation here, remaining silent all day and calling himself the Silent Monk. He practiced here for many years. One winter, during a heavy snowfall, the fire in his stove went out. So, one night, he took a lantern and walked through the snow to Shangfeng Temple to borrow some fire. The monks at Shangfeng Temple said, “Master, there is already fire in your lantern—why ask for more?” The Silent Monk grasped the Zen meaning and composed a gatha: “If I’d known the lamp held fire, how long would the rice have taken to cook?” From then on, he attained full enlightenment and achieved nirvana. Today, the cave is very spacious, with stone benches and tables where visitors can rest. There are over ten small inscriptions near the cave entrance, but due to weathering, most are illegible. Only the three running-script characters “Kua Yue Qiao” (Cross-Mountain Bridge), each about a foot large, are still clearly visible.

The Ming Dynasty poet Li Yu once wrote a poem titled “Heart-Testing Bridge”: “Collapsed rocks hang mid-mountain, / Below, the world’s mist stretches miles away. / I, who’ve never faced such peril, / Come to test my heart upon this bridge.”

A Ming Dynasty poet, Lu Zhongtian, wrote a poem titled “Huixian Bridge”: “The legendary immortal who played chess has long not come, / The bridge stands empty as flowers bloom all around. / I come to the bridge seeking what remains, / Clouds fill the empty mountains, the moon fills the terrace.”

Nanyue Town: Located within the scenic area of Mount Heng in Nanyue District, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, Nanyue Town lies at the southern foot of Zhurong Peak, the highest peak of Mount Heng. It boasts beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural attractions. In 2005, the town governed 20 villages, 269 villager groups, with a total population of 28,900 and a total area of 84 square kilometers. It has a well-developed transportation network and a superior geographical location—15 kilometers east of Hengshan, 50 kilometers south of Hengyang, bordering Shaoyang to the west and connecting to Changsha to the north. Both National Highway 107 and the Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway run through the area. Since the reform and opening up, the Party Committee of Nanyue Town has... More details about Nanyue Town++