Gaoshi Ridge

Gaoshi Ridge

Gaoshi Ridge, also known as Lion Mountain, is located at the junction of Zhonggao, Qunli, and Gaojiang villages in Songjiang Township, about 1.5 kilometers from the township government. The ridge runs from north to south, with an elevation of 234.4 meters, making it the highest peak in the Songbai area. Over thousands of years, weathering and water erosion have given the rocks on the mountain strange and varied shapes. The sides of the ridge are flanked by cliffs over 150 meters high, and beside the cliffs there is a cave with an opening about 2 meters wide and 2 meters tall, extending deep into the mountain with an unfathomable depth. Legend has it that there is an underground river inside the cave that leads directly to the Dragon Palace in the East Sea. When travelers walk through the cave or tap on the cave walls, they can hear a resonant drumming sound. Inside the cave, there are stone tables and stools, said to have been used by the Dragon King and immortals for playing chess.

Gaoshi Ridge resembles a majestic stone lion, surrounded by rolling hills. From atop, the Xiang River looks like a winding jade ribbon meandering alongside the mountains, offering a panoramic view of the vast Shuikoushan area and the entire cityscape of Hengyang. The mountain is covered with lush, shady trees, and even under the blazing sun, only dappled shadows fall on the mountain trails. On the southern side of the ridge’s peak stands a towering stone pillar, known as Dingtian Stone or Tongtian Stone. To the lower right of Tongtian Stone lies an ancient tomb, said to be the burial site of Ouyang Xiu, a Song Dynasty scholar-official.