The Jade Gorge Fairy Trail

The Jade Gorge Fairy Trail

The Jade Gorge Fairy Trail

Located in Gu Stream (now the small gorge of the Gushui River), the gorge is about ten feet wide, with a large rock in the middle known locally as the Heart Stone. In autumn and winter, when the water recedes, the stone becomes visible. Towering cliffs rise on both sides. To the left is a high mountain, halfway up which stands the Temple of the Gu River King. The upper part of the gorge features rugged, tooth-like rocks along the bay pond, and the currents are swift and turbulent, making the depth unfathomable. Boats and rafts navigating downstream are said to face perilous conditions. Near the shore downstream of the gorge, there are rock formations resembling a hemp basket and a water bowl; there is also a stone stove called the “Third Sister’s Stove.” Third Sister was a legendary song goddess, surnamed Liu. She was from Xinxing, lived during the reigns of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang (683–689, 705–709), was twelve years old, well-versed in the classics and history, and skilled in music. She attained enlightenment through play and wandered across the lands of the Baiyue people, teaching women to sing. Later, she came to Yangchun, sang on a mountain for seven days and nights, and turned into stone. She once stayed here for several years. The stove, bowl, and other rocks nearby are said to be remnants of her presence.