Ghost Head Mountain

Ghost Head Mountain

Ghost Head Mountain has an elevation of 947 meters and spans over ten square kilometers. Though massive and towering as the highest peak in the county, its body is largely composed of hard earth—yellowish-brown or dark brown—that is on the verge of petrification or has been weathered from rock. In exposed areas, shale and mudstone dominate, with very few solid rocks. Scattered across the surface are large and small flat, round stones, resembling reclining oxen, lying here and there in the grass. Measured from the mountain’s base, Ghost Head Mountain stretches about seven kilometers from east to west. Its eastern and western slopes are relatively gentle, while the northern and southern sides are narrower and mostly steep, rarely climbed even by local goats. Overall, the mountain’s shape bears a striking resemblance to a misshapen turtle facing east. Hence, the ancestors who lived nearby originally named it 0 Mountain. Later, due to the homophonic similarity between “turtle” (龟) and “ghost” (鬼), coupled with legends of ghostly theatrical performances, it gradually came to be known as Ghost Head Mountain. Nature works in truly miraculous ways—this mound of mudstone turtle-shaped earth, powered by a geothermal flow deep underground, continuously pushes upward, causing surrounding rocky peaks, ten times harder than itself, to lie prostrate all around. Standing at its summit, you can truly appreciate the feeling of “overlooking all other mountains.” Surrounded by stone peaks that seem to bow in reverence, it stands out like a crane among chickens, yet remains connected to the surrounding mountain range, especially closely in the northwest and southeast directions. Thus, calling it a “mountain” is less fitting than referring to it as a “ridge.” The wondrous craftsmanship of nature has created this classic example of earthy softness defying stone, of flexibility leading hardness. This feat of nature, where resilience and inner strength lead to eventual rise, quietly echoes the silent progression of human civilizations across tribes and races. Here, I touch the rugged yet yielding surface of the ridge, contemplating life—the dynamic spirit of the mountain seems to flutter vividly before my eyes.