Ping Shan Pavilion on Yinshan

Ping Shan Pavilion on Yinshan

Ping Shan Pavilion on Yinshan is located on a small island in the middle of the river at the confluence of three rivers where the Ma River meets to the west of Pingle Town, Pingle County, Guangxi. The pavilion on Yinshan is likened to the "jade pearl" that three dragons vie for. It is one of the ancient scenic spots of Pingle and, due to its unique location, is also considered the premier view along the Gui River. The mountain stands squarely in the water like a seal, adorned with lush green bamboo. At its summit, which is about a square meter in size, during the seventh year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty (1442 AD), a pavilion was built at the mountaintop and named “Diancui Pavilion” (“Jade-Green Highlight Pavilion”), from which the scenic name “Zhao Shan Dian Cui” (Highlighting Jade Green on Zhao Mountain) originates. The mountain enters the water, the water reveals the mountain, and the pavilion sits atop the summit—an indescribably marvelous sight. Visitors to this place are invariably awestruck. It's truly:

Who says a tower cannot stand midair? A pillar stands alone amid the waves’ core.

Fish swim past, aware of forms as void; Men arrive, startling clouds, eyes gaze far.

Shut off from red dust, none can fly here; Green vapors coil—your gaze draws them near.

The river and sky, so vast and still, defy measure; Fishing boats' lights and smoke stir travelers’ sorrow.

Of all the fine landscapes under heaven, Guangdong ranks first when counted and named. Beyond the ridges, peaks rise wondrously, Where three mighty rivers converge, grand and free. Yinshan grips the current, steadfast and true, A keystone among countless mountains too. Cranes and egrets circle, free to soar, Pine and stars find solace on this shore. Time flows just as the ancients said, Day and night the river roars ahead. Exotic birds with names unknown, Flowers rare, without roots grown. Mist and rain veil the scene in gray, Grasses taste wild in their natural way. Often clad in green mossy dress, At times white clouds come to caress. Like a hermit from Yongjia’s old reign, The peaks resemble scenes from a poet’s brain. Wang Wei’s verse paints them clear and bright, I love the flatness atop this height. Joy finds no end, as folks from riverside, Come swimming freely, with no need to hide. Fishing songs drift in leisurely sound, Poets here are moved, their voices profound. May I ask of Diancui Pavilion fair, How many sages visited there?

In the fifteenth year of the Republic of China (1926), two bluestone slabs, each 275 cm long and 66 cm high, were inlaid halfway up Zhao Mountain. The stones bear four bold regular-script characters: “中立不倚” (Standing Firm and Upright). This added even more splendor to the scenery. A poem reads: “Alone it stands, a wondrous sight to see, / A stone orb born between two flowing seas. / Countless currents pass before my eyes, / But who can be the pillar that calms wild, roaring tides?”