Exquisite Stones

Exquisite Stones

▲ Putuo Stone Forest: Located in front of the Putuo Hermitage at the halfway point of Putuo Mountain within Seven Star Park, it stands 9 meters tall and covers an area of about 150 square meters. The oddly shaped rocks are arranged horizontally in irregular polygons. During the Tang Dynasty, local officials in Guilin once presented these stones as tribute, and they were greatly admired by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, who named them “Auspicious Stones.” They were displayed in the imperial garden for appreciation, and the then-renowned calligrapher Ouyang Xun’s inscription of the “Inscription on the Sweet Dew Pavilion of Jiucheng Palace” was engraved on the stone. Emperor Taizong also ordered Li Jing, who was appointed as the Governor-General of Gui Prefecture, to investigate the origin of the stone. It was later discovered that the stone came from Putuo Mountain. An Taoist temple was then built in front of the mountain by imperial decree and named “Qinglin Guan” (Celebratory Forest Temple), but it no longer exists. Since then, the “Auspicious Stone” gained fame across the land. ▲ Jade Pillar Stone: Located inside the White Crane Cave on Putuo Mountain. The stone connects to the cave ceiling above and the cave floor below, pure white as jade, smooth and upright, shaped like a pillar—hence the name Jade Pillar Stone. Some people associate its shape with crane legs, fitting the cave's name. ▲ Heavenly Pillar Stone: Located at the eastern end of Freedom Road and the eastern head of Flower Bridge, on the northern bank of Lingjian Stream. It stands about 10 meters tall, resembling a massive pillar, standing tall and solitary, yet also like a lotus flower, gracefully upright—thus it is called Heavenly Pillar Stone, Heavenly Pillar Peak, or Lotus Stone. At the top of the stone, a fissure supports a small banyan tree whose dense foliage hangs down like an umbrella. On the northern wall of the stone is an inscription marking the flood of the 11th year of the Guangxu reign in the Qing Dynasty (1885), and another from the 5th month, 19th day of the 6th year of the Zongchongning era in the Song Dynasty (1106). The stone is about 1 meter higher than the nearby Flower Bridge. Beneath the stone peak once stood the former residence of Kuang Zhouyi, a renowned poet of the Qing Dynasty (now gone), who often stamped his poetic papers with a unique vermilion seal reading “Home beneath Heavenly Pillar Peak.” A poem by Peng Guangpu of the Qing Dynasty titled “Heavenly Pillar Peak” reads: “A pebble-like peak above the stream, a frosty jade branch standing solemn. Carved inscriptions on the cliffs above, read again and again by flowing waters. Faint traces of the Hongwu era, moss green beneath ancient tides.” ▲ Emerald Screen Stone: Located on the southern side of Shoufu Cave at the northwestern foot of Putuo Mountain. It stands 7.5 meters tall, in an irregular polygonal shape, lush and green like a jade screen. The stone wall bears an inscription by Tong Jun of the Qing Dynasty that reads “Emerald Screen in Cold Rain,” hence the name Emerald Screen Stone. It is listed as one of Guilin’s famous stones. Beneath the stone lies another slanting rock, shaped like a drunk leaning against the screen and crying out to the sky, called “Cloud-Calling Stone,” with the two characters “Cloud Call” inscribed by He Shu of the Qing Dynasty. ▲ Spirit Sword Stone: Located in front of Danzi Rock at the northwestern foot of Putuo Mountain. It stands about 15 meters tall and covers an area of about 110 square meters, standing alone by the Spirit Sword Stream, and shaped like a brush rest. Its main peak juts out sharply like a sword or spear, hence the name. The stone bears three large cliff-carved characters: “Spirit Sword Stone.” ▲ Sword Handle Stone: Located to the north of Yuheng Peak on Moon Mountain. It stands 14.4 meters tall, shaped like the exposed hilt of a sword plunged into the mountain—hence the name. The stone stands solitary and steep, with green trees atop resembling a sword tassel. The stone wall is inscribed with four seal characters: “Ranked Green Screen.” It is listed as one of Guilin’s famous stones. ▲ Inverted Bell Stone: Located inside the Screen Rock of Screen Wall Mountain. The stone is about 6 meters tall, shaped like an inverted bell, and green in color—hence the name. Dripping water makes a clear, resonant sound like a tolling bell. ▲ Buddha’s Seat Stone: Located inside the Buddha Rock at the southern foot of Tiansheng Mountain. The stone is pure white, formed from stalactites, exquisitely hollow and translucent, shaped like a lotus pedestal or Buddha’s seat—hence the name Buddha’s Seat Stone. The surrounding stalactite walls resemble figures of Guanyin, ancient trees, lotuses, and palm-leaf scriptures, creating an ambiance like a Buddhist hall. ▲ Clear Chime Stone: Located inside the New Rock of the Cliff in the northern foothills of Tiansheng Mountain. The stone is milky white, with a crystalline texture, hanging full in the cave like enormous icicles. When struck with wood or stone, it resonates with a crisp, melodious sound—hence the name Clear Chime Stone. The setting is extraordinarily unique.