Nine Turns

Nine Turns

Nine Turns

Nine Turns is situated on the ridge of Mingyue Mountain, directly west of the county town. From afar, the high southern ridge suddenly drops at this point, the mountain terrain becoming noticeably lower as if it had been snapped, forming a clear step. Because the slope is so steep, to climb this step over 100 meters high, one must follow a zigzag mountain trail that makes nine turns. Originally, “Nine Turns” referred to the nine bends on the way up the step, but it later became the name for the step itself.

The most direct route from the county town to Nine Turns is via Yanjing Gully and then upstream along the small mountain valley of Yancreek. There are three stone arch bridges spanning Yancreek on the way up from the mountain foot to the inner part of Mingyue Mountain. These are the Lower Arch Bridge, Middle Arch Bridge, and Upper Arch Bridge, all widely praised in the county town. All three bridges were built during the Qing Dynasty—some during the Daoguang era, others during the Tongzhi era.

Yanjing Gully boasts beautiful scenery with clear waters and lush mountains. From the Lower Arch Bridge to the mountain foot, there stands a stone cliff facing you, with a waterfall cascading down like a white silk ribbon. Beside the waterfall, vines hang and shrubs sway. In the past, near the waterfall, there was a Song Dynasty stone stele by the roadside—the famous Yanxi Ancient Stele, also known as the Cliff Inscription at Niangquan Pavilion. This stele was carved in the 16th year of the Chunxi reign during the Southern Song Dynasty (1189), measuring about 2 meters in length and 0.6 meters in width. The inscription is in regular script, carved in intaglio, recounting how then-county magistrate Chao Zishun built the “Niangquan Pavilion” here. The carving technique is refined, the calligraphy bold and striking, with a dynamic and perilous composition. The text reads: “Chao Zishun, serving as county magistrate, completed six full months in office. Following a period of decline, although not yet fully restored, he believed that since the county was situated amidst rolling mountains, there ought to be a fine spot for leisure and rest after duties. In the heat of summer, together with relatives and friends Mao Fengchen, Heqing Wang, and Yaoyu, he ventured into the outskirts and first arrived at the small valley. Beneath the majestic waterfall, the place was cool and lovely. Later, they planned to build a small hut in the valley cliff, naming it ‘Niangquan’ (Wine Spring Pavilion), to unveil a timeless treasure and share it with fellow officials. Chunxi Year, Great Heat Month.”

From the Yanxi Ancient Stele site, passing the Middle Arch Bridge to the Upper Arch Bridge, the path follows the stream. Along the way, the murmuring spring water and refreshing breeze accompany you, with towering cliffs on both sides and green shades blocking out the sun. At the Upper Arch Bridge, another waterfall over 10 meters high plunges down noisily.

In the valley near Nine Turns, there is a forest ranger station belonging to the Xishan Forest Farm. Next to the station grows the largest man-made metasequoia forest on Mingyue Mountain. Metasequoias, known as living fossil plants of China, have straight trunks and lush foliage. Under their canopy, not a single ray of direct sunlight penetrates, leaving the ground barren except for a soft carpet of fallen metasequoia leaves.

Behind the ranger station lies a mountain pass, the lowest point on the Mingyue Mountain ridge, called Liangfengya (Cool Breeze Pass). This is the starting point for ascending Nine Turns, as well as the boundary between Dianjiang and Dazhu.

Though precipitous, the climbing route at Nine Turns twists and turns eastward and westward, easing the mountain’s gradient and eliminating any sense of vertigo.

Nine Turns is covered entirely in Masson pine forest. The air is fragrant with pine, the sound of the wind rustling through the pines is pleasant, and even the golden needles scattered on the ground contribute to a uniquely soothing feeling. Whether taking a stroll or resting lying down among the trees, it offers a refreshing and open-hearted experience. From atop Nine Turns, the entire county town is visible in the distance.

To the west of Nine Turns are two homesteads, called Liu Family Courtyard and Hu Family Courtyard, which can be reached by walking two to three hundred meters west from Liangfengya. The local mountain dwellers are honest, simple, and hospitable, maintaining an old-style collective economic model. Although this may be due to their unique geographic and economic circumstances, in today's China—nearly 30 years after the widespread implementation of the household responsibility system in rural areas—this place remains a truly remarkable exception.