Male and Female Mountains

Male and Female Mountains

Male and Female Mountains, located 5 kilometers southwest of Yan Yuan County, are widely known and famous for their uniquely shaped Male and Female Stones. There are two routes from the county town to the mountains: one goes from the Salt Factory via the former Dongmen Reservoir and the ruins of the Sanqing Taoist Temple, descending along the “Immortal’s Path” down the cliff known as “Lion’s Ear” to directly reach the lawn atop the Male and Female Stone Mountain. The other is a new road built in 1988, which follows the source of the Yanjing River upstream and leads directly to the mountain pass. The mountain gate features a horizontal plaque inscribed with three large characters: “Male and Female Mountains,” and both sides of the gate pillars are adorned with couplets. The front one reads: “Heaven has its will — flying peaks form wonders. Nature is impartial — leaving magnificent stones to tell great tales.” The back one says: “Drought lotuses bloom in pairs, symbolizing boundless yin-yang creation; strange rocks tower into peaks, where male and female energies thrive eternally.” Just past the gate, you’ll see a large basin embraced by surrounding mountains. The valley is filled with towering trees, lush and verdant, with a cool breeze greeting you. Descending a stone staircase behind the gate, within just a few steps, the majestic Male and Female Stones come dramatically into view.

Origin of the Name

The Male and Female Mountains scenic area got its name because the formations strikingly resemble the male and female reproductive organs.

The Male Stone stands over 40 meters tall, like a bamboo shoot breaking through the earth, proudly thrusting towards the sky. About 100 meters away, the Female Stone corresponds to it from afar, forming an amusing pair. The Female Stone is nearly 100 meters tall, with a sturdy base, a plump middle section, and a slightly oval peak. A naturally formed crevice runs through it, wide enough for one person to walk through comfortably, resembling a giant lotus petal. Even more astonishing is that while the surrounding hills are either densely forested or covered with lush grass, only these two stones are bare, exposing their reddish-brown rock surfaces. Atop the Female Stone grows an ancient tree of an unknown species, evergreen all year round. The Male Stone appears as strong and upright as it pierces the heavens, while the Female Stone is gentle and alluring, as if opening her heart.

Tourism

For thousands of years, people have regarded Male and Female Mountains as a sacred site. Devotees often come here to pray, burn incense, and worship, hoping for family safety, prosperity, and fertility. Countless legends have emerged around them. With its unique charm, Male and Female Mountains attract tourists from all over as a renowned travel destination.

Both the Male and Female Mountains are reddish-brown in color and belong to the Danxia landform. The two mountains are several hundred meters apart and face each other, creating a delightful visual pair. The Male Mountain is about 40 meters high, resembling a bamboo shoot emerging from the ground—majestic, upright, and boldly piercing the sky. The Female Mountain is about 100 meters tall, with a solid base, a full middle, and a slightly rounded peak. It features a natural crevice that extends to the bottom, forming a cave passage large enough for one person to stroll through. Gazing at these peculiar yet vividly lifelike peaks, one can’t help but be lost in thought—captured by the poetic phrase: “The earth displays the wonders of yin and yang; people worship the balance of the universe.”

Male and Female Mountains are not only a sacred site where Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism converge locally, but also a spiritual place for centuries of local fertility worship. The mountain is home to magnificent temples with carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent and magnificent. Ming Dynasty structures such as the Bao'en Temple, Jade Emperor Hall, Thunder Ancestor Hall, Child-Giving Hall, and the Wenchang Palace are tucked away among the woods, creating an exceptionally serene landscape.