Heavenly Mirror

Heavenly Mirror

Heavenly Mirror

Located on the west bank of Baini River in Baini Village, Xingren Town, more than ten kilometers northeast of the county town, about 300 meters from the road lies a “Heavenly Mirror” with a diameter of 60 square meters. In winter and spring, under the sunlight, it resembles a giant mirror reflecting the sky; in summer, it turns into a brilliant emerald jewel; and when the rice turns golden in late autumn, it becomes a huge plate filled with gold.

In this area, local legend tells that in ancient times, two evil dragons burst out of a cave halfway up the eastern side of Baini River, wreaking havoc on the land, causing torrential rains and floods that destroyed crops and injured people. The Thunder God was ordered to pursue and strike the dragons. The dragons fled into the paddy fields by the river, leaving behind several segments of their bodies on the riverbank, which became today’s “Stone Dragons.” Following this legend, we arrived at the eastern bank of Baini River and saw two massive, round stone pillars resembling vivid dragon bodies, coiling and leaping down the mountain from a cave halfway up the hillside. The front parts of the two dragons split north and south on the gentle slope, each heading toward Baini River. Their tails are twisted together and clamped in a gurgling cave, while their backs bear three marks resembling axe cuts, as if dragon scales had fallen off, leaving uneven grooves.

About 7 meters outside the cave entrance, the two dragons begin to part ways. The one going south is called the Main Dragon or Mother Dragon by locals, while the one going north is called the Secondary Dragon or Father Dragon. Upon closer inspection, it is indeed a marvel of nature — the exposed parts of the dragons’ bodies stretch 55 meters, with the front section having a radius of 75 centimeters and the rear 53 centimeters. They are neither like mud nor stone, but possess scales and armor, resembling two ancient giant serpents lying on the ground. Only 12 meters of the dragons’ bodies are visible above ground, with the front portions already buried underground.

About 200 meters north of the stone dragons, atop a mountain peak, stands a towering stone pillar approximately 30 meters high, resembling a mighty deity. Legend has it that the Jade Emperor, fearing the stone dragons might revive and harm the world, dispatched a heavenly general to guard the nearby mountaintop and bestowed upon him a magical mirror to suppress the evil dragons. This gave rise to the spectacular “General Stone” landscape standing proudly atop the mountain. With the evil dragons eliminated, the region enjoys favorable weather, and within a ten-mile radius, the mighty general stands guard, ensuring peace and tranquility.

This scenic sight is referred to by locals as “The General Herding the Dragons.”

The Baini River Valley has a changeable climate, often shrouded in mist. Distant peaks rise densely, and the forested valleys are serene and beautiful, presenting a variety of natural scenes. Especially within a two-kilometer radius of the valley, the reflections of mountain ridges and clouds dance on the clear river, while a unique small waterfall cascades down the ridge on the eastern bank. The interplay of the Heavenly Mirror, General Stone, and Stone Dragons creates an enchanting charm for the entire scenic area. Coupled with the faint outlines of Miao villages in the distance, when the mountain mist rolls in, being there feels like stepping into a mystical fairyland.