Purple Swallow Nest Rock

Purple Swallow Nest Rock

Purple Swallow Nest Rock

Purple Swallow Nest Rock, also known as "Swallow Rock." There is a natural cave here where swallows come to build their nests every spring and leave again in the autumn. For over three hundred years, from the early Qing Dynasty to the present, this has happened year after year. A vine hanging down from the rock has thrived in the crevice for nearly a century. Some elderly people remember seeing it like this since their childhood, and even now in their twilight years, it remains as vibrant as ever.

The swallows people usually think of build their nests under the eaves of houses, but Xu Yixian, who dedicated himself to the cause of restoring the Ming Dynasty and resisting the Qing, saw these swallows nesting in mountain caves and naturally associated them with his own situation of taking refuge in the deep mountains to avoid disaster. Thus, he was moved to write a poem titled "Purple Swallow Nest Rock": "A natural cave serves as a stone door; / In spring, swallows freely fly back and forth. / People envy the carved beams and painted rafters, / But who recognizes the peaceful abode where they belong?"

In the past, when the water flow was strong, the waterfall at Swallow Rock was truly spectacular. Old texts record: "There is a spring that sounds like a zither, cascading down from great heights, spanning about fifty-odd zhang." Another poet of the Xu family, Xu Yin, wrote a poem titled "Swallow Rock": "A thousand-foot waterfall bursts from the mirror-like basin, / Water curtains and beaded veils sprinkle light garments. / Laugh at those Wangs and Xies who boast of golden halls— / They can't compare to the spring breeze at Swallow Rock." Moreover, Swallow Rock is not only a scenic spot in Chashan, but also the first strategic pass leading into Tea Garden Mountain. There used to be a small temple at the mouth of the rock called...

"Wang Lingguan," which was actually a sentry post for the mountain villa. Once enemy activity was spotted, those stationed there could easily block the invaders by simply rolling rocks down from the high vantage point.