Riyue Mountain

Riyue Mountain

Riyue Mountain is located at the junction of Huangyuan County in the south and Gonghe County. It is about 40 kilometers from Huangyuan County town, with the highest elevation reaching 4,877 meters. During the Tang Dynasty, it was called "Chiling" (Red Ridge), named for the reddish sand on its summit. It belongs to the western end of the Laji Mountain Range, stretching from Erhai Lake in the eastern part of Qinghai Lake in the north to Qunjia in Huangzhong in the south, extending for dozens of miles. Riyue Mountain serves as the watershed between the outflow rivers and inland rivers in eastern Qinghai, and also acts as the natural boundary between the agricultural and pastoral areas of eastern Qinghai. The mountain features undulating ridges, towering peaks, cold climate, abundant rainfall, and lush grass. The landscapes on either side of the mountain are drastically different: to the west lies a vast, boundless grassland covered with rich pastures and herds of cattle and sheep; to the east are scattered villages, terraced fields, and golden waves of wheat fields. From June to September each year, the mountainsides are covered with green grass and blooming wildflowers, dotted with tents, presenting a spectacular scene.

Riyue Mountain, situated at a strategic location, holds important military significance. Since ancient times, it has been a vital transportation route connecting the inland of China to the southwestern frontier, as well as a bond facilitating friendly exchanges and trade between the Han and Tibetan peoples. As early as the Han Dynasty, Riyue Mountain had become a major relay station along China's “Silk Auxiliary Road.” During the Tang Dynasty, it became an essential passage on the ancient Tang-Tibet Highway.

Riyue Mountain, renowned throughout history, is associated with many legends. Among them, the most widely circulated and touching story is that of Princess Wencheng’s journey to Tibet. Legend has it that Emperor Taizong of Tang, in hopes of fostering everlasting peace between the Han and Tibetan peoples, betrothed his royal kinswoman, Princess Wencheng, to King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet. Accompanied by Prince Li Daizong of Jiangxia and Tibetan minister Gar Tongtsen Yülsung, Princess Wencheng and her entourage traveled westward from the capital Chang’an and arrived at Riyue Mountain. When the princess ascended to the mountaintop and looked around, she saw two completely different worlds on either side of the mountain: on one side, rain fell gently upon verdant grass; on the other, snow weighed heavily on withered plants; on one side, mist drifted among fresh leaves; on the other, ice-like flakes lay among withered foliage. Even the sun and moon here seemed less bright and warm than those of her homeland, which stirred deep emotions in her heart, filling her with sorrow and bringing tears to her eyes. Upon hearing that the princess longed for her homeland and family and refused to continue westward, Emperor Taizong, in an effort to console her, specially forged a round “Riyue Ruyi Mirror” (Sun-Moon Auspicious Mirror) and sent it to her on the mountain. It was said that if she missed her home, she could look into the mirror and see her parents and the landscapes of her homeland. However, the Tibetan minister escorting her, fearing that she would see her loved ones and decide to turn back, secretly replaced the auspicious mirror with a stone-carved imitation. When the princess looked into the mirror, she couldn’t see her parents in Chang’an and thought her father had deceived her out of indifference. In anger, she threw the stone mirror aside and resolutely continued her journey westward. Later, people renamed Chiling as Riyue Mountain. During the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Empire and the Tibetan Kingdom also erected a stele symbolizing Han-Tibetan harmony atop Riyue Mountain. The Tibetan and Han peoples coexisted peacefully with Riyue Mountain as the boundary, and the mountain also became a site for tea-horse trade.

Although Riyue Mountain is not as high as Kunlun, nor as treacherous as Jishi, and has neither lush forests nor rugged rocks, it presents a vast and desolate expanse. Yet, from ancient times to the present, many travelers have been eager to climb Riyue Mountain in search of traces left by Princess Wencheng during her journey. To this end, temples were built on the mountaintop in earlier times, though they have since been damaged. In recent years, two uniquely designed pavilions—the Sun Pavilion and the Moon Pavilion—have been constructed at the mountain pass for visitors to admire.