Denggan Mountain (Sky-Supporting Three Stones)

Denggan Mountain (Sky-Supporting Three Stones)

Denggan Mountain is located 4 kilometers west of Tianchi Lake, rising abruptly from layers of mountains and canyons. The main peak stands at an elevation of 2,718 meters, with three massive stone pillars atop it, shaped like halberds and piercing straight into the sky—hence also known as the "Sky-Supporting Three Stones." It’s an excellent place to watch sunsets over Tianchi and appreciate ancient glacial landforms.

Mythological Legend:

Legend has it that when the Queen Mother of the West left Yaochi (the Jade Pool), she saw that Tianchi Lake was surrounded by jagged peaks, the earth tilted and the sky askew, with dark waves churning in the lake—an eerie and demonic sight. It turned out a black fish demon was causing the trouble. The Queen Mother took off one of her cloud-embroidered shoes and threw it into the lake, capturing the black fish demon. Then, she erected a huge rock on the mountain west of Tianchi, split it into three with her hairpin, forming a tripod-like structure to prop up the western sky and restore peace to the world. Later, a Taoist placed a long pole among the three boulders and hung a red lantern on it, called the "Ever-Burning Lamp." The mountain thus became known as Denggan Mountain (Lantern Pole Mountain), and the three boulders were called the "Sky-Supporting Three Stones."