Yangli Rock

Yangli Rock

Yangli Rock, originally called Eagle Rock and also known as Lingyan (Spiritual Rock), is located on the west side of Yangli Village in Quan’an Town, about 10 kilometers northwest of the city center. According to the “Temple Records” section of the Direct-Controlled Nanxiong Prefecture Annals, “Yangli Rock… has a flat summit spanning over a hundred zhang in area, with strange peaks and peculiar rocks both in front and behind, and a pool about two zhang deep. On the sheer cliffs there is a waterfall, within which lies Zhilin Temple, with the waterfall serving as a screen for the temple. Visitors thought they were entering the waterfall, not realizing they were actually entering the temple. The rock formation is tens of zhang in both height and depth, about three zhang wide—enough space to fit over ten rooms. Yet the horizontally hanging waterfall is just enough to conceal it. From the outside, one can only see the waterfall and not the temple. Beneath the rock is another cave, resembling a giant rock sucking in water, with the water gushing out forcefully toward Yuhuatai (Rain Flower Terrace), forming a stream. Beside the pool are large and small rocks.” In ancient times, Yangli Rock was majestic and imposing, deep, cool, and richly varied in form, covered in lush forests and blessed with beautiful scenery. An old poem reads: “Layered peaks pile up like purple clouds, with hundreds of flying springs flowing forth. By day, without a cloud, the white spray shines like snow; on spring nights, though rainless, the thunder rumbles. Cool in summer, perfect for serving chilled bowls; cold in autumn, ideal for sipping chrysanthemum tea. A scene like that of Mount Lu through the ages—who among us can match the poetic genius of the exiled immortal?” This is the renowned scenic wonder of Nanxiong — “Lingyan Waterfall.” When visitors climb to the top of the rock, they can gaze into the distance at the scenery of Xiongzhou, truly experiencing the feeling that “by day, from atop Li Rock all other mountains seem small; by night, watching Xiongzhou, one sees lights from ten thousand homes.” On the rock face, stone inscriptions such as “Natural Silk and Bamboo,” “Water Scenery,” and “Yuhuatai” can still be found.

Legend has it that the name Yangli Rock is related to Yang Pu, a general of the Han Dynasty who commanded the naval fleet. In the fifth year of the Yuanding era of Emperor Wu of Han (112 BC), Lü Jia, a minister of the Southern Yue Kingdom, plotted a rebellion. To safeguard national unity, Emperor Wu of Han dispatched troops on four fronts to suppress the Southern Yue rebels. One of these forces, led by General Yang Pu, consisted of tens of thousands of naval troops who set out from Nanchang, sailed upstream along the Gan River, then followed the Zhang River to Dayu, where they disembarked. They cut timber to build boats in preparation for a southern campaign against the rebels. Upon learning of this, Lü Jia took advantage of the Han army’s focus on shipbuilding and organized a surprise attack on the Han forces. General Yang Pu led his troops in battle, fighting their way out through a bloody path and retreating to the mountainous area of Eagle Rock. The Han navy, after regrouping and intensive training, pledged their allegiance for the southern campaign at the foot of Eagle Rock and ultimately defeated Lü Jia’s rebel army, making a significant contribution to the unification of the Southern Yue region. In honor of General Yang Pu’s achievements, the local people renamed Eagle Rock to Yangli Rock. The village at the foot of the rock was thus named Yangli Village.