Cold Dragon Ridge

　　    Cold Dragon Ridge is located northeast of Menyuan County. Its summit features glaciers and year-round snow cover. When the sun sets in the west and the evening glow drifts softly across the sky, the snow-capped peak sparkles brilliantly, sometimes glowing crimson or faint purple, or shifting through hues of light blue and deep indigo. It resembles a jade dragon wandering amidst a floral tapestry, constantly changing form—hence the name “Cold Dragon Sunset.” The ridge itself is tall, massive, and characterized by undulating peaks. Towering prominently is the Gangshika Peak, the highest of Cold Dragon Ridge, standing at an elevation of 5,254.5 meters. Its sword-like summit pierces the sky, now gleaming with silver under blue skies and white clouds, now shrouded in violent storms that darken the heavens. Occasionally, avalanches roar down like dragons and tigers howling, with snow swirling wildly—a terrifying and awe-inspiring spectacle of ever-changing, mysterious grandeur. It combines the magnificence of modern glaciers with a complete range of vegetation zones, making it an ideal destination for scientific expeditions, mountaineering adventures, and sightseeing. During the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, Western Ping Marquis Mu Ying and Western Expedition General Deng Yu once pursued the Qiang people to this region. Historical records also note that in 345 AD, Jiuquan Prefect Ma Ji told Zhang Jun of the Former Liang, “The southern mountain of Jiuquan is Kunlun. In ancient times, King Mu of Zhou campaigned westward to Kunlun and met the Queen Mother of the West on this mountain. The Queen Mother had the body of a tiger, the tail of a leopard, a human face with tiger’s teeth, and was entirely white. She lived in a cave within the snow mountains. This mountain is an ancient branch of Kunlun, and it is fitting to establish a shrine to the Queen Mother of the West here to pray for boundless blessings for the imperial court.” Zhang Jun agreed, and thus a Queen Mother Shrine was established on Gangshika Mountain and named “Kunlun.” During the Changqing era (807–821 AD) of Emperor Muzong of the Tang Dynasty, envoy Liu Yuanding climbed this mountain while on a diplomatic mission to Tibet. The snow on the mountain reflects sunlight, and the mists often take on a purple hue, earning it another name: “Purple Mountain.” Below the mountain lies dense shrubbery colored a bluish-black, and in the ancient Qiang language, it was called “Menmo Li Mountain.” Among the thirteen great mountain deities revered across the vast Huare area, it is honored as the foremost deity, enjoying the prestigious title of “A-mi Gangshika” (meaning “Lord Snow Mountain”). The local Tibetan people regard white as an auspicious color and hold it in reverence. On the 15th day of the eighth lunar month each year, ceremonies are held to worship the Gangshika Mountain deity. The event is grand in scale, featuring not only Buddhist scripture recitations but also horse racing, wrestling, shooting competitions, and more. One particularly unique ritual involves crafting a large bird, 1.5 meters high and 3 meters long, from paper each year. Known in Tibetan as “Xiajiecuiqiong” (meaning “King of All Birds”), it is flown high into the sky in commemoration of the Queen Mother of the West and her bluebird messenger. According to the *Classic of Mountains and Seas – The Great Wilderness: The West* (“山海经·大荒西经”), “To the west lies the Queen Mother’s Mountain… where three blue birds reside, with red heads and black eyes.” Guo Pu explained, “These three blue birds are all messengers of the Queen Mother.” Later generations came to refer to messengers as “blue birds,” and the allusion in Li Shangyin’s poem “No far to go to Penglai Mountain, blue birds come busy to bring word of you” originates from this legend.

　　    According to *The Classic of Mountains and Seas – The Great Wilderness: The West* (“山海经·大荒西经”), “To the west lies the Queen Mother’s Mountain... where three blue birds reside, with red heads and black eyes.” Guo Pu explained, “These three blue birds are all messengers of the Queen Mother.” Later generations came to refer to messengers as “blue birds,” and the allusion in Li Shangyin’s poem “No far to go to Penglai Mountain, blue birds come busy to bring word of you” originates from this legend.