Guiguling Tongqian Gorge

　　    Tongqian Gorge is situated at the southwestern foot of Guiguling, by the Daba River. According to legend, it was originally named Tongjing Gorge because a naturally formed, mirror-like rock was found on the sheer cliff at the mouth of the gorge. The Qing Dynasty’s Shiquan County Annals recorded: “The two cliffs of Tongjing Gorge face each other across the Daba River, with a path carved through the rocks so narrow that only one person can pass — a true strategic pass.” Hence, it was also referred to as Tongqian Gorge. Later during the Republican era, Tongqian Gorge came to be known by its current name. The reason: on the steep cliffs on both sides of the stone gorge, one cliff naturally formed a rock shaped like a large bronze gong, called the “Stone Gong,” while on the opposite cliff, directly facing the gong, another rock naturally resembled a large drum, known as the “Stone Drum.” A local saying goes: “Stone Gong faces Stone Drum, twenty-five thousand in gold; whoever can solve the mystery can buy Hanzhong Prefecture.” It was believed that the gorge hid a vast treasure, but no one could decipher the code to unlock the gold vault, thus the wealth remained unreachable. Eventually, Tongqian Gorge replaced the name Tongqian Gorge.

　　    Tongqian Gorge is about 100 meters long, with an opening about 10 meters wide. Towering, imposing cliffs rise sharply on either side. The rocks are smooth and steep, barren of trees — too sheer even for monkeys to climb. The Daba River flows through the gorge, originating from Guiguling, cascading straight down, bringing a cool shade to Tongqian Gorge. On hot days, stepping into the canyon brings a refreshing chill.

　　    The cliffs on both sides of Tongqian Gorge are very high. On the eastern cliff, which rises over 200 meters, a stone cave can be spotted through a telescope on the sheer, knife-edge-like precipice. Inside the cave lies a coffin — a hanging coffin. How the coffin was placed inside the cave remains a mystery unsolved by the world.

　　    To the west of Tongqian Gorge lies another uniquely beautiful small gorge, known as the West Gorge. The West Gorge features abrupt mountain terrain, winding paths, lush greenery, fresh air, and a tranquil environment, resembling a fairyland.