Scenery of Jiuding Phoenix Mountain

　　    Scenery of Jiuding Phoenix Mountain Phoenix Mountain features a continuous mountain range stretching for miles, with three peaks of differing heights scattered across its ridgeline. Among them lie jagged boulders that resemble a giant roc spreading its wings, overlooking the fertile plains of the ancient Nanchang City. Located at the northern border of Nanchang Township, it was historically known as Chaoyang Mountain. The Qing Dynasty’s *Yi County Annals* recorded: “Chaoyang Mountain lies about a li south of Jiaoshan. On both its eastern and western banks, large, irregularly shaped rocks rise sharply, facing each other like clasped hands. On the eastern slope, the stream from Longtou Pond winds around its base, meandering southward in a twisting course. A steep, massive cliff lies midstream, with fierce springs leaping across it, spraying beads of water and snow-like foam, their roar echoing beyond the water. Nearby lies a flat rock large enough to seat dozens of people. Many visitors come here to drink and compose poetry, likening it to the stone pools of Liu Zongyuan, and thus it is called ‘Stone Pond.’” Today, Stone Pond no longer exists. To the south of Chaoyang Mountain lies Nainai Mountain, also known as Tianmu Fort Mountain. On the sunny side of Nainai Mountain lies Yuhua Spring, while on its western slope lies Liangquan Spring. The two springs converge, flow through Nanchang, pass Yangzhuang, and enter the Grand Canal. The area currently boasts 680 acres of forested green space. On the back slope remains the largest, oldest, and densest stand of oriental arborvitae in Xuecheng District, locally referred to as the “pine forest.” Walking into the woods, one is greeted by rustling pine waves and towering trees that block out the sun. On the eastern slope lies the best-preserved torch tree forest in Xuecheng, which bursts into fiery blooms during the Double Ninth Festival, painting the mountains red. The southern sunny slope preserves the largest wild apricot forest in the region, where fragrant blossoms fill the streams and red apricots peek over walls in early spring. Additionally, the area hosts dozens of forest species such as black pine, honey locust, goldenrain tree, dianthus, and cattail. After rain, the forest floor teems with mushrooms, and lucky visitors might even find a few lingzhi mushrooms. Wild animals often roam the woods—take a stroll, and you might inadvertently startle a rabbit or a few pheasants, which dart away in a flash. A wide and well-preserved mountain loop road encircles Jiuding Phoenix Mountain, the broadest and most intact in the Shandong hills. Some sections, once cleared, can even accommodate two-way traffic. In front of the mountain lie two Lingdang Reservoirs, while behind it are three medium to large reservoirs to the east, west, and north. Their crystal-clear waters reveal every fish and pebble, and in the morning mist, the blue water merges seamlessly with the sky—making it an ideal spot for fishing and leisure. On clear, starry nights, one can ascend to Phoenix Peak to recite, “Oh, how I wish for the bright moons of five lakes above,” and ponder, “Never worry about finding no place to cast the golden hook.” To the north of Jiuding Phoenix Mountain, a clear spring winds its way westward. This is an ancient stream, recorded in historical texts as a river capable of warding off disasters and evil—a river named Zhangshui. On the southern bank of Zhangshui lies a massive, prominently raised tomb of unknown origin, its construction date lost to time. Before the tomb stands an ancient cypress tree, its age also unknown, though it is said to be the grave of an ancient general.

　　     Nanchang Ancient City is situated on a plain area to the sunny side of Phoenix Mountain. The city measures approximately 550 meters from east to west and 440 meters from north to south, roughly rectangular in shape. At the northeast corner of the ancient city, a protruding section extends about 100 meters northward along the eastern wall foundation. Locally referred to as the “North Gate” or “Wengshang.” Near the ancient city, many ancient tombs have been discovered, often yielding unearthed stone carvings. A well-preserved Han Dynasty iron ring-handled sword, Han Dynasty stone sheep, and a large number of pottery artifacts have been found here, some dating back 2,000 years without rust. The *Book of Songs · Odes of Lu* records: “Resided in Chang and Xu.” The Eastern Han classicist Zheng Xuan commented: “Chang, also called Chang, is located south of Xue.” According to the *Historical Atlas of China*, the location of “Chang” during the Spring and Autumn Period corresponds to the area near today’s Nanchang Ancient City.