Poshan Mountain

　　Poshan Mountain is located 20.5 kilometers southeast of the county seat, on the southwestern side of Fenglin Town, bordering Mount Lu to the east, extending continuously to Mount Dade to the west, and facing off against Chicken Cage Mountain to the north. Its main peak, Biyun Peak, stands at an elevation of 491 meters, with a rugged and majestic presence. To the north of the main peak are sheer cliffs; the summit is flat as a terrace. From atop, one can gaze out at the surrounding peaks standing in tribute, with the Yangtze River appearing as a thin line — a scene of breathtaking grandeur.

　　Originally named Biyun Mountain, Poshan was renamed after the Northern Song Dynasty literary figure Su Dongpo traveled from Huangzhou to Yuzhou during the Yuanyou era, passing through Shangdi and climbing the mountain for sightseeing.

　　There is a saying: “Mount Lu has ninety-nine temples, Poshan has ninety-nine hollows.” Starting from the foot of the mountain and moving upward, ridges form numerous valleys, resembling a giant umbrella unfurled — this is the origin of the saying, “A single flag in the misty range, Poshan like an open umbrella.” Legend has it that when Emperor Qin Shi Huang was driving mountains to block the sea, he identified Poshan as the dragon’s head, believing that once the head moved, the rest of the mountains would follow. He whipped the mountain ninety-nine times, but Poshan stood firm, leaving behind only the ninety-nine hollows we see today.

　　Poshan Mountain boasts numerous scenic wonders, including Biyun Cave, Immortal’s Basin, Guanyin Cave, Jing Shi Temple, Tea Sea, and Granary — each a unique sight to behold.

　　Biyun Cave, also known as Bishan Cave, is situated 100 meters below Biyun Peak. It is 150 meters long, 5 meters high, and 7 meters wide. The cavern is spacious and bright, containing stone tables, chairs, beds, and basins. According to the Liu family genealogy, their ancestor Liu Bishan, who went to the capital in the 41st year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty to take part in the imperial examinations (the Gui Chou Year), refused to bribe the examiners and angrily withdrew from the test. He returned home to live in seclusion, hiding in Biyun Cave to study diligently for three years. In the 44th year of the Wanli reign, he retook the exams and passed as a Jinshi in the Bing Chen Year, eventually rising to the position of Provincial Censor of Zhejiang and Imperial Censor — known as an upright official. Later, he joined the renowned official Yang Lian in impeaching the powerful eunuch Wei Zhongxian, gaining widespread fame.

　　The Immortal’s Basin, also called the Ink-Washing Pool, is located next to the ruins of a mountain school. It is a natural stone basin about ten square feet in size, whose water never dries up throughout the year. Legend says that when Su Dongpo visited the mountain, he left behind a poem: “High mountains have broad stones but little gold and silver; the world has many people but few true gentlemen. One need not speak everything plainly, lest one stir up trouble in the human realm.” After writing the poem, he washed his brush in the pool, turning the clear water black. This is how the Immortal’s Basin came to be called the Ink-Washing Pool.

　　Guanyin Cave is located at the eastern foot of the mountain, on the back side of the ancient wooden-fish nunnery. The cave stretches 250 meters with two sections: the front section is 12 meters long and 10 meters wide, while the rear is 6 meters high and 8 meters wide. The ground is flat and can seat over 100 people. The stalactites and stalagmites on the cave ceiling and walls take on various enchanting shapes — resembling rosy clouds and flowers, tiger heads and lions, children worshiping Buddha, Guanyin’s lotus throne, the old man Jiang fishing, or Chang’e flying to the moon — all delightful to behold.

　　The Granary is located halfway up the western mountainside. The cliffs and precipices appear golden, resembling a huge hanging rice-drying field. Legend says that behind the cliffs lies a massive granary storing endless amounts of golden grain, with an inexhaustible supply and a never-ending drying process. Someone from Nancheng once joked: “Don’t talk nonsense about the granary being real — thousand-foot cliffs used as rice-drying baskets, with no birds flying by and few people visiting, only the half-yellow stone slabs remain.”

　　Poshan Mountain has four treasures: rhinoceros horn, ringing stone, immortal leek, and tribute tea. As for rhinoceros horn, perhaps only the ancients were lucky enough to see it. Ringing stones, however, were indeed found by the elders — stones as big as chicken eggs, hollow inside, which make a jingling sound when shaken. A Qing Dynasty prefectural governor, Gao Jian, wrote a poem about it: “The mountain hues are misty, the trees thick; I hear no jingling, only a solitary bell. Drunk, I finish my verses by Su Causeway, then seek old traces on Poshan.” As for the immortal leek, it’s said that the wild leeks here uniquely absorb the spiritual energy of Poshan, growing thick, long, fragrant, and different from ordinary cultivated ones. The Poshan Cloud Mist Tea was praised in ancient times: “The tribute tea of Poshan Cloud Mist is truly fine, refreshing the throat and quenching thirst, the essence of quality. Pluck freely from the vast tea sea, surpassing even the Dragon Well teas of the Five Sacred Mountains.” Once tribute tea, it now sells well across the country.

　　Jing Shi Temple is situated halfway up the northern side of Poshan Mountain, beneath overhanging cliffs. It was first built by the Ming Dynasty figure Liu Bishan and has a history of over 400 years. It has undergone several renovations and gradually taken shape. The temple enshrines solemn statues, with visitors constantly coming and going. A couplet composed by modern writer Ye Nong reads: “In Jing Shi’s serene seclusion, literati may rest and relax; amid Poshan’s scenic wonderland, ancient traces and immortal sights offer endless exploration.”

　　Poshan Mountain has long been a land of outstanding people and rich culture. Qiufang Village at the southern foot was the hometown of Chen Guangting, a Qing Dynasty Hanlin academician compiler; Dafan Village at the western foot was the birthplace of Liu Shouxu, a late Ming Dynasty Minister of the Court of Imperial Stables; and Dapo Village at the northern foot produced over 40 individuals who held positions such as Hanlin academician, prefect, or county magistrate, or who passed the imperial exams as jinshi or juren between the Jiaqing and Guangxu eras of the Qing Dynasty — a span of over 100 years. In this small village, mansions such as “Tai Mansion,” “Grand Historian Mansion,” and “Scholar Mansion” were successively built. The Liu Ke family had five jinshi degree holders spanning four generations of grandfather to grandson, earning them great prestige and becoming a celebrated tale. Liu Fanghui, an official in the Ministry of War’s Armory Division, was also gifted in poetry and prose, forming a close friendship with Wu Guolun, a fellow townsman and Left Provincial Administrator of Henan, exchanging over twenty poems. Liu Fengyu, who rose to the rank of prefect, retired and returned home, donating a large sum to build five stone bridges — Shangjing, Fenglin, Dapo, Huanggang, and Xiaopo.