Sunset over Feishan Mountain

　　Feishan Mountain is located 5 kilometers northwest of the county town, at an altitude of 720 meters. Legend has it that in ancient times, a peak "suddenly flew here," which is why it was named Feishan. The mountain rises abruptly with steep cliffs on all sides, a flat and open summit resembling a bell or a tripod, making it one of the scenic highlights of the Five Streams region. It has long been a destination for literati and poets throughout the ages. During the Five Dynasties period, Ma Yin controlled Hunan and declared himself the "King of Chu." He sent troops to suppress Chengzhou (now Jingzhou County), but the tribal leaders of Feishan Cave, Pan Jinsheng and Yang Chenglei, used the mountain’s natural defenses to rally resistance. Trenches from that time can still be found on the mountain. Toward the end of the Five Dynasties, Yang Zaisi was revered as the governor of Chengzhou. After his death, a temple was built at the summit of Feishan in his honor, and he came to be known as "Feishan Ye Ye" (Grandpa Feishan). The mountain features hollowed-out caves and numerous temples and historic sites. The First Precious Tripod, Second Precious Tripod, and Third Precious Tripod stand proudly atop the peaks. Among them, the First Precious Tripod is the highest and is known as the "Summit." Three sides of it are sheer cliffs, and a rock juts out from the precipice with the two characters “凌云” (Soaring Clouds) inscribed on it, commonly referred to as the “Sacrificial Cliff.” The temple at the peak was built during the Song Dynasty’s Yuanyou era, burned down in the 15th year of the Guangxu reign in the Qing Dynasty (1899), and rebuilt in the 29th year of the Guangxu reign (1903). Both the original and rebuilt structures were made of blue stone with arched roofs. The Jingzhou TV relay station is now located there. The Second Precious Tripod is slightly lower than the First and serves as the necessary path to reach it. It is said that Ding Shenzi, a member of an ethnic minority at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, used this spot as a base to launch a rebellion. According to the Kangxi-era "Jingzhou Annals," at the military post on the mountain, there was still a “rice cave,” where the rice turned black and became stone—known as “Black Rice.” Some black rice grains can still be found today. The Third Precious Tripod is smaller in scale but is entirely built of stone with a refined and exquisite structure. It was constructed in the 32nd year of the Kangxi reign (1693) and remains well-preserved to this day.

　　Below the three Precious Tripods lies a wide, flat area that is home to Fangguang Temple, also known as the Feishan Grand Hall, which was built during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty. To the left of the main hall is a stone tablet engraved with the poem "Climbing Feishan" by Deng Zilong, a Ming Dynasty garrison commander who visited the mountain and left behind a powerful inscription. The calligraphy is vigorous. To the right is a stone tablet inscribed with couplets by Tan Yankai, the head of the Nationalist Government and President of the Executive Yuan in the early years of the Republic of China. Directly south in front of the hall stands the South Heaven Gate, about ten feet high, built from blue stone, with the four large characters “南天胜景” (South Heaven Scenic Wonder) inscribed on the lintel. On both sides are exquisitely carved images of the Eight Immortals. Behind the hall are the Three Pure Ones Temple, Linggong Palace, and Wangxu Pavilion, among others. In front are the Half-Immortal Pavilion, Little Heaven Gate Temple, Big Heaven Gate Temple, and Mozhenn Temple.

　　The mountainside of Feishan is dotted with caves. The White Cloud Cave is a large cave with its entrance located on the southeast cliff. Originally, a refined hut was built at the cave entrance, but it has since collapsed. However, the four characters “白云洞天” (White Cloud Cave Heaven), engraved by Wu Wenzong, a Sima official of Jingzhou in the Ming Dynasty, still shine brightly on the cliff face at the cave entrance. The faint traces of the earlier characters “天开列嶂” (Heaven Opens the Layered Peaks), written by an ancestor, can barely be seen. Not far to the right of the White Cloud Cave is the Feizhu Rock, also known as the “White Ox Cave,” where a waterfall hangs high. Though not deep, the cave walls are smooth, and mountain spring water flows down them. In the sunlight, it looks from afar like a white ox. About 130 steps up is the Baozhu Rock. There is a protruding round rock about 20 centimeters in diameter, also called a “Swan Egg.” Next to it are several lines of inscriptions, said to have been written by immortals (in reality, they are inscribed in tadpole script and are part of the Yu Stele). Legend has it that if one can read them aloud in one breath, the rock will crack and treasures will emerge. On the northeast side of Feishan is the Lotus Cave, which is wide and deep. In the past, the interior housed exquisitely crafted rooms. In 1962, the provincial cultural bureau allocated funds for repairs, but it was later destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Additionally, Feishan features the Tianchi (Heavenly Pool) in Tianchi Ridge, which never dries up year-round, and the peculiar rocks of Linlongao. Whenever the sun sets, the majestic silhouette of Feishan Mountain stands out under the glowing afterglow, appearing particularly spectacular and magical amidst the surrounding colorful clouds—this is the “Sunset over Feishan,” one of the “Ten Scenic Spots of Jingzhou.”