Wugua Mountain

　　Wugua Mountain is situated in Gaonao Village in the northwest of Huanqiao Town, Daye City, bordering Bishi Town of Ezhou City to the northwest. It is the northern gateway to Daye City. The mountain is surrounded by water on three sides, covering an area of six square kilometers, with its highest peak reaching an elevation of 450 meters. At the summit lies a naturally formed oval basin, embraced by surrounding peaks and shaded by lush bamboo and green pines. The mountain boasts numerous scenic spots and legendary tales, making it one of the Four Famous Mountains of Daye (Dongfang, Bai Zhi, Wugua, and Tiantai). Scenic wonders and historic relics abound on Wugua Mountain, renowned since ancient times for their spectacular views often associated with the Six Dynasties and Chu culture: watching the morning light from the East Peak, admiring the sunset glow from the West Ridge, viewing carp in the Golden Basin Pool, seeing lotus flowers bloom through the mist, the Spirit Spring reflecting the sun and moon, the evening fog shrouding the ancient pond, the secluded valley hiding an ancient temple, and the morning bells and evening drums echoing—all steeped in legend. In addition, the mountain features uniquely shaped natural rocks that are easy to identify: such as the Grain Drying Stone, the Sun Viewing Stone (Platform), the Rain Prayer Stone (Platform), the Donkey Trough Stone, the Lion Play Stone, the Immortal Trace Stone, the Sword Testing Stone, and the Immortal’s Chair (Stone), all of which are vividly lifelike. These sites offer scholars and travelers alike places for sightseeing and imaginative exploration. The mountain is a sacred Buddhist site and also an ideal destination for tourists and travelers seeking summer retreat and leisure. Throughout history, legends such as “Master Zhinyin Descending to Preach,” “Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang Bestowing a Title upon Baiyun Temple,” “Hong Xiuquan Swinging His Sword to Cut a Rock,” and “Wang Jingwei Taking Refuge in Wugua During Turmoil,” along with poems, essays, and couplets left by literati, have added boundless charm and mystique to Wugua Mountain.