Jifeng Mountain

　　Jifeng Mountain National Forest Park is situated 5 kilometers southwest of Cheng County. It neighbors Xianren Cliff to the east, Luan Mountain to the west, and the Nan River to the north. The mountain is celebrated for its stunning peaks, picturesque waters, and extraordinary caves. Known as the “Number One Mountain in Longnan” and the “Top Scenic Wonder of Huizhong,” it enjoys fame across the three provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Sichuan.

　　　　Jifeng Mountain gets its name from its “solitary, steep peak that soars straight into the clouds, resembling the head of a rooster.” According to the Northern Wei Dynasty cliff carvings and the steles from the era of Emperor Zhenzong of Song (Zhao Heng) preserved on the mountain, cliff inscriptions such as the “Western Gorge Ode” date back to the Han Dynasty. By the Tang Dynasty, the site had already taken initial shape, and during the Song Dynasty, there were large-scale temple complexes and active Buddhist practices on the mountain.

　　　　The total area of Jifeng Mountain Park is 4,200 hectares, with 5,000 mu of forested land. The vegetation mainly consists of Huashan pines, Chinese pines, and larches, interspersed with economically valuable species like Hongqinggang, chestnuts, eleutherococcus, as well as ornamental plants such as ironwood, torreya, and water cypress. Wildlife includes antelope, sika deer, wild boar, wolves, and rabbits.

　　　　Jifeng Mountain boasts 18 scenic spots, each a marvel. Among the most famous are “Clouds Resting on the Immortal’s Bed,” “Spring Emerging from the Dragon’s Mouth,” “Stone Rooster Perched on a Precipice,” and “Sea of Clouds Over a Floating Fairy Mountain.” The “Clouds Resting on the Immortal’s Bed” is located on the northern mountainside of Meiluo Peak, while the “Spring Emerging from the Dragon Cave” lies midway up the eastern slope—a natural cave adorned with abundant stalactites and stalagmites forming a fantastical scene. A crystal-clear spring flows beneath the shrine, and during rainy weather, mist gushes out like a jade dragon spiraling out of the cave. On the cliffs above the Dragon Cave, the “Stone Rooster on the Precipice” features a massive rock resembling a rooster, jutting boldly from the cliffside—a natural wonder. The “Sea of Clouds Over a Floating Fairy Mountain” on the northern slope reveals several emerald peaks emerging from an ocean-like sea of clouds, especially breathtaking at sunrise when the rising sun paints the sky in radiant hues, creating the illusion of a celestial island.

　　 Another highlight of Jifeng Mountain is its karst caves. Stretching about 1 kilometer deep, the caves feature various stalactites and stalagmites that take on ever-changing forms under different lighting, angles, and imaginations.

　　　　Jifeng Mountain forms a cultural ensemble with the nearby Du Gong Ancestral Hall to the east and west, the Western Gorge Ode, and historic sites such as the “Han Dynasty Cliff Carvings,” “Wu Ting Stele,” and “Pei Gong Lotus Inscription.” These renowned landmarks attract visitors from around the world. Throughout history, statesmen, literati, poets, and artists have left behind countless traces of their presence. Figures such as Yu Xu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, who pioneered water transport, Ma Rong who lectured here, Li Xi who excavated the Western Gorge, Zhuge Liang of the Three Kingdoms who marched six times through the Qishan region, the Tang Dynasty general Jingde who built temples, Du Fu who sojourned here, and Wu Ting of the Song Dynasty who defended Shu—all have contributed layers of historical and cultural richness to this natural landscape.