Xixia Song Scenic Area

　　The Xixia Song Scenic Area is situated at the foot of Tianjing Mountain, 13 kilometers west of Cheng County, within Yüqiao Gorge. Here, the natural landscape is tranquil and picturesque, with verdant mountains standing facing each other, crystal-clear streams, clusters of ponds like strings of pearls, and short cascading waterfalls connected one after another. The mountains, waters, rocks, and trees within the gorge all form stunning vistas; pavilions, bridges, corridors, and terraces complement each other beautifully. What makes Xixia unique is its majestic mountains and beautiful waters. Looking around, you’ll see towering highlands on one side and a series of rugged cliffs on the other. The mountains are covered in layers of greenery, with ancient trees reaching skyward and old vines winding around them. The Xiangshui River between the two mountains either meanders quietly through the valley or surges and dashes among massive boulders—the sound of splashing waves can be heard even from afar. Even more fascinating are the waterfalls on the cliffs, either descending like white silk ribbons from great heights or forming cascading bead curtains above the plank walkways, splashing and dripping down in a spectacular display.

　　The Yüqiao Gorge, where the Xixia Song is located, features steep cliffs on both sides that rise sharply and stand folded against each other, with a stream flowing through the center, twisting, soaring, swirling, and tumbling with dynamic grace. The ever-changing flow takes the forms of rapids, waterfalls, pools, and ponds. The ponds are not very wide but are clear, deep blue, and serene—reflections of the sky, drifting clouds, green mountains, ancient trees, and remnants of old plank roads are all mirrored within. Legend has it that in ancient times, a yellow dragon emerged from the pond, hence it is called “Yellow Dragon Pool.” When the bright moon hangs in the sky, moonlight and water shimmer together. “The mysterious pool glows with an aura of spring, calm waves hold a solitary moon. The mirror connects with five hues as the dragon shimmers, and pearls reflect a thousand scales with traces of moonlight.” This is the origin of “Moon Reflected in Dragon Pool,” one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Cheng County.

　　Within this deep and peculiar gorge stands an ancient structure with upturned eaves and a simple yet majestic presence—the Xixia Song Stele Pavilion. The world-renowned cliff inscription Xixia Song is housed here. The Xixia Song, along with the Shimen Song in Hanzhong, Shaanxi, and the Langao Song in Lueyang, are collectively known as the “Three Songs” of Han Dynasty calligraphy. A rubbing is a copy made from a stone engraving, and very few original Han Dynasty stone inscriptions have survived to this day—only rare specimens remain. The Xixia Song is one of them and is the most completely preserved cliff engraving among the Three Songs. The full name of the Xixia Song is “Han Wudu Governor Li Xi of Hanyang Heyang’s Xixia Song,” commonly known as the Yellow Dragon Stele. It was engraved in the fourth year of the Jian Ning era (171 AD) during the Eastern Han Dynasty under Emperor Ling, making it over 1,800 years old. It is carved into a recessed section of a cliff face with a flat surface, measuring 340 cm in width and 220 cm in height. At the top is the seal script heading “Hui An Xi Biao” (Western Pacification Record), while the main text consists of 20 vertical lines of 385 characters carved in intaglio. Each character is about 4 cm square. Overall, the authentic strokes of Han Dynasty clerical script are clearly visible. The inscription not only records the life of Li Xi, the Wudu Governor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and his outstanding political achievements during his tenure in various local administrative positions, but mainly praises his benevolent governance in leading the people to construct the Xixia Road for the benefit of the populace. The text describes the treacherous mountain paths of Xixia, recounting how Li Xi, moved to action, ordered officials to vigorously build the road—cutting through cliffs, clearing obstacles, leveling high areas, filling in low spots, straightening curves—and finally completing the new path. Travelers rejoiced, and his merits were celebrated. On the right side of the Xixia Song inscription are carved images of a yellow dragon, good grain, a white deer, intertwined trees, and a figure catching dew, collectively known as the “Five Auspicious Signs of the Pool,” symbolizing peace under Li Xi’s rule, abundant harvests, and happy citizens—an illustrative complement to the text. Together, the images and text enhance each other, blending the real and the symbolic. This makes it a remarkable and vivid piece of Eastern Han cliff engraving art. Locals refer to them collectively as the Yellow Dragon Stele. There are also inscriptions by notable figures from the Song Dynasty’s Yuanyou, Qiandao, and Chunxi eras, as well as the Qing Dynasty’s Guangxu era and the Republican period. The nine large characters “Eastern Han Cliff Inscription Xixia Song,” carved on the right side of the cliff, were written by the famous contemporary traditional Chinese painting master Li Keran. The smaller inscribed characters in relief on the stele consist of 12 lines and 142 words, matching the calligraphic style of the main text. They were composed and engraved by Qiu Jing, a native of Cheng County at the time. Qiu Jing, whose courtesy name was Hande, was a low-ranking minor official. Despite being such an obscure figure, he produced such extraordinary work, earning recognition as an outstanding writer and calligrapher, and is truly a source of pride for Longnan.

　　Another precious aspect of the Xixia Song cliff engraving is its excellent state of preservation. Among the “Three Songs” of Han clerical script, the Shimen Song was originally located on the western wall of the Shimen in the Baogu Valley north of Hanzhong City, Shaanxi. In 1971, it was cut and relocated due to the regulation of the Baogu River and is now housed in the Hanzhong Museum, with considerable damage to the text. The Langao Song’s stone had already worn down in ancient times and was recarved during the Ming Dynasty, no longer the original artifact. Even so, it has suffered repeated damage, with only about half of the characters still clearly legible. After more than 1,800 years, the Xixia Song remains intact in its original location, preserving its original charm, mainly because the stele is recessed several meters into the cliff wall, protruding on the top and concave below—shielded from sun and rain. The stele is located halfway up the cliff and was once covered by vines, making it difficult for ordinary people to access. It was eventually discovered by a woodcutter, bringing the world-famous Xixia Song back into public view.

　　The calligraphy of the Xixia Song stele is clear, concise, simple, and elegant, with a beautiful structure and powerful carving. Both the text and the calligraphy hold significant value for archaeological research, copying, and appreciation, sparking a wave of Xixia Song studies in China and countries like Japan. It holds an important place in China’s epigraphy, cultural history, calligraphy history, and transportation history. As a shining jewel of the Chinese nation’s outstanding traditional culture, it enjoys fame both domestically and abroad. In June 2001, it was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council.