Qín Gāo Shān

　　Qín Gāo Shān stands tall and proud on the banks of the Qín Xī River, also known as Qín Gāo Fēng, and was formerly called Qín Gāo Tái. Legend has it that during the Han Dynasty, the recluse Qín Gāo practiced alchemy here, successfully attained immortality, and then “rode a carp up to heaven.” The mountain and river have thus been named after this event. The Qing Dynasty scholar Zhào Qīnglí composed the poem “Qín Gāo Qǔ,” which reads: “North of Jīngchuān city lies Qín Xī Peak, where a graceful cave opens below — said to be where Qín Gāo once dwelled, refining elixirs, riding a carp upon the winds of heaven.” The mountain features a solitary peak that juts sharply upward, with towering, rugged cliffs resembling a lion’s visage, hence locals also call it Shīzi Shān (Lion Mountain). The mountain is home to historic sites such as Yǐnyǔ Yán (Hidden Rain Rock) and Liándān Dòng (Alchemy Cave). Within the Alchemy Cave are peculiar rocks such as an alchemy stove, stone table, and stone stools, all said to be relics from the immortal Qín Gāo’s alchemical practices. Outside and to the left of the Alchemy Cave stands a uniquely shaped rock, lofty and upright, resembling a rooster standing proudly, known as “Jīn Jī Shí” (Golden Rooster Stone). Legend has it that in ancient times, a golden rooster once perched on this stone, and whenever it heard the sounds of music or drums, it would stretch its neck, flap its wings, and crow loudly. During the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing era, Wáng Tínggān, a Jìng County scholar-official who had served as an external minister of the Ministry of Revenue, wrote a poem titled “Qín Xī Jīn Jī Shí”: “The Qín Stream opens to a jade-like cave, where strange rocks resemble a golden rooster.”

　　According to old county records, the cliffs of Qín Gāo Shān are adorned with as many as twenty to thirty cliff inscriptions from various dynasties, the most in the entire county. These include quatrains and lengthy poems inscribed by Xíng Jù, Wǔ Píngyī, and Dù Wěi from the Tang Dynasty’s Kaiyuan era; by Jiǎng Yǐngshū, Guō Xiángzhèng, Cháo Duānběn, Liú Yì, and Zhào Jīngchén during the Song Dynasty; and by Lín Chún, who inscribed the three characters “Qín Gāo Tái” in seal script during the Southern Song Dynasty.

　　These three characters were carved on the steepest part of the cliff facing the stream; during the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era, Chén Xiào inscribed the two characters “Xiān Fēng” (Immortal Peak), each character over ten feet tall, onto the rock face. Most of these cliff inscriptions were created by master calligraphers, elegant yet vigorous, each showcasing their unique strengths. The engravers were also highly skilled artisans, adept at the craft of carving, capturing every stroke with divine precision. Despite hundreds of years of wind and rain erosion, these inscriptions remain unerased to this day, with the characters “Xiān Fēng” still as clear as ever, retaining their full spiritual charm. The existence of these cliff inscriptions constitutes invaluable historical relics. In ancient times, the foot of Qín Gāo Shān also featured historic structures such as the Qín Gāo Miào (Qín Gāo Temple), Sēncuì Lóu (Verdant Tower), Cuìhǎi Shānzhuāng (Emerald Sea Villa), and Jiēguān Tíng (Official-Receiving Pavilion), all of which were successively destroyed during the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods, leaving only ruins behind today.

　　“A timeless reputation calls forth travelers.” The Qín Xī scenery centered around Qín Gāo Shān boasts not only the beauty of green mountains and clear waters but also the wonder of secluded caves and peculiar rocks, making it a renowned scenic attraction since ancient times. Since the Tang Dynasty, it has drawn throngs of visitors, with scholars and celebrities leaving continuous traces of their presence. The “Poet Immortal” Lǐ Bái wrote in his poem “Climbing Xiǎng Shān on the Ninth Day”: “Red carp surge where Qín Gāo rose, white turtles guide the River God. The spirits and immortals seem near, yet no reply comes to distant friends.” He also wrote in “In Response to Cui Fifteen’s Invitation”: “You possess writings in bird-track script, inviting me to drink by Qín Xī. Your handwritten letter, like celestial brocade, falls from the sky.” The Song Dynasty literary giant Ōuyáng Xiū once composed the verse: “Qín Gāo departed and never returned — even if immortals exist, what use are they?” The Qing Dynasty’s Yuán Méi even penned a specific poem titled “Qín Xī, Said to Be Where Qín Gāo Rode a Carp”: “Qín Xī Mountain, as if waiting for someone, stands like a goose facing the water all day long. Qín Xī water, so clear it invites play, mist rises from the eleven arches of the middle bridge. The alchemical scriptures in the cave are indecipherable, wild cold mist stirs the stone walls. River grass and flowers bloom autumn and spring again, but the immortal’s strike brings no reply. I laugh at Qín Gāo — he was no true immortal after all. He rode a carp away, but never rode one back.” The numerous poems and writings by literati throughout the ages have left behind timeless tales about Qín Gāo Shān.

　　Exact location: Suburban area southwest of Níngguó City