Pangu Mountain

　　A Buddhist Sacred Site — Pangu Mountain. Many places across China have a location called "Pangu Mountain," and Pangu culture is widely spread. Historical texts provide detailed records of "Pangu Mountain," such as in the Northern Song Dynasty by Luo Ping in *Lu Shi · Qian Ji Yi*. The book states: "Now in Ganzhou’s Huichang there is Pangu Mountain, originally named Pangu, while Xiangxiang has Pangu Bao, and Yudu has a Pangu Temple — all referring to Pangu." Before the Republican era, Huichang was administratively divided into five townships: Quanxiang, Xiangxiang, Fu, Hua, and Cheng. Xiangxiang governed the area south of the county town, and Pangu Bao was part of it, located in what is now Pangu Village, Yunmenling Town. Similar names include Pangu Village, Pangu Pass, and Pangu Ridge. Huichang’s Pangu Mountain is located in Minfan Village, 7 kilometers south of Yunmenling Town. Since ancient times, it has been home to the famous Ten Scenic Spots of Pangu, and countless historical figures have visited, leaving behind numerous poems and writings that enrich the cultural heritage of the mountain. During the Song Dynasty, a Buddha Pagoda Palace was built on the mountain, and today the surviving Meilin Temple houses nine stone tablets, including the *Pangu Stockade Gate Stele Record*, five of which date back to the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. According to old records from Huichang County, Yunmenling Town had the Meilin Temple at Pangu Mountain, known as a famous temple in the region. A Southern Song scholar-official wrote in *A Record of Pangu Mountain*: “Its paths wind and twist, rising steeply,” and “It was originally called Pangu, but 'Pangu' was mistakenly changed to 'Gu' (ancient) over time.” The Qing Dynasty poet Zhu Wei also composed a poem titled *Pangu Mountain*. The mountain features steep cliffs on all sides, faces the Xiang River to the east, and rises abruptly, towering above the surrounding peaks. The summit is covered with lush pines and bamboos, with a relatively flat central slope resembling a large circular plateau about 5 kilometers in circumference and 1.5 kilometers in diameter. All climbable areas of the summit are fortified with strong mountain stockades, and only the southwest side has a carved stone stairway hugging the cliffside, known as “the one and only path up Pangu Mountain since ancient times.”

　　The Mountain Gate

　　This is the entrance gate to the mountain — a Ming and Qing-style stone mountain gate shaped like a memorial archway. It stands 5.4 meters tall and 4.6 meters wide, featuring palace-style stone eaves and exquisitely carved details. The central gate lintel is inscribed horizontally with the three large characters “Pangu Mountain,” while the upper and lower sections are carved with motifs such as the Eight Immortals and the dragon-and-pearl design, indicating its deep connection with the Eight Immortals. This stone gate is a key cultural relic protection unit of Huichang County.

　　Sunrise Viewing from the Heights

　　The mountain is surrounded by steep cliffs and faces the Xiang River to the east, standing tall and majestic — truly “towering above the surrounding peaks.” Every morning, watching the sunrise from the summit, you can see the red sun bursting forth from the sea of clouds, a truly spectacular sight. Visitors who are interested can experience this breathtaking moment firsthand.

　　The Husband-and-Wife Ginkgo

　　This is an ancient ginkgo tree with both male and female parts, locally called the “white fruit tree.” Also known as the “grandfather-grandson tree,” it symbolizes how a grandfather plants the tree and his grandson gets to enjoy its fruit. In the scientific community, it is referred to as a “living fossil,” and such ancient trees are quite rare today. Legend says this white fruit tree was planted during the Tang Dynasty and is now 1,300 to 1,400 years old. Folklore tells that the Immortal He Xiangu once battled an ancient Buddha, pulling a silver needle from her hair to stab the deity. The Buddha snatched the needle and threw it toward Pangu Mountain, where it landed, took root, and grew into this ginkgo tree.

　　Meilin Temple

　　Meilin Temple was first built in the 21st year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1522). At that time, the temple comprised 36 courtyards with over 300 rooms and housed more than 300 monks and nuns, making it the largest Buddhist temple in Huichang’s history. The temple still preserves several stone tablets, including the *Pangu Stockade Gate Stele Record*, though their inscriptions have become blurred due to weathering and human factors. The currently remaining two-courtyard, three-bay structure is likely a modern reconstruction. The temple usually sees few worshippers, but during temple fairs, visitor numbers can exceed a thousand.

　　Immortal’s Well

　　Legend has it that the spring water in the well is connected to the Xiang River — when the river water is clear, so is the well water, and when the river is murky, the well water turns cloudy too.

　　Twin Breast Peaks

　　These peaks are strikingly lifelike, closely resembling a young woman’s full breasts. Locals call them “Nipple Mountain.”

　　Red Army Martyrs’ Execution Site

　　In 1934, the 6th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 64th Regiment of the 22nd Division of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army engaged in a desperate battle against enemy forces at Pangu Mountain. Eventually, with no ammunition or supplies left, the Red Army soldiers chose death over surrender, leaping off the cliffs together in a heroic act of martyrdom. If someone were to compile and adapt this historical account, it would undoubtedly be a gripping tale. Just as Langya Mountain has its Five Heroes, Pangu Mountain has hundreds — the tragic and heroic scene is easy to imagine.