Stone Buddha Mountain

　　Stone Buddha Mountain is situated in Yao Village Township, Langxi County, with its highest peak reaching 353 meters. Also called Stone Buddha Ridge, the mountain boasts rugged cliffs and is often shrouded in clouds. At its summit stand three massive rocks, each about ten meters tall, resembling stone Buddha statues. Legend has it that in the seventh year of the Kaiyuan era during the Tang Dynasty (719 AD), Jin Qiaojue, the prince of the Silla Kingdom (later known as the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha), renounced his royal status to become a monk. He crossed the sea to China, traveled far and wide in search of a place to settle (known as “zhuoxi,” or a monastic dwelling). One golden autumn, he arrived here and saw three giant rocks on the mountaintop that looked like three great Buddhas. Considering this an ideal spot to establish his dwelling, he asked a woodcutter the name of the mountain. The woodcutter replied, “These giant Buddha-like rocks can hold up thirty-three feet of cloud with a mere lift of their hands — people call it ‘Stone Buddha Holding Up the Clouds.’” The prince thought to himself that a Buddha’s head was not an appropriate place for a dwelling, so he left to continue his search elsewhere.

　　The northern slope of the mountain is marked by sheer cliffs, while the southern side is gentle and easy to climb. At the summit lies a flat expanse. The mountain is covered with dense forests of pines, cypresses, and green bamboo, along with uniquely shaped crags and perilous rocks of various sizes — some as large as houses — all formed through years of weathering, creating a spectacular sight. Locals have summarized the most notable rock formations into ten major stone views: “Cloud-Supporting Stone,” “Monk Stone,” “[One Missing Name] Stone,” “Toad-Crying Stone,” “Golden Turtle Stone,” “Wooden Fish Stone,” “Wall Stone,” “Seventy-Foot Stone,” “Peach of Immortality Stone,” and “Cabinet Stone.” Among them, the “/[One Missing Name]/ Stone” over a zhang tall (approximately 3.3 meters), which resembles both a fairy peach and a leaning seated Buddha atop other rocks, sways noticeably even in a light breeze, thus earning the nickname “Wind-Moving Stone.” Visitors who shake it by hand will also feel it move, hence it's also called the “Living Stone.”

　　On the southern slope lies the enormous, rectangular Toad-Crying Stone, also known as the Three-Legged Stone, which hangs dramatically over a smooth cliff face, giving the impression that it might fall with the slightest touch. However, when approached and pushed with force, it stands firmly unmoved like Mount Tai. The “Seventy-Foot Stone” is the largest cluster of boulders encountered near the summit along the climbing route, resembling an impregnable fortress. On clear, sunny days with fresh air, climbers who ascend to its top can gaze into the distance to see the shimmering waves and sailing boats of South Yi Lake, as well as the fields, roads, and landscapes of Langxi, Guangde, and Xuancheng spread out below.

　　At the summit, the Huiming Chan Temple was built in the early Qing Dynasty. It had a brick-and-wood structure, consisting of two courtyards with a total of 99 rooms. With carved beams and painted rafters, adorned with fine craftsmanship and classic elegance, the temple was grand in scale. During the Qing Dynasty and the Republican era, it served as a small Buddhist center in southeastern Anhui, commonly referred to as

　　“Little Jiuhua,” attracting pilgrims from neighboring provinces and counties throughout the year. Especially on the 30th day of the seventh lunar month, both devotees and merchants would flock to the mountain, making it exceptionally lively. To the west of the temple once stood an ancient stage, with a trapezoidal performance area facing the front. Five meters from the temple gate stood three ginkgo trees, of which two — one male and one female — still remain. They tower dozens of zhang high (over 100 meters), with trunks more than two chi in diameter, and their leafy canopies spread out like umbrellas. Beside the trees is a spring, with crystal-clear, jade-green water that never dries up even in prolonged drought.