Dateng Gorge Scenic Area

　　Dateng Gorge is located in the lower reaches of the Qian River, with its exit about 8 kilometers from Guiping County. The gorge begins at Hengshijiao, the border between Guiping and Wuxuan counties, and ends at Nutan, stretching 44 kilometers in total, all within the county. The gorge features towering peaks on both sides, with rapids and dangerous shoals appearing and disappearing, interspersed with steep slopes, deep valleys, cliffs, precipices, and tributaries. In summer, the rapids churn violently, with floodwaters crashing against the banks; in autumn, the waters are calm and shimmering, reflecting the surrounding landscape, making it the most typical canyon scenery in Guangxi. During the Ming Dynasty, the famous geographer Xu Xiake traveled here and wrote an essay titled "A Record of the Dateng Gorge."

　　In the early Ming Dynasty, a large-scale peasant uprising of the Yao people broke out in Dateng Gorge. The rebel forces fought bravely in successive battles, sustaining an armed struggle for nearly 200 years. The northern bank of the gorge, including Bitan, Immortal’s Pavilion, Sanmei Cave, and Jiucenglou, were all former battlefields.

　　Nutan is located at the exit of Dateng Gorge. It earned its name because the rapids are as fierce and rapid as the pull of a crossbow. The rocky reefs on both banks are jagged, with hidden underwater obstacles, swirling eddies, and turbulent waves creating numerous dangers. Among the gorges of Dateng, this is the most perilous. In the past, when ships passed through, passengers often burned incense and prayed for safety. On the northern bank of the gorge entrance stands the Ganwang Temple, also a place for prayers for divine protection. However, shipwrecks caused by striking rocks still occurred from time to time. After liberation, the area underwent several dredging projects, which reduced the water flow, and navigation aids were added, but night navigation is still not recommended. Recently, plans have been made to build the Dateng Gorge Hydropower Station with an installed capacity of 1.2 million kilowatts at this location.

　　About ten li upstream from Nutan, on the northern bank of the gorge, there are clusters of bizarre rocks protruding from the river, resembling a chicken, a dog, or a drum. Legend has it that these are the divine chicken, divine dog, and divine drum arranged by Hou Dagou, the leader of the Yao peasant uprising during the Ming Dynasty. When Ming troops attacked from the river, these rocks would crow, bark, or beat drums to alert the rebels and prepare them for battle. When the enemy retreated, the rocks would beat war drums to cheer on the rebels chasing the fleeing foes. When the imperial court learned of this secret, they sent a large boat full of soldiers to smash the rocks, but as the boat entered the gorge, a sudden strong wind blew, the rapids roared, and the boat was overturned. It drifted to the outskirts of Guiping City and ran aground at the foot of Xishan Mountain, becoming what is now known as the Capsized Ship Ridge.

　　The Dateng River Crossing is about six or seven li further upstream from the area of the stone chicken, stone dog, and stone drum. On both the north and south banks of the river, massive cliffs jut out into the river, causing the river to suddenly narrow. Legend has it that there was once a huge vine as thick as a bucket stretched across the river here, submerged during the day and floating at night, which people used to cross the river, hence the name Dateng Gorge. The Yao peasant rebels during the Ming Dynasty used it as a crossing to evade the Ming army. Later, the Ming army cut down the vine, renamed the place Duanteng Gorge (Broken Vine Gorge), and carved the words “Imperial Grant: Everflowing Gorge” on the cliff face.

　　The statue of Hou Dagou is located on the opposite bank of the “Imperial Grant: Everflowing Gorge” cliff inscription, halfway up the cliffs of Sifang Mountain. Faintly visible is the head of a figure with distinct facial features, wearing a turban and exuding a heroic aura. It is said to be the carved image of Hou Dagou (the leader of the Yao peasant uprising in Dateng Gorge during the Ming Dynasty). Passengers on the Liuzhou-Wuzhou ferries who pass by this spot take delight in catching a glimpse of this naturally formed head.

　　Bizhan Capital City is located in the middle section of the gorge, where there is a dangerous shoal called Langtan. Not far downstream from Langtan is a small market town called Bizhan Market. This area faces the surging river and is backed by towering mountains. It served as the only passage to and from the ancient Yao settlement of Luolongdong (Upper, Middle, and Lower Caves). The high terrain offers a clear view of the boats passing through the river. Overlooking Langtan above and controlling the river area around Sifangshi below, Hou Dagou built a military camp here during the peasant uprising and constructed the “Emperor’s Hall” in the center of the camp as a meeting place for the rebels. Next to the “Emperor’s Hall” is a watchtower, covering a total area of about 3,000 square meters. Later generations referred to this as the “Bizhan Capital City,” and the ruins of the city can still be faintly seen today.

　　Jiucenglou is located about 10 kilometers north of Bizhan Market. It is a massive mountain several li in diameter, towering into the clouds, covered in dense forests, and radiating grandeur. Surrounded by peaks as if they were stars encircling the moon, it was an important strategic stronghold during the Yao uprising. Hou Dagou led the rebel forces in fierce battles against the enemy here. Climbing to the mountaintop along the stone path, one can still see the castles and wells built by the rebels. Not far from the castle lies a pile of large stones, which were prepared by the rebels as weapons to fight the enemy.