Snow-Covered She Lake

　　    The Snow-Covered She Lake scenic area is located in Chengdong Township on the outskirts of the city. The mountain is described as having “steep cliffs that are difficult to climb, where snow accumulates especially thickly. On clear, sunny days after snowfall, the scenery is truly unique.” The Ming Dynasty statesman Che Daren wrote in his poem “Little She Lake Mountain”: “She Mountain stands a hundred ren high; I love it most when snow glistens bright. Pure white mingles with distant sky, sun’s glow reflects with wondrous light. A thousand woods send color in flight, ten thousand valleys shift forms outright. I wish to borrow spring’s tender grace, and pen an ode to match this place.”

　　    This mountain came to be called “Little She Lake Mountain” during the Tang Dynasty. Taoism was highly revered at the time, and after Shen Taizhi passed away, the imperial court ordered Shaoyang Prefecture to build a temple in his honor, with annual sacrifices. Shen Taizhi had lived in seclusion on She Lake Mountain — which is quite far from the prefectural seat (present-day Shetianqiao Town, Shaodong County). To facilitate worship, a shrine was built here and named She Lake Temple, and the mountain thus became known as Little She Lake Mountain, gradually becoming commonly referred to simply as She Lake Mountain. At the summit is the Pilu Pavilion, which enjoyed flourishing incense offerings during the Republican era. Every autumn, believers flocked to the site in large numbers to offer incense and worship the Buddha. At the mountain’s foot lies Thunder Ancestor Rock, which echoes with a hollow sound when stepped upon.

　　    There is a platform atop the rock, and beside it lies a stone that juts out like it’s hanging. When water drips from beneath this stone, local people regard it as a sign of impending rain.