Qianfeng Mountain

　　Qianfeng Mountain, also known as Qian Mountain, is located twenty li east of Chengbu Miao Autonomous County and stands at an elevation of 1,678 meters. From afar, it appears bluish-green in hue and can be seen from a hundred li around. On the mountain there is the Dragon Beard Rock, which resembles the whiskers of a green dragon raised as if the creature were about to leap forward. At the “dragon’s head” sit two peaks facing each other like dragon horns. Ascending these “horns,” one can gaze out over mountains that resemble rolling waves, with the Dragon Beard Rock standing proudly like a dragon’s head amid the vast, surging tides. Between the two peaks lies the secluded and unfathomable Geshan Dragon Pool. Springs gush out from beneath the Dragon Beard Rock, resembling a dragon playing in water, with sounds like thunder. In the past, nearby stood structures such as the Zixiao Palace, Ziyun Nunnery, and Qianlong Academy. Viewing the scenery from here offers a uniquely delightful experience.

　　The famous Tang Dynasty literary figure Liu Zongyuan had only heard of the grandeur of Qian Mountain but had never personally visited to witness the beauty of Qianfeng. Therefore, when he wrote the *Wugang Inscription*, he only mentioned the “praise of Qian Mountain” and did not describe the “beauty of Qianfeng.” However, Hu Cai, the magistrate of Chengbu County during the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1567–1572), as the local official, personally ascended Qian Mountain and thus composed the poem “Qianfeng’s Combined Beauty,” which reads: “The mountain hues of Qianzhou surpass all; / With spring winds, the Chu dunes unfold. / Trees part like brocades from beyond the sky; / Springs answer like thunder in the valley deep. / Phoenixes and ospreys chase one another’s shadows; / Dragons and serpents surge with shared might. / Why not ride in a carriage / To ask about local customs and offer jade in the valley?” It perfectly captures the exquisite beauty of Qianfeng. Today, the mountain is covered in lush greenery and is part of the state-owned Yunma Forest Farm.