Nujiang Stone Moon

　　   At the summit of 3,300 meters in the middle section of the Gaoligong Mountain Range, there is a massive karst cave eroded through marble. The cave is over a hundred meters deep, about 40 meters wide, and around 60 meters high. Traveling northward along the Nujiang River, you can see this stone cave, which reveals the blue sky and white clouds, from as far as a hundred li away. It has a beautiful name — the Stone Moon. It seems to have stood there since the beginning of time and even existed in the ancient Lisu myth of the Great Flood.

　　   In the Lisu language, it is called “Yahaba,” meaning Stone Moon. Everyone who sees it wishes to get closer to it. However, it seems to be a destination reserved for the brave. The mountain peaks here are steep, the roads rugged, and the weather unpredictable. Without courage and perseverance, reaching the summit is impossible.　　　　

　　   To visit the Stone Moon, take a bus from Fugong and drive northward along the highway for several kilometers. Get off at Lishadi in the Third District, then climb up a small path along the side of the Gaoligong Mountain. After a full day’s hike, stay overnight in the small village of Mi’eluo located beneath the Stone Moon. In the village, find a flat piece of land where you can pitch a tent and cook by the fire. Mi’eluo is an ancient Nu ethnic village. The county’s cultural relics team often discovers Neolithic stone axes and other artifacts here.

　　   The locals carefully store the stone axes in grain chests, hoping for good fortune. Early the next morning, climb up the cliffs. Before long, you will reach the Stone Moon. The area around the Stone Moon is surrounded by steep cliffs and unfathomably deep valleys. In front, there are three extremely ancient dead trees. Clouds and mist rise and drift ethereally, appearing and disappearing, giving one the sensation of being in a heavenly palace. The piercing wind is dizzying. From here, if you look eastward toward the Nujiang Grand Canyon, the river, sea of clouds, and the sunrise over Biluo Snow Mountain, the view is extremely magnificent and indescribable.　　　　

　　   The formation of the Stone Moon is due to the Nujiang Grand Canyon being located precisely at the junction of the Eurasian Plate and the Indian...