Huangsang Forest Sea and Stone Peaks

　　The Huangsang-Stone Peak area is veiled in endless misty seas, with rosy clouds drifting swiftly by. If you were to fly high above and gaze down upon the landscape, you’d see numerous stone peaks rising abruptly, like isolated islands—or like the ethereal realms frequented by immortals, mysterious and graceful. A closer look reveals vivid scenes: the Monk Pig hurrying on his patrol; the Heavenly Dog guarding a cave with ears perked up; the Qilin galloping across the sky with hooves in midair; the towering Cliff Rock rising straight from the earth; the summit of Peach Peak brimming with beauty, where the Bodhisattvas are seated in a radiance that seems to shine forth.

　　First: The Monk Pig Patrols the Mountain In the jungle beside a stream in Moshivillage, Huangsang Miao Ethnic Township, a massive oval-shaped boulder grows right out of the fertile ground. It is about 100 meters long from east to west, 70 meters wide from north to south, and 20 meters tall. Countless water bamboos, shrubs, and flowers sprout from cracks around the boulder, making it resemble a stone boat in a green sea or a raft floating in the ocean. Due to the wonders of nature, the upper part of the boulder has been shaped into countless sharp stones, like tens of thousands of steel blades. Among the stones on the eastern side, there is one that stands alone, about two meters tall, vividly resembling the rotund Monk Pig walking while holding his rake. Locals have named it “The Monk Pig Patrols the Mountain.” The Monk Pig’s tireless presence has helped preserve this lush, ancient secondary forest for over two hundred years.

　　Second: The Heavenly Dog Guards the Cave About three hundred meters above the famous Liuge Cave Waterfall, where the Huangtan Highway crosses the mountainside, a cluster of stone peaks rises in a line stretching about a hundred meters. Viewed from the highway, these peaks stand like swords thrusting into the sky. Among them, one rock is unique—it has the shape of a dog’s head at its tip, with the stone pillar forming its neck and body, standing ten meters tall, the dog’s ears upright as it gazes at the waterfall. Legend says it is the Heavenly Dog brought here by six celestial maidens as a guard.

　　The six fairies had come down to bathe under the waterfall when they were spotted by a mortal who stole their clothes. They turned into six white geese and flew into a cave. Ashamed to return to heaven, the Heavenly Dog turned into stone and stayed with the cluster of rocks.

　　Behind the stone dog, nestled among the rocky group, lies an ancient path. Because the terrain is treacherous, ancient people carved steps directly into the rock. Legend has it that in ancient times, an obese man riding in a sedan chair passed through here. When the path became too steep and narrow for the chair to proceed, the man had to get out and walk. After only a few steps, he was drenched in sweat and panting heavily, forced to climb along the rocky cliff edge, moving upward one painful step at a time. He asked the sedan bearers, “What is this place called?” The bearers joked and replied, “This is Dog-Crawling Cliff.” And so, this otherwise breathtaking spot—where flying springs surge amid jagged, spectacular rocks—ended up with such an odd name.

　　Third: The Qilin Crosses the Sky On the border between Huangsang Miao Ethnic Township and Chengbu Miao Ethnic County, marked on the map as “Qilin Crosses the Boundary,” lies a mountain peak by that very name, reaching an elevation of 1,667 meters. At the summit, a Qilin is depicted with its front hooves reared high, as if about to leap across the heavens. On the opposing mountaintop, a majestic lion stands proudly, gazing up at the sky. Between them lies a bottomless chasm, with graceful Huangshan pines, Yue pines, Masson pines, and azaleas growing from the sheer cliffs, creating a beautiful scene.

　　This mystical mountain peak has an equally magical legend: the Qilin, a celestial steed of the gods, learned that a lion was rampaging on earth, bullying other creatures and causing unrest among neighbors. Furious, the Qilin resolved to teach the lion a lesson. One night, the Qilin slipped out of heaven, chased the lion to this area. Knowing it was no match, the lion fled desperately. Upon reaching the summit of “Qilin Crosses the Sky,” it leapt across the chasm and looked back, forming the shape known as “Lion Watching the Moon.” The Qilin, sensing the lateness of the hour, soared back to heaven. Meanwhile, the local mountain and earth deities, who had been secretly watching the battle between the Qilin and the lion, used their divine powers to transform the rocks into the grand images of “Qilin Crosses the Sky” and “Lion Watching the Moon,” preserving them for all time along with the beautiful legend. Though time has slightly blurred their outlines, if you find the right viewing angle and look closely, their majestic presence remains undiminished.

　　Fourth: The Cliff Rock (Chuan Yan) The Cliff Rock, located in Moshivillage and surrounded by lush greenery, rises at the summit of the high mountain, appearing even more towering and majestic—as if it is the king of all surrounding peaks. A group of stone peaks clusters around it. Its most peculiar feature is a hole in the middle of the rock, about ten meters above the ground, running straight through from east to west. It resembles the rope hole on a steelyard weight, which is why it is called “Cliff Rock” (“Chuan Yan,” literally “Pierced Rock”). The hole has a diameter of 1.7 meters and a length of 7 meters. Climbing up the back of the mountain to the Cliff Rock and crawling through the hole, you’ll be greeted by a breathtaking view: thousands of peaks and ridges spread out below like layers of green bread, with seas of cloud and mist stretching as far as the eye can see. Eagles soaring in the blue sky seem to merely circle around the mountains beneath your feet, giving you the surreal feeling of standing at the Heavenly Gate, almost as if you’re floating.

　　There is also a magical legend about the Cliff Rock: a wandering immortal once discovered this place—sparsely populated, stunningly scenic, strategically rugged, and fragrant with flowers and fruit—and decided to use this massive rock as a pier to build a “Heavenly Bridge” for immortals to enjoy. The “hole” in the rock was meant to thread an iron chain through, to hold the bridge in place.

　　Fifth: Peach Peak Summit Located in Laotuan Village, Huangsang Miao Ethnic Township, Peach Peak Summit sits at an elevation of 1,500 meters and is made up of a cluster of sharp rocks, resembling a large ceremonial crown atop the mountain. Lush pines, slender bamboo, and azaleas grow in the crevices of the rocks. When spring arrives and flowers bloom, the red blossoms and green leaves adorn the “crown,” making it even more magnificent.

　　Beneath the “crown” lies a cave where hunters often spend the night around a campfire. In the cold winter months, as temperatures drop, many birds also come here to seek shelter in the caves for the season. When the campfire glows red at night, it resembles a signal fire atop a watchtower, drawing birds from all directions—some as if coming to a gathering, others to meet friends, and some in search of mates. Strangely enough, many birds seem drawn to the flames like moths to a flame, repeatedly darting toward the fire until their feathers catch and they perish in the blaze. The sight of the blazing fire and hundreds of birds swirling through the air is truly spectacular. Hunters take advantage of this opportunity to secure a feast.

　　A couple of hundred meters downhill from the “crown,” the slopes are covered with thriving thickets and small trees, mainly alpine azaleas, Michelia macclurei, peach trees, and others. In the warm sunshine of March, peach blossoms burst into radiant bloom, painting the hills in a crimson glow—an idyllic scene reminiscent of a “land beyond the mundane world.” This natural peach grove has existed for ages, and it is the reason the peak is named Peach Peak.

　　Sixth: The Bodhisattva Rock This is the confluence of two small streams in a valley surrounded by high mountains, with the stream, fields, and village lying in between. The place is called Pingxi and belongs to Huangsang Miao Ethnic Township.

　　The area features numerous uniquely shaped stone peaks, making it a highlight of the reserve. Facing the direction where the stream flows northward, on the hillside to the right, a cluster of rocks stands like a group of bodhisattvas in meditation. When illuminated by the blood-red hues of sunset or the golden light of dawn, the rocks emit radiant glows of splendor, referred to by locals as “divine light.” This is the widely renowned Bodhisattva Rock.

　　On both sides of “Shuanghe Kou” (Twin River Mouth), dense forests frame two stone peaks that resemble a pair of iron towers guarding the entrance to a temple.

　　About 200 meters downstream along the creek, on the sandy bank, a lone rock rises about ten meters high. It is square and columnar, with a broad, flat top. Legend has it that in ancient times, during a war against foreign invaders, a local leader climbed to the top of this rock and beat a drum to rally the troops, eventually driving the invaders away. To commemorate his bravery, locals named it “Drum Tower Platform.” The Drum Tower Rock is situated at a bend in the creek, where the riverbed is dotted with rocks like scattered chess pieces, and overhanging boulders along the bank appear to block the flow of water. The creek water is crystal clear, with fish visible swimming beneath. The area is flanked by continuous mountains and hills, blanketed in endless forests like a sea of green, dotted with splashes of red flowers and fragrant wild fruits—a true gem of natural beauty.