Gaotu Mountain

　　Gaotu Mountain is situated in the farthest eastern corner of Yongxin County, bordering Taihe and Jinggangshan. Originally named Minggu Mountain, meaning "the valley echoes the mountain's call," prior to the Song Dynasty,... There was a Minggu Altar Hermitage (also called Gaoshi Altar Hermitage) built on the mountain, which underwent renovations through various dynasties. In the 21st year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1816), it was restored again, with affiliated structures including the Anren Study Retreat and three celestial gates. Each celestial gate was flanked by a stone memorial archway. The plaque on the first celestial gate read "Ruins of the Gaoshi Scholar of the Song Dynasty," and the couplet inscribed on it read: "The mountain stands out for its height and beauty, its fame spreads because of the scholar." These were written by Huang Tingjian (also known as Huang Shangu), a great poet of the Northern Song Dynasty. When Huang Tingjian served as the magistrate of Taihe (now Taihe County), he visited Minggu Mountain, met the Confucian scholar Yin Anren, and wrote a couplet for the “Anren Study Retreat”: “Read the books from the Qin, Han, and earlier dynasties; live between the two virtuous rivers of Integrity and Yielding.” That was when Minggu Mountain was renamed Gaoshi Mountain.

　　Renowned for being imbued with the spiritual essence of literati and artists throughout the ages, Gaoshi Mountain has gained widespread fame and become a sacred site for Taoist cultivation and Buddhist worship. At its summit stands the Gaoshi Altar Hermitage, whose main hall houses the Buddhist "Jizhen Treasure Hall" and "Guanyin Pavilion," while the right side features the Taoist "Wanshou Palace"—all structures are grand and imposing. The incense offerings at Gaotu Mountain have remained unbroken for a thousand years, attracting worshippers from eight counties and cities across Hunan and Jiangxi provinces.

　　Gaoshi Mountain is not only a sacred site for Buddhism and Taoism but also a historic revolutionary battlefield. In the autumn of 1934, provincial authorities such as the Hunan-Jiangxi Provincial Committee and the Hunan-Jiangxi Soviet Government, led by comrades Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, [redacted], and Tan Yubao, along with the Sixth Red Army Corps, passed through Gaoshi Mountain during their strategic relocation. At the top of Gaoshi Mountain, there remains a Red Army grave hidden within a canopy of green foliage. It holds the remains of a brave Red Army soldier who sacrificed his life to cover the evacuation of local villagers. He left behind no name, no belongings—only an indomitable spirit and noble righteousness.

　　The scenery of Gaoshi Mountain is serene and elegant, drawing many visitors who are on their way to Jinggangshan. Here, the mountains are uniquely beautiful—some resemble delicate potted landscapes, others galloping steeds, some ethereal fairies with flowing robes and graceful postures, and still others ancient scholars deep in thought. There are also clear, graceful streams and charmingly delicate [possibly waterfalls or other features]. Sturdy pines are found everywhere, sometimes whispering softly, other times roaring passionately. The ancient banyan and camphor trees around the Gaoshi Altar Hermitage embody the mountain’s majestic presence and vibrate with the rhythm of strength. The vast expanse of swaying bamboo forms a sea of green waves, where birds like egrets and larks occasionally flutter and sing, creating a fairyland-like atmosphere that captivates and enchants visitors.