Qichun Xianrentai

　　   Xianrentai is situated at the junction of Beidatong Town in Qichun County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province, and Nanhe Town in Yingshan County, spanning an area of 9.5 square kilometers. It is a spur of the Tianzhu Peak branch of the Dabie Mountains. The main peak has an elevation of 1,176 meters. The *Qizhou Annals* record: “Xianrentai, located 210 li north of the prefecture, also known as Kuishan or Xuánluó Mountain, features ninety-nine peaks that stand like a screen, stretching across the northern part of the prefecture. Ascending to its summit offers a view of thousands of miles.”

　　   On the southern side of the mountaintop lies a rectangular natural stone platform, approximately over ten cubic zhang in volume. Its surface and surrounding edges are as smooth as if cut by a knife. To the west of the platform stands a majestic stone temple, said to have been built during the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era. From its walls to its top, the structure is entirely constructed from square stone slabs, measuring 8 meters in length and 6 meters in height. Inside the stone hall stand four massive stone pillars, and the surrounding walls are engraved with hundreds of small, vivid relief Buddha statues in various poses. The temple gate bears an inscription: “Eyes gaze down upon the vast world; the heart soars atop the highest peak.” Legend has it that this was the place where the renowned monks Liu Wu and Liu Liu ascended to immortality, hence the name Xianrentai (Immortals’ Platform). The area is also famous for producing high-quality tea, with a long cultivation history dating back to the Han Dynasty, flourishing in the Tang Dynasty. There is a saying: “In the Tang Dynasty, tea grew to the mountaintop; in the Han Dynasty, it reached the waist.” During the Tang and Song dynasties, famous teas such as “Qimen” produced here were key premium teas in eastern Hubei, one of the “Three Teas of Huainan,” and designated as annual imperial tribute. Today, there is a state-run Xianrentai Tea Farm, and its product “Taicha” (Platform Tea) is recognized as a renowned tea across the province.