Male-Female Mountain

　　Male-Female Mountain, located 5 kilometers southwest of Yan Yuan County, is widely known and renowned for its uniquely shaped Male and Female Stones. There are two routes from the county town to Male-Female Mountain: one goes from the Salt Factory, passing the former East Gate Reservoir and the ruins of Sanqing Temple, then follows the “Immortal’s Path” down along the cliff known as “Lion’s Ear” to directly reach the meadow at the base of the Male-Female Stones. The other is a newly built road from 1988 that goes upstream along the source of the Yanjing River, leading directly to the mountain pass. The archway gate bears the plaque “Male-Female Mountain,” with couplets on both front and back pillars. The front reads: “Heaven has its design, sending down a wondrous peak to form a marvelous sight. Creation is impartial, leaving this majestic stone to pass down a fine tale.” The back reads: “The drought lotus blooms in pairs, symbolizing boundless yin-yang creation; the grotesque stones rise into strange peaks, where the male and female forms endure eternally.” Just past the gate, you’ll see a large basin embraced by surrounding mountains. Within the valley, trees grow tall and lush, exuding a vibrant greenness, while a cool breeze greets you. Descend a short flight of stone steps behind the gate, and within a few steps, the majestic Male and Female Stones come dramatically into view.

　　Origin of the Name

　　　　The Male-Female Mountain scenic area gets its name because its appearance strikingly resembles the male and female reproductive organs.

　　　　The Male Stone stands over 40 meters tall, like a bamboo shoot breaking through the soil, standing upright and soaring toward the sky. About 100 meters away, the Female Stone corresponds with it from afar, creating a delightful visual interplay. The Female Stone is nearly 100 meters high, with a sturdy base, a plump middle section, and a slightly oval-shaped summit. A naturally formed fissure runs through it, wide enough for a person to walk through comfortably, resembling a giant lotus petal. Even more incredibly, while the surrounding mountains are either densely forested or covered with lush grass, only these two Male and Female Stones are bare, exposing their reddish-brown rocks. At the top of the Female Stone grows an ancient tree of unknown species, evergreen all year round—as if representing masculine strength piercing the heavens and feminine grace opening its heart.

　　Tourism

　　　　For thousands of years, people have regarded Male-Female Mountain as a sacred site. Devotees often come here to pray, worship, burn incense, and paper money, hoping for family safety, prosperity, and fertility. Many legends have also emerged around it. With its unique charm, Male-Female Mountain attracts tourists from all over as a renowned travel destination.

　　　　Both the Male and Female Mountains are reddish-brown in color and belong to the danxia landform. The two mountains are several hundred meters apart, facing each other from a distance and forming a delightful visual pair. The Male Mountain is about 40 meters tall, like a bamboo shoot breaking through the ground—masculine, upright, and standing proudly as it soars directly into the sky. The Female Mountain is about 100 meters tall, with a strong base, a full middle, and a roughly circular summit. A natural fissure runs from top to bottom, forming a cave-like crevice wide enough for one person to stroll through. Gazing at this peculiar yet vivid pair of strange peaks and stones, one can’t help but be lost in thought. It is aptly captured in the poetic phrase: “The earth displays the wonders of yin and yang; all people worship the balance between the two forces.”

　　　　Male-Female Mountain is not only a sacred site where Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism converge locally, but also a spiritual place for local worship of fertility through the ages. The mountain is home to magnificent temples adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, shining in gold and splendor. Ming Dynasty structures such as the Bao’en Temple, Jade Emperor Hall, Thunder Ancestor Hall, Child-Giving Hall, and the Wenchang Palace are nestled among the woods, creating a serene and tranquil scene.