Sandao Rock

　　The Sandao Rock Scenic Area is situated in Taochong Town, Tongcheng City, spanning an area of about 10 square kilometers. The landscape boasts overlapping peaks, plunging waterfalls, Danxia-hued cliffs, and billowing mist—forming a breathtaking natural painting. It is divided into three tiers: Lower Rock, Middle Rock, and Upper Rock. At Lower Rock, a curtain-like waterfall drops from above, sending droplets flying and its roaring sound audible hundreds of meters away. Middle Rock is rugged with peculiar rocks and jetting springs that form a rainbow arc. Upper Rock sees waterfalls tumbling down in multiple tiers from the cliff top, resembling snowy curtains draped downward and jade-like droplets scattering everywhere. In the mornings of spring and evenings of autumn, clouds and mist shroud the rocks, and sunlight refracts to create dazzling, multicolored halos known as “divine light.” With its spectacular waterfalls and picturesque scenery, the site captivates visitors. This area was also a key location during the “Red Tourism” routes, including the advance of the Liu-Deng Army into the Dabie Mountains and the Crossing-the-Yangtze Campaign. The Huaguoyuan Memorial Monument and the Pannian Reservoir stand as witnesses to this history. Additionally, the renowned Wangwu Temple and its pagoda-tomb complex, Jianggao Tomb, and Shixing Mountain ruins represent the area’s unique cultural heritage.

　　The first stop at Sandao Rock is the Jianggao Tomb, said to be a recently discovered ancient site. Located in the mountains beside Jiangda Road, it can be reached after a short walk. Both the earthen mound and tombstone are well-preserved, and the inscription by Zhang Tingyu remains clearly legible. The central text reads: “Tomb of the Late Qing Dynasty’s Second-Class Senior Official Jiang Gong of Leizhai, granted the title of Tongfeng Daifu, serving as the Political Counselor of the Fujian Xingquan Dao Subdivision of the Board of Revenue.” On the right: “Inscribed by his nephew-by-marriage Zhang Tingyu,” and on the left: the names of descendants and great-grandchildren. The tomb’s good preservation is largely due to its deep mountain location and the protection of dense forests. Had it been in the suburbs, it might have long vanished. Nearby live several families surnamed Pan. Their houses may not look remarkable from the outside, but their layout has strong characteristics of the western rural style. Each has a small courtyard, only a few square feet, yet the interiors are bright—a stark contrast to the so-called “dark six-room” houses of the north. On the door sill of the Pan residence are stone carvings, likely remnants from affluent households of earlier dynasties. How they ended up with common folk remains a mystery. According to the Pan family, descendants of Jianggao reside in the valley below, in a place called Jiangling. The name Jiangling is likely related to Jianggao.

　　Near Jiangling stands a pavilion, situated perfectly on the mountainside with a sweeping view of the land below. Though the spot is excellent, the name is rather uninspired—it’s simply called the Leisure Pavilion. Why not name it the Leizhai Pavilion or Jianggao Pavilion? A short walk beyond Jianggao Tomb leads to the entrance of Sandao Rock. It’s a river valley where you follow an almost half-dry riverbed, scattered with various oddly shaped rocks that somewhat compensate for the lack of water. In some sections, there’s barely any water at all, having seeped completely beneath the sand to become groundwater, resurfacing only where the valley steepens.

　　Walking through the valley presents several perilous spots, but these are also where the most stunning scenery and unusual rocks are found. One such spot is called Dragon Palace, where a stream pours from a cave like a waterfall into a deep pool. The pool is crystal clear, with fish and pebbles visible at the bottom. Inside the cave, a triangular rock resembles a large snake at first glance. Above, there are several-meter-high upside-down rocks, and below, an even taller waterfall. Due to low water levels, the waterfall has thinned to a thread, with moss lining the water’s edge.

　　Another formation resembles a beautiful woman lying in a bath—or, upon closer inspection, a mermaid playing in the water, full of charm. Exiting the Sandao Rock river valley, you can see the legendary southern fragrant wood. Not far from here, this tree stands with a canopy like an imperial umbrella, displaying distinct layers—truly living up to its name. We speculate it could be hundreds of years old, though locals say it might only be decades. An iron tag is hung on the tree, identifying it as “Southern Fragrant Wood,” originating from Vietnam, with identification credited to He Jiaqing. Dubbed the finest among Tongcheng’s ancient cliffs and famous waterfalls, Sandao Rock, complemented by its rich and unique cultural landscape, holds exceptional value for sightseeing and exploration.