Golden Purple Mountain

　　    Located in the northern part of Guanzhuang Town, Qianshan County, Golden Purple Mountain is a provincial-level forest park, named after the ancient Golden Purple family. With an elevation of 1,539 meters, it is the highest peak in both Guanzhuang Town and Qianshan County. The Golden Purple Mountain Forest Park borders the Kujingyuan Nature Reserve in Yuexi County and the Wanfo Mountain Forest Park in Shucheng County. The park is built around the state-owned Tuoling Forest Farm of Qianshan County and is divided into three scenic areas — Xiangshan, Shuangfeng, and Pingyang River — as well as a recuperation and holiday zone, a production and operation area, and a management service area, covering a total area of 40.73 square kilometers.

　　   Local folklore tells a tale of Golden Purple Mountain and Tianzhu Mountain competing in height and length. Overnight, both mountains seemed to pierce the heavens. The local earth god reported this to the Jade Emperor, who then sent the Thunder God and Lightning Goddess to punish them. A flash of lightning and a clap of thunder split Tianzhu Mountain in two, leaving behind the “One-Line Sky” landscape still visible next to its main peak to this day. Golden Purple Mountain was struck by a sword, leaving its western main peak sheer and precipitous, as if cut by a knife. The summit of Golden Purple Mountain rises abruptly, standing tall and steep, exuding an overwhelming sense of grandeur. Within the mountain are 12 scenic spots such as Double Rainbow Rock, Golden Rooster Gate, and Stone Phoenix Crown, along with over 20 inscriptions left by ancient literati. Among them, the stone gate and window of Fairy Cave are spacious and airy, with clean walls all around, forming a natural stone chamber. Legend has it that a beautiful woman once became immortal here. A poet of old wrote: “Who in the mortal world knows the realm of Penglai? Only upon arriving here can you realize it is paradise.”

　　   Golden Purple Mountain features undulating peaks and vast, rugged ranges. Its main peak, Zhutoujian (Pig Head Peak), rises 1,539 meters above sea level, making it the highest peak in Qianshan County. Towering and steep, it boasts 12 major scenic attractions: One-Line Ridge, Double Rainbow Rock, Air Tower Vase, Heavenly Drum Mound, Golden Rooster Gate, Phoenix Crown Stone, Longevity Pass, Mountain-Crossing Bridge, Star-Touching Stone, Moon-Sifting Pool, Fairy Cliff, as well as naturally formed sights like Golden Purple First Snow, Peak-Worshipping Buddha, Twin Turtles Chasing the Sun, Two Immortals Worshiping Buddha, Divine Dragon Stone, Lion King Stone, Sea Lion Stone, Laojun’s Seat, and vegetation-intertwined scenes such as Pine Wave Ridge, Stone Tree Bond, Oak Slope, and Butterflies Courting the Eight Immortals. The main scenic area, Xiangshan, includes White Crane Cave, Lion’s Eye, White Dragon Well, and Wanghe Gully. Here, dense forests surround three standing peaks, with a central pillar reaching straight into the clouds. At the summit stands a several-foot-tall stone incense burner. After rain, climbing to the top offers a view of the Yangtze River sunrise, sunset glow, drifting sea of clouds, and purple haze. The forest vegetation is mainly evergreen broad-leaved mixed forest. The primary peak area hosts secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests with species such as Chinese chestnut, oriental sweetgum, white oak, sweet gum, scholar tree, and Lespedeza. There are also planted Huangshan pines, fir trees, as well as small amounts of Masson pine, bamboo, tea, eucommia, and chestnut.

　　   Golden Purple Mountain Forest Park boasts excellent forest ecological conditions, rich forest tourism resources, and stunning seasonal scenery — a sea of flowers in spring, a green carpet in summer, layers of forest painted in color in autumn, and a silver-white blanket in winter. The naturally formed mountain forest scenery showcases the colors and charm of nature. The fresh air, sweet springs, and pleasant climate make it an ideal destination for leisure vacations, summer retreats, and convalescence.