Tiger Head Cliff

　　Tiger Head Cliff is located about 4 kilometers northeast of Yerenzhai. The Stone Boat, also known as Boat Rock, lies in the stream valley beneath Baiyun Cliff. The rock is about 20 meters long, approximately 10 meters wide and high, with the outline of the bow, hull, stern, and cabin clearly defined and the lines distinct. It looks as if it had been lifted by a crane and deliberately propped up on several small stones underneath, with murmuring spring water flowing beneath it, just grazing but not wetting the hull. The boat’s bow is raised high, exuding a dignified air. The gully in front of the boat drops sharply for thousands of feet, giving the impression that it is ready to set sail with the tide, plunging straight into the river. Luo Wenbo, a Ming Dynasty scholar-official and magistrate of Qianshan County from Jiangxi, inscribed the bold characters “Mighty Vital Energy” on the hull of the boat. Today, visitors often exclaim in poetic admiration: “Amidst the drifting white clouds, heaven carves a lone boat; suspended above thousand-foot cliffs, half-floating in shallow creek. Meant only for celestial guests? Or to ferry all mankind? When will the cable be untied? Spring tides swell through every fold.”

　　A short distance of less than 100 meters further up the cliff and to the right leads to a stone niche, as large as a horse carriage or sedan, placed beside the footpath. The niche is about 3 meters long and 2 meters in both height and width, round on the outside and square within. Its walls are smooth and precisely cut—its origins and the identity of the carver remain unknown. The lintel, sill, and pivot are still intact. Ancient records refer to it as: “The celestial bridle of the ancient Taoist Lu Daoist,” who “often sat inside playing his iron flute, with myriad spirits waiting respectfully and immortals listening in. The sound carried on the wind and could be heard for a hundred li.” “Inside it resembles a curtained room, while the exterior mimics the belongings of an immortal household.” During the Ming Dynasty, the imperial censor Li Yuanyang inscribed the three regular-script characters “Iron Flute Niche” on the rear wall inside the niche, and on the left wall he wrote: “Since when was this niche carved? The spiritual ravine holds a hidden glow. Who would have thought in this hollow cliff, the immortal had a concealed chamber...” The right wall is also covered with Ming Dynasty poems. When one speaks inside the niche, their voice echoes. Outside the niche are a “Pestle Mortar” and a “Herb Drying Platform,” said to have been used by the Taoist Lu for alchemy. The Ming scholar Yu Shan referred to this as a “stone house,” and wrote a poem about it: “Amidst verdant mountains veiled in mist, I bring wine to the cave-heaven with my guest. A long flute sounds beyond the bluebird’s flight, yet I disdain a golden bower for a beauty confined.”

　　Address: Inside Tianzhu Mountain Scenic Area, Qianshan County, Anqing City

　　Type: Geological Landform

　　Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

　　Opening Hours:

　　7:00–17:30

　　Ticket Information:

　　No separate ticket required. Included in the scenic area admission