Gaoliang Ridge

　　   Starting from Gaozhou City and heading 20 kilometers north along the Shigu River, you will see a towering, majestic mountain rising into the sky. At an elevation of 242 meters, this is the picturesque Gaoliang Ridge. According to the *Gaozhou Prefecture Records*, this mountain “was originally named Gaoliang, but was renamed Gaoliang (meaning ‘Cool Heights’) because its peaks are high and the weather remains cool even in the peak of summer.” The ancient Gaozhou County and Gaozhou Commandery were also named after this mountain. It boasts a unique combination of peculiar mountains, strange rocks, and fine fruits, and has long been a popular tourist destination. Dense ancient forests on the ridge provide ample shade, among which the most notable vegetation includes the red bean tree (also known as the love tree) and chestnut trees, forming a distinctive feature of the ridge’s plant life.

　　   Gaoliang Ridge is widely renowned for its beautiful scenery. Along the mountain streams, huge rocks of various shapes and sizes create yet another unique aspect of the ridge’s landscape. Among these curious rocks, the most extraordinary include the Guanyin Rock, Sword-Testing Rock, Placard-Hanging Rock, Drunken Old Man Rock, Chessboard Rock, and Stone Boat. Take, for example, the Sword-Testing Rock, which is about thirty feet long and over ten feet high, split neatly down the middle with a seam as smooth and clean as if cut by a knife. Legend has it that Lady Xian, the heroic female general of the Southern Dynasties who once stationed her troops here, cleaved the rock with her sword to boost the morale of her army. The earth-shattering crack gave the rock its name. Partway up the ridge lies a flat area, said to have been the military training ground of Lady Xian in those days. Winding stone steps lead up from the foot of the mountain, with vines clinging to your clothes and wildflowers lining the path. All around, the rustling of pine trees fills the air, creating a refreshing and invigorating atmosphere. Halfway up the mountain sits a resplendent ancient temple – the Temple of Lady Xian. During the Cultural Revolution, the temple was tragically demolished and reduced to rubble.

　　   Gaoliang Ridge is abundant in peculiar rocks. There is the Immortal Chess Rock where two immortals are said to have played chess, the Pig Rock resembling a mother pig, the Carp Rock that seems ready to leap over the Dragon Gate, and the Golden Rooster Rock that appears to crow at dawn. Some rocks resemble a golden ox playing in water, two lions playing with each other, or a white crane soaring into the sky. There are also rock drums, stone boats, stone pools, stone beds, stone tables, and more. Among them, the most eye-catching is the Sword-Testing Rock. This rock is about thirty feet long and over ten feet high, shaped like a pig’s waist, and split in half down the middle with a neat, cut-like fissure. Local legend says, “Lady Xian once stationed her troops at Gaoliang Ridge. To boost the morale of her soldiers, she cleaved the rock with her sword, giving it its current form.” Hence the name Sword-Testing Rock.

　　   On the north-facing, southern-sloped side of Gaoliang Ridge lies a green expanse spanning dozens of acres. Various trees grow in a mixed abundance. Beneath their roots and between crevices in the rocks, the sound of trickling streams can be heard. In the past, monks once dammed water near the Temple of Lady Xian to create a pond where they cultivated lotus flowers in summer and raised turtles, naming it the “Life-Release Pond.” Today, the pond still holds crystal-clear water. The area yields abundant seasonal fruits year-round. The chestnuts are especially beloved – their spiky husks are cracked open to reveal golden kernels inside, which are often stewed with chicken to produce a fragrant and delicious dish, considered a health-giving tonic that promotes longevity.