Attractions of Bayue Mountain

Bayue Mountain stands on the boarder of Dazu County, Tongliang County, Yongchuan District and Shuangqiao District of Chongqing with an average altitude of 778 meters. Small as it is, Bayue Mountain is quite popular and is famous for four wonders-the fantasticism of Huangge Gate, the steepness of Qipan Stone, the danger of Sanfeng Cave and the loftiness of Tiandeng Stone.

Fantasticism of Huangge Gate

In Chinese, the word Huangge means ficus virens. On both sides of the ancient path at the western foot of Bayue Mountain grow two ancient ficus virens trees. They look like two deities protecting Bayue Mountain. The two ancient ficus virens trees embrace each other for about one meter in the air which is 3 meters above the ground, just like a gate. So the view is called Huangge Gate. Then the two trees separate and respectively plug their branches into the blue sky, forming a huge green umbrella for the visitors to take a shelter and a paradise for the birds to sing beautiful songs.

Steepness of Qipan Stone

Climb up Bayue Mountain along the ancient roads paved with stone steps, and then you will come to the front of cliff. You have to climb across the cliff and then a small stone pit appears. A huge stone erects steeply in the stone pit with a half suspending in the air and the other half connecting with mountain. The top of the stone is quite flat. This is the Qipan (chess board) Stone.

The stone got its name for a legend. It is said that there was one woodcutter. He climbed up Bayue Mountain to cut wood and saw two people playing chess on the stone. So he stopped to take a look. After one round of the board game was over, his ax got rusted. The two chess player were said to be two immortals and that round of board game lasted over a hundred years. The woodcutter was influenced by the two immortals, so he did not die as the ax did. So the stone got its name as Qipan (chess board) Stone.

Danger of Sanfeng Cave

Walk ahead along the ancient road, you will come to a stone cave. This is the very Sanfeng Cave full of mysterious colors. It is said that the founder of Taoism once cultivated himself here in the cave. In the extremely harsh surroundings, he acquired a wonderful kungfu. Thus the cave was named after his name Sanfeng. The cave covers an area of only 5 square meters, so it is very narrow and dangerous. Only the pious disciples of Taoism take adventures to burn incense sticks for blessing. To leave the cave is more dangerous. You have to come out of it through a small hole on the side of the cave. Adults must contract their bodies with two arms stretching forward just like a monkey. Interestingly, when you get out of the cave and climb up a steep stone ladder, you will find you have returned to the starting point.

Loftiness of Tiandeng Stone

The ancient road leads visitors to the top of Bayue Mountain where a giant stone. No one knows where the stone came from. The stone is smooth and hard. Climb up the stone and look as far as your eyes can see, a road stretching forward to the Tongliang County at the western foot of the mountain. In the east, a lush and luxurious forest extends to the narrows of the Tang Gorge. Huge pine trees grow on the ridges while green tea trees grow on the mountain slopes. In the night, a glaring light on the stone tell people that here is the commanding height of Tongliang-Tiandeng (a light reaching the sky) Stone.