South Peak of Mt. Huashan

The South Peak is the highest peak of Mt. Huashan, with the elevation of 2154.9 meters. It is also the highest peak of the Five Sacred Mountains. On the south peak there are Laozi peak, Chinese alchemy and eight-trigram pool, these sites are associated with the legend of Lao tzu. And there is “heavenly southern gate” in the cliff to the east. On the south peak also there is the golden temple built in the Ming dynasty, also known as the Baidi temple to worship Mt.Huashan god.

 

The south side of the peak is a bold cliff, erect as it was cut directly. The South Peak is constituted with one peak and two summits. The south summit is named Pine and Juniper Peak, the west summit is named Landing Wild Geese Peak, and the peak west to Landing Wild Geese Peak is Dutiful Son Peak. The Landing Wild Geese Peak is at the center, which is also the highest. The South Peak looks like a round-backed armchair and the 3 peaks just like 3 giants, sitting and facing north.

 

The origin of the name of the Landing Wild Goose Peak, according legend, is because the returned wild geese usually stop here for a rest. The too of the peak is the summit of Mt. Huashan. There are several spots around Landing Wild Geese Peak. The highest part, there are Yangtian Pool, Black Dragon Pool, and at the southwest cliff, there are Anyuzhenren Shrine, The Pine Greeting Guests and so on.

 

The sky plank road on the east side of Mt.Huashan hillside, is the first generation master of Mt. Huashan---Taoist priest Hezhizhen of the Yuan dynasty who long to retreat from the world becomes an immortal, then he inlaid stone pile on a cliff and built a plank road to get to a silent place.

 

Whole road is divided into three sections, about 50 meters long. Upside section (only this section has guardrail), on the west from Heavenly Southern Gate to Chaoyuan Cave, the road built close to the cliff, about 20 meters long, about 60 cm wide; Bends to the downward, and there is a bar traverse into the clearance of cliff stone, similar to hanging ladder in the aloft, visitors must arm in arm to clutch chain and go step by step, this is the middle section; go west for the next section, which is the most dangerous section, roadmen digged out hole along the cliff wall, wedge into the stone pile, stone pile between about 40 cm wide boards.

 

Bizhao Cliff is in Mt. Huashan northwest of Heavenly Southern Gate of south peak. Here two rocks face to face, formed grooves inside them. East rock impending forward, and the wall covered with stone nest hives. From the cave to west rock, there was built a single-plank bridge.

The cliff was no called “Bizhao Cliff” before the Song dynasty. According to the record, here was a hidden and the hiding place of precious books. Since the Song dynasty famous hermit Chentuan, elude the imperial edict, here gain the name of “Bizhao( means “elude the imperial edict” in Chinese) and become a famous sight in Mt. Huashan.

Road under the rock is the only way to the south mountain peaks via Heavenly Southern Gate. It was narrow and steep in ancient, accumulated snow time under the cliff is long in every year. And there are more slippery risks, and there are now been built stone steps to rebuild for reinforcement.