This attraction introduction is compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · Scenic Spots section). Ticket prices, opening hours, transportation, and contact information mentioned in the text may be outdated. Please refer to the latest official announcements from the scenic area before traveling; some content consists of historical background/cultural introductions and is for reference only.
Longhu Mountain is a typical Danxia landform scenic area in our country. Within the scenic area there are 99 peaks, 24 rocks, and 108 natural and cultural landscapes, as well as more than 20 kinds of sacred wells, elixir pools, and flowing springs and waterfalls. The clear, beautiful, and gracefully charming Luxi River, like a jade belt from south to north, links Shangqing Palace, Tianshi Mansion, Longhu Mountain, Xianshui Rock, and other scenic spots in one line. Drifting along the Luxi River is like traveling through a painting, very pleasant.
Located downstream on the Luxi River, Xianshui Rock is the essence of the landscape scenery of Longhu Mountain.
Xianshui Rock is the collective name for Xian Rock and Shui Rock, mainly on the west bank of the Shangqing River, 20 kilometers from the Yingtan urban area. Xian Rock is in the south, Shui Rock in the north, distributed along the river, graceful and varied, with extraordinary scenery.
Xian Rock is west of Longhu Mountain. In ancient times it was called "the place where immortals live," hence the name. It includes Twenty-Four Rocks and Dry Xian Rock. The Twenty-Four Rocks is a large cliff composed of twenty-four mountain rocks and their caves, varying in size and form, with peculiar shapes. Some are majestic and magnificent, some are exquisite and delicate; some look like people, some like beasts, and some like objects, and each has its own name because of its different appearance. Those like people include Sanjiao Rock, Guanshui Rock, and Duivi Rock; those like beasts include Shizi Rock, Xianguan Rock, and Shanyang Rock; those like objects include Lulu Rock, Jizhu Rock, and Muji Rock. Stretching for 2 kilometers, reflected in the river, the mountains and water enhance each other's beauty. The highest peak is Tianzhu Peak, with an elevation of 191 meters and an area of 1 square kilometer.
Xian Rock is associated with the Tang dynasty poet Gu Kuang, who wrote, "Towers and terraces in bright colors are clearly seen in the distance; I hear the immortals' home is in this city. I wish to ascend the immortal city but there is no road; by the water among the flowers there are voices of people." The entire peak of Xian Rock rises straight from the ground, like a pillar holding up the sky. If visitors wish to reach the summit and enjoy the view, they must pass through three mountain gates and climb 588 steps. Along the way, they can see more than ten scenic spots, including Xianshu Stone, Xianshui Well, Xiangu Nunnery, Longhua Pool, and Doushuai Palace.
The top of Xianren City is one of the best places to view the panorama of Xianshui Rock. Visitors can look east to "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix," "Red Phoenix Facing the Sun," and "Male Lion Looking Back"; admire "Monk and Nun's Romance" to the north; view pastoral scenery to the west; and see "Seven Stars Surrounding the Dipper" to the south.
Dry Xian Rock is north of Xian Rock, with an area of 0.18 square kilometers and the highest peak at 243 meters above sea level. The mountain is steep and dangerous, with only one small path up the mountain, winding upward from the northwest beside Xianbang Stone and Xianshu Stone, passing through three mountain gates, crossing Fenghuang Bridge, and then climbing 580 stone steps. At the very top there is a cave 10 meters high and about 60 square meters in area. Inside the cave a nunnery was built, long presided over by nuns. Beside the nunnery, many caves are connected, forming caves through caves and caves within caves, with multiple levels up and down, extending to the mountainside, about 280 meters long. In the caves there are many ceramic jars containing the bodies of nuns, and many inscriptions by literati on the cave walls.
Shui Rock is north of Dry Xian Rock, along both banks of the Shangqing River. It is named for facing the water and is famous far and wide for its emerald water and red mountains, with its main section on the west bank. The main scenic spots include the ancient plank road ruins, Feiyun Pavilion, Qipan Stone, "Fairy Maiden Offering Flowers," Xianshu Stone, Jinzhong Peak, Xianshao Stone, and Male and Female Stones. Strange rocks and fantastic cliffs are scattered all over the mountain; scenery is everywhere, too much to take in. Taking a boat from near Longhu Villa, not far away, the opposite bank is Shui Rock. One sees the cliff face hugging the bank, standing steeply like a screen, with ancient trees growing sideways and vines hanging down; the ruins of the ancient plank road still remain on the cliff. On the cliff walls there are many inscriptions by famous people, such as "Jade Wall Soaring in the Air," "Immortal Traces in Midair," and "Immortals Can Be Met." Landing at a gorge mouth, on the left is the isolated cliff "Fairy Maiden Offering Flowers." Walking up the mountain path, beautiful scenery continues all the way. On the opposite bank, high peaks also rise by the river, the Shangqing River winds through the middle, green mountains and clear water, with charming secluded scenery.
In the Xianshui Rock Scenic Area of Longhu Mountain, there is also a scenic wonder known as "the only one in China, unmatched beyond its borders"—an unparalleled marvel: the male and female genital worship landscape, which can be called the "treasure of the mountain" of Longhu Mountain. By the Luxi River, there is a stone bamboo shoot mountain rising a hundred meters straight from the flat ground, named Jinqiang Peak, which cannot but make one marvel at the wonder of nature's creation. Even more wonderful is that behind Xianshui Rock hides a huge stone cave, as tall as seven or eight stories. Many people regard this as the incarnation of Mother Earth and as the source of life, believing that Longhu Mountain conceals the mystery of human life. This heaven-made pair of yin and yang, facing each other across the river, fills Longhu Mountain with mystery and has aroused strong interest in countless visitors.
