Baofeng Lake
Baofeng Lake: Legend says long ago, three immortal birds—a phoenix, a mountain eagle, and a sparrowhawk—flew together to Suoxiyu. Fighting over the mountain and nests, they battled each other. The dispute went all the way to the heavenly palace. The Jade Emperor decreed: 'The phoenix is king of birds and should live on the mountaintop; the sparrowhawk may live midway up; the mountain eagle, fierce by nature and feared to cause trouble later, shall dwell in Eagle Nest Fort. From now on...'
This article has been compiled from historical materials on 'Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network' (33519.com · Specialty Foods / Cuisine / Customs section). Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated. Before traveling, please refer to the latest announcements from merchants, scenic areas, and local competent authorities; the parts involving folk legends and folk customs are local historical and cultural anecdotes, provided for cultural reference.
Baofeng Lake
Legend says that long ago, a phoenix, a mountain eagle, and a sparrowhawk flew together to Suoxiyu. To fight over the mountain and occupy nests, they battled each other. This dispute went all the way to the Heavenly Palace. The Jade Emperor issued a decree: "The phoenix is the king of birds and should live at the mountain summit; the sparrowhawk may live on the mountainside; the mountain eagle, being fierce by nature and feared to cause trouble later, shall dwell in Eagle Nest Fort. From now on, each shall stay in its place and not stir up trouble again!"
The phoenix obtained the summit, and all birds came to congratulate. To protect the common people, the phoenix built a Baofeng Temple on the mountain for people to burn incense and worship, praying for favorable weather and abundant harvests.
One day, the phoenix and the hundred birds were playing in the mountain forest, and saw pilgrims coming and going, climbing cliffs and crossing deep ravines, each enduring countless hardships and exhausted. Seeing this, the phoenix felt compassion. It thought: If a calm lake could be built among the thousands of mountains and ravines, letting men, women, and children sail boats to offer incense, saving so much toil, would that not be wonderful!
It descended the mountain to look, and saw that in the canyon where it originally nested, there was a pool. If the dam were raised, it would become a large lake. From then on, the phoenix devoted itself to building the lake. It shook its colorful tail, spread its golden wings, used its divine power, cleared thorns and brambles, and worked day and night without rest. This alarmed the sparrowhawk. The sparrowhawk was usually idle and harmed its own kind everywhere; all the birds in the mountain hated and feared it. The mountain eagle
on the other hand, went down the mountain daily to prey on the villagers' chickens and ducks. The sparrowhawk, having failed to obtain the summit, had long harbored resentment against the phoenix, and now seeing the phoenix building the lake, was even more jealous. It thought: If the lake is successfully built, won't this entire valley within a hundred li become its domain! No, absolutely not let it build the lake well. So it pondered bitterly and finally came up with an idea. Right, Brother Mountain Eagle is also dissatisfied with the phoenix. Why not consult it and ask for its help?
It is said that the phoenix moved mountains to fill the valleys, blocked the water to build a dam, and used rocks to construct vases, golden turtles, and the Jade Emperor Temple to decorate the mountain and lake scenery. Just as it was working vigorously, it suddenly felt a wind behind its head. Turning around, it saw a sparrowhawk showing its teeth and claws, fiercely pouncing towards it. The phoenix dodged sideways, and the sparrowhawk missed. Just as the phoenix was about to reason with the sparrowhawk, unexpectedly, a mountain eagle wielding a steel fork charged over. The phoenix had no choice but to abandon the sparrowhawk and fight the eagle. The sparrowhawk rolled over, got up, and joined the battle. The phoenix, attacked from front and back, knew it was hard to win, so it feigned a thrust, soared into the air, and reported to the Jade Emperor: 'I beg the Heavenly Emperor to show great mercy and dispatch heavenly soldiers and generals to help me eliminate the evil and create the lake, benefiting the people!' Upon hearing the memorial, the Jade Emperor immediately ordered heavenly soldiers and generals to descend to the mortal world to suppress them. The sparrowhawk and mountain eagle braced themselves and fought together. After more than a dozen rounds, the sparrowhawk and mountain eagle were no match, and hurriedly retreated to their respective mountain peaks. Then the heavenly general smashed down hard with his left hand, and with a loud 'honglong' boom, the sky split and the earth cracked. The sparrowhawk transformed into a mountain peak, which was later called Yaozi Mountain. When the mountain eagle saw the sparrowhawk meet its end, it was so frightened that it hurried to burrow into its old nest. How could the heavenly general let it go? With a smash of his right hand, he split Yingwo Fort into a deep hollow, leaving only a narrow crack. The mountain eagle could never fly out again. Later, on the cliff of Yingwo Fort, there appeared a statue resembling
an eagle appeared. Legend says that was the transformed mountain eagle. To this day, there is a saying in the mountains: "Mountain eagle and sparrowhawk are a gang of gods," cursing them as bad things wearing connected pants.
After the heavenly soldiers and generals subdued the mountain eagle and sparrowhawk, the phoenix devoted itself wholeheartedly to moving mountains without cease. It moved away one cliff after another. Seeing great success about to be achieved, but due to overwork and exhaustion, it finally fell headlong and could never move again. After the phoenix died, its body transformed into a stone phoenix, towering by the lakeside, named "Baofeng Loves Its Nest," which still exists today.
This ethereal story has been passed down for thousands of years. Today, Baofeng's long-cherished wish has finally come true. The people of Suoxiyu built a reservoir at Shijiayu where the phoenix once built the lake, and turned this place into the world-famous Baofeng Lake Nature Park!