Sanqing Mountain: A Fairyland in the Clouds Hiding a 1,600-Year-Old Secret

Standing on the edge of the cliff at Yutai Peak in Sanqing Mountain, I was stunned by the sight before me. Thousands of bizarre peaks and rocks pierced through the sea of clouds, like jade stones randomly scattered by a giant, or like solidified waves. The sunlight pierced through the morning mist, gilding each mountain peak, and I felt as if I had stepped into the realm of the gods from the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*. This "unparalleled blessed land" hidden in Shangrao, Jiangxi, with its scenery and stories accumulated over 1,600 years, is worth exploring on foot. --- I. The Ingenuity of Nature Sanqing Mountain is a "young" mountain. 140 million years ago, the Yanshan movement's lava solidified here, forming a granite landform of more than 400 square kilometers. When you look up in the Nanqingyuan scenic area, you will see two iconic peaks: the "Oriental Goddess," which resembles a reclining girl, with the lines of her clothes as gentle as silk fluttering in the wind; and the "Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain," which looks like an emerald python ready to strike, its sharp peak piercing into the clouds. Locals say that these two wonders are tokens left by Nüwa when she mended the sky. Do you believe it? The most stunning experience is on the Sunshine Coast Skywalk. This 7 km-long, fully transparent skywalk clings to the cliffs more than 1,600m above sea level. As you walk, the mountain breeze carrying the scent of pine needles brushes past your ears. Below you is a U-shaped canyon carved by knives and axes, and above you, clouds cascade down from the peaks. If you choose to climb after the rain, you can also encounter colorful flowing clouds flowing through your fingers, comparable to flying with a sword in a fantasy drama. --- II. The Thousand-Year Code Hidden in the Stones In addition to seeing the mountains, Sanqing Mountain is also a three-dimensional Taoist classic. Since Ge Hong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty practiced alchemy and cultivated Taoism here, it has become a famous Taoist mountain. The Sanqing Palace, at an altitude of 1,530m, is hidden on the mountainside. The Ming and Qing architectural complex with yellow walls and black tiles is built against the mountain. The branches of the ancient ginkgo tree in front of the palace are covered with red silk, and the sound of Taoist chanting can be faintly heard in the lingering incense. Don't miss the "Wind and Thunder Pagoda" on the side of the palace—this ancient pagoda, built entirely of stone, has withstood 600 years of mountain winds and lightning strikes and is a true architectural miracle. Want to hear more vivid stories? Follow an old herbalist along the ancient path of the West Coast! The uneven marks on the bluestone road are the rings of time worn by the straw sandals of pilgrims from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The old man will point to a stone shaped like a gourd and tell you that this is the relic of the "immortal brewing elixir"; the "Monkey King Offering Treasure" stone statue that suddenly appears around the corner will surely remind you of Sun Wukong stealing peaches in *Journey to the West*. --- III. Slow Time in the Mountain Wildfire Don't sleep in at 5:30 in the morning! Wrap yourself in a military coat and climb up to the Goddess Peak viewing platform in the dark. When the first ray of sunlight pierces through the clouds, the entire mountain instantly turns into a gilded glass world. At the foot of the mountain, Sister Wang, who runs a farmhouse, is shredding the freshly dug spring bamboo shoots. She says, "Our bamboo shoots here are so fresh that they will make your eyebrows fall off when cooked in soup!" You may want to try her Sanqing local chicken casserole. The aroma from the firewood stove can fill your fingers with fragrance. If you arrive on a Friday, you can also catch the "Sanqing Mountain Folk Market." The mountain people set up stalls with bamboo baskets on their backs, selling freshly smoked bacon, hand-woven bamboo lanterns, and medicinal wine soaked in Eucommia leaves. Try shouting "Laobiao" in the local dialect, and an uncle will immediately smile and stuff you with a handful of wild bayberry jerky. --- IV. Immortal Ascension Guide: Avoid These Pitfalls! 1. Transportation Avoidance: Don't trust the "black cars" soliciting passengers at the station entrance! Take a regular bus from Shangrao Bus Station to the entrance of the Waishuangxi cableway, which will take you directly to the scenic area in 2 hrs. 2. Accommodation Metaphysics: If you want to see the sunrise, stay at the Goddess Hotel, but you have to book half a month in advance during the peak season; if you think it's too expensive, the homestays in Yinjiang She ethnic village at the foot of the mountain are cheaper, and the owner will also teach you to sing She ethnic mountain songs. 3. Dressing Rules: Even in summer, bring a windproof jacket! The temperature drops 3℃ for every 100m increase in altitude. The monkeys scurrying around the top of the mountain are very naughty, so don't tease them with food. 4. Secret Route: Adventurers with good physical strength can try the "Giant Python Emerging from the Mountain—Sunshine Coast—West Coast—Sunshine Coast" loop, which takes 6 hrs, but you can see 90% of the stunning scenery! --- Standing on the top of Goddess Peak, I suddenly understood why Xu Xiake said, "Those who climb Sanqing must reach the summit." Every stone here tells a story of time, and every mountain breeze carries the Taoist freedom. When you pant and climb 3,650 steps, looking back at the sea of clouds surging on the way you came, you may suddenly understand: the so-called fairyland is just an epic written by mortals with their feet.