Overlooking Yunfei Stone ～ Aerial Viewing Platform

✔ Overlooking Yunfei Stone It is a perfect blend of Lushan's natural wonders and cultural ambiance. This massive rock not only stands as a spectacular viewpoint with its steep posture but also carries profound historical memories through Mao Zedong's poetry. ✔🌄 Overlooking Yunfei Stone: The "Aerial Viewing Platform" beside Xianren Cave ✡ Natural Features: The Masterpiece of a Hundred Million Years of Rock ① Geological Wonder: - Formed about 120 million years ago during the Cretaceous period sandstone, it was shaped by fault uplift and weathering erosion into an irregular platform about 12 meters high and 8 meters wide. The rock body tilts northward, connected to the parent rock only by a few supports at the base, appearing precarious yet as stable as Mount Tai. - The top of the stone is flat like a table, accommodating more than 20 people standing. To the east is a cliff about 100 meters deep, and to the west, it connects to the entrance of Xianren Cave, forming a dramatic layout of "facing a sheer cliff in front, relying on a cave paradise behind." ② Scenic Views: - Overlooking the Yangtze River: On clear days, you can gaze northeast to see the Yangtze River flowing like a ribbon, with the vast misty waves of Poyang Lake, offering the widest view among all stones in Lushan. - Changing Sea of Clouds: Often surrounded by a sea of clouds in the early morning, standing on the stone feels like being in a fairyland, hence the name "Overlooking Yunfei." It is one of Lushan's "Four Views of the Sea of Clouds" (including Pokou, Xiaotianchi, Datianchi, and Overlooking Yunfei Stone). ③ Seasonal Scenery: In spring, enjoy clusters of azaleas; in summer, listen to the pine waves; in autumn, admire the colorful forests; in winter, see sparkling ice formations. Each season offers unique charm. ✡ Cultural Significance: From Taoist Sacred Site to Historical Imprint ① Taoist Origins: - The four characters "Overlooking Yunfei" were originally inscribed on the stone, said to be written by Zhang Sanfeng, a Taoist master of the Ming Dynasty. Together with the statue of Lü Dongbin inside Xianren Cave, they form the Taoist imagery of a "Fairy Realm." - Beside the stone stands an ancient pine called "Stone Pine," over 500 years old, with twisted branches complementing the massive rock. The Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake recorded this scene in his "Jiangyou Travel Diary." ✡ Red Memory: - In 1961, Comrade Mao Zedong climbed this stone and wrote the poem "Seven-character Quatrain: Inscribed for Comrade Li Jin on a Photo of Lushan Xianren Cave": "At dusk, the strong pine stands in the vast gloom, Chaotic clouds fly by, yet calm as ever. Heaven gave birth to a fairy cave, Infinite scenery lies on the perilous peak." - The current inscription "Overlooking Yunfei" on the stone was written by contemporary calligrapher Shu Tong, whose vigorous brushwork complements the poetic mood of Mao Zedong’s verses, making it a cultural landmark that visitors must check in at. ✔ Address and Visiting Tips 📍 Detailed Address: Located in the southeastern part of Lushan, within the Xianren Cave scenic area, adjacent to the west side of the Xianren Cave entrance. Coordinates approximately in the Lushan Scenic Area, Guling Town, Lushan City, Jiujiang (from Jinxiu Valley to the end of the Xianren Cave trail). ✡ Visiting Routes: - Take the sightseeing bus from Guling Street to "Xianren Cave Station," then walk 300 meters down the stone steps on the right to reach the site; - Or enter from the Jinxiu Valley scenic entrance and walk 1.5 kilometers (about 40 minutes), passing Tianqiao (Sky Bridge), perilous peaks, and other spots. It is recommended to tour in reverse (enter from Xianren Cave and exit through Jinxiu Valley) to save energy. ✡ Safety Tips: The stone top space is limited; queues are required during holidays. The ground is slippery when wet, and some areas have no guardrails, so please watch your step carefully. ✔ Spatial Relationship with Xianren Cave Overlooking Yunfei Stone and Xianren Cave form a unique "cave and stone interdependence" scenic combination: - Orientation Layout: The massive rock stands like a natural screen on the west side of Xianren Cave, whose entrance faces southeast. From the stone top, you can look west toward the new city of Lushan, creating a 360-degree viewing angle. - Cultural Echo: The Taoist culture inside the cave and the poetic culture on the stone complement each other, reflecting Lushan’s cultural traits of "integration of Taoism and Buddhism, and the convergence of ancient and modern." ✔📝 Notes and Tips: ✡ It is recommended to visit in the early morning or evening: Morning visits have a higher chance of encountering the sea of clouds, while evenings offer the classic scene of "strong pine at dusk," allowing you to feel the heroic spirit in Mao Zedong’s poem, "Chaotic clouds fly by, yet calm as ever." ✔ This seemingly ordinary rock, shaped by nature and enriched by culture, has become a vivid symbol of the spirit of Lushan.