Yuan Dynasty murals, Tang Dynasty jujube trees, the place where the ends of the earth meet | Tianya Mountain

From the Yuanping expressway exit, head east for 5 kilometers to reach the local's backyard garden, Tianya Mountain, commonly referred to by locals as Shigu Temple, because there is a huge rock protruding at the top of the mountain. The rock is large at the head and thin at the tail, stretching out from the cliff and spanning more than 20 meters, forming a huge hollow in the middle, making the two ends very small support points, resembling a drum, suspended in the air, seemingly about to fall, leaving an impression of earth-shattering momentum, hence the name Shigu Mountain. From a distance, it looks unimpressive, but up close, the mountain's treacherous terrain and the difficulty of climbing are evident. The altitude is about 1100m, with the mountain being approximately 200m high, steep and offering a sense of adventure. Tianya Mountain is composed of Tianya Peak and Lotus Peak, with undulating peaks. Opposite to it is Wufeng Mountain, and the two mountains facing each other are steep and difficult to climb, hence some people call Wufeng Mountain 'the end of the earth' and Shigu Mountain 'Tianya'. Next to Shigu Mountain is the Shigu Shrine, which contains Yuan Dynasty murals, and in the courtyard, there is a jujube tree from the Tang Dynasty, estimated to be over 1000 years old. The first courtyard has a passing hall to the north, a stage to the south, and Zen rooms on both sides; the second courtyard has a main hall with three rooms, hanging a plaque that reads 'Utmost Loyalty and Pure Filial Piety'. According to legend, in the early years of the Yuan Dynasty, a couple with the surname Yan heard a series of cries through their window late at night, and when they inquired, they were told it was Jie Zitui stationing troops. Deeply believing it to be divine, they built Jie Zitui's palace here, and since then, Jie Zitui has become the mountain god of this place. Around the Shigu Shrine, there are also landscapes such as the Stone Man Waterfall, Hutuo Devouring, Early Planting Late Harvesting, Tianya Sweeping Snow, and so on, each with its own charm throughout the four seasons.