The true magic of Jiao Mountain lies in the perfect fusion of"river"and"mountain,""temple"and"stele,"and"past"and"present."It is not merely a natural wonder of majestic grandeur,but also a"floating museum"of culture and history.
Nature's Masterpiece—The Unique Topography of"Floating Jade in the River"
The essence of Jiao Mountain's natural scenery lies entirely in a single word:"float."
The Isle of Floating Jade:The Sole Solitary Island in the Yangtze
Jiao Mountain rises majestically from the very heart of the Yangtze River.Surrounded on all sides by water—embraced by emerald waves and cloaked in lush,verdant foliage—it resembles a piece of jade floating upon the river's surface,earning it the poetic moniker"Floating Jade Mountain."As the old adage goes:"Ten thousand streams flow eastward,yet one island stands firm in their midst."Indeed,along the entire ten-thousand-li(5,000-kilometer)stretch of China's Yangtze River,it remains the only island completely encircled by water that is accessible to visitors seeking to explore its hidden depths.As a ferryboat gently glides across the jade-hued waters,the azure silhouette of the island gradually comes into focus;Jiao Mountain truly does not resemble a typical mountain,but rather a blue lotus rising from the river's depths.Upon landing on the island and gazing out into the distance,one sees Elephant Mountain(Xiangshan)standing in stately opposition across the river—a scene of vast skies and boundless waters,presenting a panorama of ever-changing grandeur.
The Cave of Three Imperial Summons and the River-and-Sky Vista
Strolling leisurely along the mountain paths,visitors can explore the"Cave of Three Imperial Summons"(San Zhao Dong),the very spot where Jiao Guang once lived in seclusion.The cave is deep and atmospheric,featuring lifelike stone carvings that vividly recount the noble integrity of that ancient sage—a man who three times declined the Emperor's summons to serve.Ascending to the mountain's summit,one reaches the Xi Jiang Lou(River-Gazing Pavilion),from which the full,majestic expanse of the Yangtze River unfolds before one's eyes.In the morning mist,riverboats appear and vanish like mythical dragons;on clear days,one can gaze into the distance to spot the Runyang Bridge and the skyline of Yangzhou City on the opposite bank.Sipping tea within the pavilion,caressed by the river breeze,one hears the gentle chiming of copper bells harmonizing with the rhythmic lapping of the waves—a unique acoustic backdrop found only at Jiao Mountain.
A Natural Oxygen Chamber Amidst Towering Ancient Trees
Jiao Mountain's vegetation is dominated by ancient pines and emerald bamboo,creating a landscape of lush density where venerable trees and rare specimens can be found at every turn.Standing proudly before the Grand Hall of the Dinghui Temple are two ginkgo trees dating back to the Ming Dynasty;now over 400 years old,their golden leaves carpet the ground each autumn—a cherished sight for photography enthusiasts.As one wanders along the forest trails—amidst the distant sounds of morning bells and evening drums—the only sounds to be heard are the chirping of birds and the soft tread of one's own footsteps.The profound tranquility of this solitary island in the heart of the river is a serenity that no mountain forest on the mainland can ever hope to match.Photography Tips:The best vantage point for panoramic shots is the top floor of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda,offering a 360-degree view of the Yangtze River.The area in front of the Xijiang Tower is ideal for capturing panoramic views of the"River Island"and the sunrise.Beneath the ginkgo trees in front of the Main Hall of Dinghui Temple—particularly in the early morning light of autumn(early November is best)—lies a perfect opportunity to capture the serene,Zen-like atmosphere of this ancient monastery.
Cultural Treasures—A Floating Museum of Millennial Heritage
The cultural landscape of Jiao Mountain revolves primarily around three core elements:"Temples,Steles,and Terraces."
A Temple Hidden Within the Mountain—The Unique Layout of"Mountain Enveloping Temple"
In stark contrast to the layout of Jin Mountain—where the"temple envelops the mountain"—the architectural complex of Dinghui Temple on Jiao Mountain lies deeply secluded amidst ancient cypresses and towering pines.When viewed from a distance across the river,one sees only the forest-clad mountain,with no sign of the temple itself;hence the local adage:"The mountain envelops the temple."Shi Naian describes this remarkable phenomenon in his novel Water Margin:"On Jiao Mountain stands a temple,hidden deep within a mountain hollow;its form remains concealed from view,giving rise to the saying,'The mountain envelops the temple.'"The temple's Main Hall features an entirely wooden structure,characterized by soaring eaves and intricate dougong bracket systems.Housing three majestic,gilded Buddha statues,the hall has largely preserved its original Ming Dynasty architectural style,serving as a priceless physical specimen for the study of religious architecture in the Jiangnan region during the Ming and Qing dynasties.Adjacent to the temple stands the Guanlan Pavilion,which served as a temporary palace for Emperor Qianlong during his southern tours;from its upper floors,one can gaze out upon the surging waves of the Yangtze River.Participating in the early morning rituals at Dinghui Temple—where the chanting of sutras harmonizes with the roar of the river—offers the most unforgettable and immersive cultural experience on Jiao Mountain.
The Foremost Stele Forest of Jiangnan—A Mountain of Calligraphy
The Jiao Mountain Stele Forest stands as the most brilliant cultural gem of Jiao Mountain.It comprises two distinct sections:the cliff carvings(moya)and the Stele Forest proper.The cliff faces on the western side of Jiao Mountain are adorned with over 80 rock carvings dating back as far as the Six Dynasties period.The Stele Forest itself traces its origins to the Baomo Pavilion,established in the eighth year of the Qingli era of the Northern Song Dynasty(1048 AD)by Prefect Qian Yanyuan.Through a millennium of accumulation,the site now houses a precious collection of over 500 steles,covering a total area ofnearly 7,000 square meters.Encompassing every major script—Seal,Clerical,Regular,Cursive,and Running—the collection features styles ranging from the majestic,ancient,and ruggedly bold to the refined,unique,and profoundly substantial.It has earned the accolade of being"Jiangnan's Foremost Forest of Steles."Some have observed that the Forest of Steles in Xi'an symbolizes the majestic culture of the Yellow River,while the Forest of Steles at Jiaoshan represents the refined and unique culture of the Yangtze River.
The very soul of this Forest of Steles is undoubtedly the Yihe Ming(Inscription for the Burial of Cranes)—a peerless masterpiece hailed as the"Ancestor of Large-Character Calligraphy."Created during the Southern Dynasties era as a lament for the artist's beloved cranes,this work was engraved in the 13th year of the Tianjian reign(514 AD)of the Liang Dynasty.Executed in large-scale Regular Script,it features expansive brushstrokes and a vigorous,heroic spirit;revered as a supreme exemplar by calligraphers throughout the ages,it is often paired with the northern Shimen Ming(Inscription on the Stone Gate)to form the celebrated duo known as"Yihe in the South,Shimen in the North."Regrettably,the original stele fell into the river during the late Tang Dynasty;it was not until the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty that the surviving fragments were salvaged and painstakingly reassembled.Today,it stands proudly in the central hall,a towering monument in the annals of calligraphy history.Furthermore,other treasures within the collection—such as the Tang Dynasty cliff carving of Gatha Verses from the Diamond Sutra,the Song Dynasty inscription by Mi Fu,and the inscription Viewing the'Yihe Ming'in the Snow by the Song poet Lu You—are all works of exceptional merit.Should time permit,visitors may also participate in a stele rubbings workshop,offering a hands-on opportunity to experience the thousand-year-old cultural lineage as ink meets Xuan paper.
An Elegy of Ancient Fortifications—A Classroom in Patriotism on the Yangtze
Located at the eastern foot of Jiaoshan Mountain,the ruins of the ancient Jiaoshan Fortifications stand as a vital historical testament to the Chinese people's resistance against foreign aggression and invasion during the modern era.Construction of the fortifications began in 1840,during the Opium War,when the Qing government selected this site to bolster the defenses of the Yangtze River.The entire complex is arranged in a horseshoe-shaped layout featuring a series of casemates;eight gun emplacements survive today,all facing the Yangtze River.These structures were built using a layered pouring technique with Sanhetu(a traditional composite mortar of lime,sand,and clay),and were supported by ancillary facilities such as ammunition depots and defensive walls,forming a strategic pincer formation in conjunction with the fortifications at Chuanshan and Xiangshan.In July 1842,when British forces advanced up the Yangtze,the garrison defending Zhenjiang mounted a tenacious resistance from the Jiaoshan fortifications,fighting valiantly until they ultimately ran out of both ammunition and provisions.In his article The New British Expedition to China,Engels highly praised the Defense of Zhenjiang,stating that had the British forces encountered such tenacious resistance everywhere they went,they would never have been able to reach Nanjing.Today,the ancient artillery fortresses on Jiao Mountain have been designated as a provincial-level base for patriotic and national defense education;every year,a great number of students and tourists visit the site to pay tribute to the fallen martyrs.
