Tianjie Mountain preserves intact subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests. The mountain is elegant and picturesque with flourishing vegetation. It boasts a rich variety of rare plants and ancient famous trees, forming a natural botanical garden. Experts call it an oasis amid karst landforms.

In particular, the small stone forest atop Tianjie Mountain bears fantastic rock formations chiselled as if by gods. Trees take root on rocks, and vines twine around tree trunks, creating endlessly varied scenery. In his travel notes, Xu Xiake wrote in praise: “The mountain features jagged bare rocks. Where the stone is exposed, layers look as if carved from jade and shaped like cloud scrolls. Unfortunately, the peaks are mostly hidden by grass and trees. Hence visitors only find caves, unaware of these splendid summits.”

The tour guide said: “As soon as March arrives, Tianjie Mountain bursts into fiery bloom. The flowering season is in full swing here.” Standing on the mountain, you can easily picture how the first spark of bloom ignited from a tiny bud on an ordinary twig. After several spells of mild wind and spring rain, fiery camellias, blood-red azaleas and delicate peach blossoms dye the whole mountain crimson.

What stands out even more are the osmanthus trees, releasing overwhelming fragrance everywhere. People in Jiangle are truly blessed. Within merely 2.36 square kilometres of Tianjie Mountain grow more than a thousand millennium-old osmanthus trees. Every year when autumn brings cool breezes, visitors receive golden, fragrant invitations from the mountain. What a magnificent sight! Amid dense green foliage, each osmanthus tree is covered with clusters of golden blossoms. “Red blooms dot green leaves, layer upon layer like woven brocade.” Every osmanthus tree is like a fresh and refined poem.

The birds are equally enchanting. Mynahs, magpies, orioles, larks, cuckoos and partridges soar freely among woods and hop along branches, singing clear and melodious tunes.

“On Tianjie Mountain, visitors often mistake bird songs for flowers floating in the sky, and blossoms for chirps dancing on twigs,” the guide remarked. Her words are wonderful, yet the beauty of Tianjie Mountain is even more breathtaking.