Leidayan (Thunder-Struck Rock) is located in Pinglei Village, Dongshan Town. As the highest peak of Peach Blossom Mountain, it rises 384 metres above sea level with precipitous terrain. Its northwest face features sheer cliffs that look as if they were hewn by axes and knives.

Standing on the summit and gazing out in all directions, visitors can behold rolling peaks, crisscrossing farmlands, curling cooking smoke and drifting clouds. It feels like stepping straight into a traditional Chinese painting.

Thirty metres below the peak lies a stone cave six to seven metres deep, known as the Great Sage Cave. According to legend, after Monkey King Sun Wukong made havoc in the Heavenly Palace, he fled into this cave to escape the pursuit of celestial troops. By day, he sneaked out to steal peaches from the Queen Mother of the West’s orchard on the mountain.

The Jade Emperor flew into a towering rage upon learning this. He ordered the God of Thunder to strike lightning from the opposite mountain, Tianjing Mountain, to issue a warning. This explains why the mountain was originally named Heavenly Warning Mountain. Defying the edict, the Great Sage refused to surrender, confident in the cave’s depth and solidity. Following the imperial order, the deity hurled thunderbolts at the rocky peak in an attempt to collapse the cave and kill the monkey. Only a section of the mountain was split off, however, leaving both the cave and the monkey unharmed. The piles of boulders at the foot of the peak are said to be the debris from that thunder strike. Ever since then, the peak has been known as Thunder-Struck Rock.