Conggu Mountain

Conggu Mountain stands five kilometres southeast of Nancheng County. Rising steeply beside the river, it presents a magnificent sight. The whole mountain range consists of interlocking rock formations.

Conggu Mountain has two peaks: the eastern one is the Flying Ao Peak, and the western one is the Heavenly Pillar Peak. Between the two peaks lies a narrow crack known as "Light through Cong Stone". A natural bridge about 2 metres long and 1 metre wide connects the two summits.

In the 24th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1545), the thinker Luo Rufang built the Conggu Mountain Studio here to host scholars coming from all directions to give lectures together. Tang Xianzu, the great opera writer of the Ming Dynasty, once pursued his studies in this place.

Conggu Mountain was a gathering place for literati in ancient times. According to Records of Magu Mountain, Volume 12, Appendix on Conggu Mountain, there are forty-three sites inscribed with poems and calligraphy left by men of letters. Inscriptions such as "Flying Ao Peak", "Heart-cleansing Pool", "Upright Jade" and "Awe before the Lofty Mountain" are still carved clearly on the cliff faces. The three characters "Flying Ao Peak" written by Luo Rufang are particularly striking, with extraordinary brush strength that looks almost superhuman.

The stone carvings on Conggu Mountain were designated a county-level key cultural relic protection unit in 1983.