The stunning weathered sandstone peaks of the Tianzi Mountains, also known as ‘imperial brushes’, are part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China and the Wulingyuan UNESCO World Heritage site. Formed underwater 380 million years ago, the flow destroyed surrounding sandstone, leaving only resilient stone pillars that are now covered with tropical forests and ancient pine trees. The highest peak of the mountains is 1262.5 metres above sea level. Often seeming to ‘drift’ among the clouds, they provided the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie Avatar.
Tianzi Mountain takes its name from a man, Xiang Dakun. He was the leader of the Tu ethnic group during the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 -1279). Xiang Dakun led a revolution and avowed himself as Tianzi (Son of Heaven). Visiting this scenic area, visitors can see many sites about his story, the most impressive being: the Yu Bi Peaks, the Xi’an Nu San Hua, and the Shen Bing Ju Hui.
With pine trees on the top, the Yu Bi (imperial brushes) Peaks rise upward into the sky. Legend goes that they are brushes the Tianzi-Xiang Dakun used that became stone peaks after his martyrdom. The Xi’an Nv San Hua (floral tributes by fairies) is slightly opposite the Yu Bi Peaks. A legend goes that Xiang Dakun and his army were defeated to fall back on the Tianzi Mountain. He fought to the finish, but finally jumped off the cliff. A girl in love with him went across the mountain to search for him. She strewed flowers over the cliffs and turned into a stone statue. Shen Bing Ju Hui is a forest of soldier-like peaks arrayed for a review.
Picture Credit : Google
