Tianzhu Mountain has a total area of
333 square kilometers, and its main scenic zone covers 82.46 square kilometers.
There are 45 peaks, 17 ridges, 18 cliffs, 22 caves, 86 grotesque rocks, 18
waterfalls and 17 springs. With towering pines, grotesque rocks, running
waterfalls and springs, and canyons, secluded caves, defiles and ancient
mountain strongholds, the mountain resort combines the features of both
Huangshan Mountain and Lushan Mountain, imposing and tranquil.
The Tianzhu Peak, with an altitude of
1,488.4 meters, is high and steep, rising into the sky; the Mystery Valley, with
valleys and caves connecting one another, is reputed as the No. 1 granite cave;
the Liandai (make pills of immortality) Lake, at the altitude of 1,100 meters,
is the third largest alpine lake in China; and the nine great waterfalls run
down from steep cliffs. The whole mountain resort boasts 119 families of
vegetation, which amount to over 1,000 kinds, and tens of species of rare
animals, of which Yulin Mu (fish scale tree), Tiannv (fairy maiden) Flower, and
the Giant salamander are called Three Treasures in Tianzhu
Mountain.
Tianzhu Mountain is referred to by Taoism as
the 14th fascinating place and the 57th Happy Land. The second and the third
Patriarch of the Zen School of Buddhism (or the Dhyana School) once lived there.
Such cultural celebrities in history as Li Bai, Wang Anshi, Su Dongpo, Huang
Tingjian, etc. once admired the beauty there, and left many Cliffside stone
carvings in the Shiniu Ancient Cave.