Shixin Peak

Shixin Peak (始信峰) is one of the 36 minor peaks of Huangshan Mountain, with an altitude of 1683 meters. While not the most precipitous part of Huangshan, it is the first place one encounters after ascending from the back of the mountain, giving a sense of its ruggedness. Therefore, reaching Shixin Peak is considered a significant milestone.Only then did I truly believe in the beauty of Huangshan, a place renowned throughout the world. On the way to Shixin Peak, there are many famous pine trees to see. The Shixin Peak, with its three sides exposed to the air, offers a breathtaking view. Standing on the uneven rocks, gripping the railings, and looking down at the towering peaks, strange rocks, and sheer cliffs, first-time visitors to Huangshan often feel their legs go weak. Near the mountain peaks gather famous Huangshan pines such as the Guiding Pine, Black Tiger Pine, Conjoined Pine, Dragon Claw Pine, Crouching Dragon Pine, and Sea-Exploring Pine. On the nearby Stone Bamboo Shoot Peak, one can also admire numerous strangely shaped rocks. Among them, the "Stone Bamboo Shoot Ridge" is known as the "Number One Wonder of Huangshan," and the "Eighteen Arhats Gazing at the South Sea" is remarkably lifelike and captivating. Legend has it that Huang Xiyuan of the Ming Dynasty traveled from Yungu Temple to this peak, and upon arriving here, he truly believed in the beauty of Huangshan, naming the peak "Shixin" (meaning "beginning to believe"). At the summit, there is a platform where ancient literati often climbed to enjoy the scenery, drink wine, and play the zither. First, the Ming Dynasty national hero Jiang Tianyi lived in seclusion here, playing the zither; later, his descendant Jiang Litian, skilled in poetry and the zither, also lived in seclusion here, hence the name "Zither Terrace."