A Tour of Taihe Mountain (Excerpt)

I got up in the morning and washed my face. Then I walked to the palace gate, where a Taoist priest burned incense to guide me. The palace is grand and spacious, with vermilion 甍 and emerald green, shining in the sky and reflecting the sun, as if praying for a good year and gazing at immortals. After paying homage, he immediately took the REINS and left Junyang City. The corridor outside the south gate runs around, all paved with stone, flat and continuous, directly in harmony. The houses are also rarely in neat rows, none of which are as unadorned as those in the Chu region. A forty-li walk leads to the Yingsi Palace. Outside the palace, a meandering stone bridge spans the ravine, with the sound of water trickling gently, like the sound of silk dripping away. The feathered scholars lined up with flutes and zithers, guiding the carriage past. Looking around, the Huangshan Mountains are clustered together, young but not wooden, as if wrapped by a wall. And the peaks of the Great Yue Tianzhu stand tall and clear, with 岎崯 clusters of purple clouds, surging all over the 隳 ground, the wilderness is dazzling, and the beauty is even more enchanting. When the distance stretches forward, it is about to fall into the village market. Then the trees are thin and sparse, and the air is wild and desolate. Day after day, it suddenly disappears without a trace, and no one knows where it is headed. Turning west from the grass shop, the path becomes increasingly narrow and expansive, with cypresses, elms, pines and cypresses on both sides, shading the sun and clouds, 蓊 lush and verdant, the path is free from any speck of dust, elegant and carefree. There is such a paradise in the southern continent. It is probably beyond count in the Jambudvipa world. Five li, passing through the Zhi Shi Xuanwu Fang, the face of Emperor Su was covered, the five Great Mountains were crowned, 槕 in the splendor of the emperor. It has turned north to become the Huixian Bridge. Under the shade of the bridge, palaces are lofty and imposing, with numerous grand buildings scattered around. This is known as the Yuzhen Palace. The immortal Zhang Sanfeng built a hut in the yellow earth to cultivate his true self. The palace is surrounded by the various ridges of the Ya Hu Mountain, with the Xiantai Mountain to the left and the Black Tiger Cave to the right. During the revolution of Emperor Chengzu, several envoys visited the Xianren at 濙, but the xianren could not be reached. Now the imperial calligraphy is vividly present. Entering the various palaces in the mountains, one begins with encountering the true self. One enters the palace, has a meal in the zhang room, and then ascends the circular chariot to travel. Looking around, the sun was setting in the west, and the peak was already half of it. The toe is high and descends, passing through the slanted walls and winding paths. The driver pointed out that it was the place where the Crown prince was broken, which was the place where Emperor Yuan practiced his cultivation. In front of the hall, there is a weeping pool of the Virgin Mary, which is not visible until dusk. Stepping out of the courtyard under the moon, the remaining stars are faintly visible, flickering on and off. Looking up at the sky, I saw black clouds pressing down on the house and was astonished to see that it was about to rain. The Taoist priest called this the Flag-spreading Peak. The peaks are of iron color, the cliffs are piled up 峗, the wings are no more than a hundred feet long, like the military flag 纛, 隤 suddenly drop into the air. Zixiao, bearing the banner peak, 崔嵬岸, rises above the palaces. When reaching the southern rock, the dawn suddenly cleared. Purple clouds and red azaleas emerged from the coral piles, like paintings and threads. Golden light flashed rapidly, and candles and dragons shone brightly, their warm eyes never fading away. Meanwhile, birds chirped loudly, their sounds emerging from the forest. Leaning against the south rock palace gate and looking up, I feel as if I were in 阊阖. After passing Huanxi Slope, the Golden Summit of Taihe Mountain shines brightly before your eyes. After the meal, I dressed and paid my respects to the temple. Then I turned back to the left to see the Taihe Palace. The palace is like the emperor's bedchamber, surrounded by golden cities, and embraced by heavy clouds, symbolizing the celestial gate. To the left of the palace spirals upwards, adjacent to the imperial steles of previous dynasties. After several turns of the stone staircase, it was exhausted and finally reached the summit of the pillar of Heaven, with the feet shaking and trembling unbearably. The four-dimensional stone ridge is like gold and silver. The top 甃 is made of flower stones, and the golden hall protrudes prominently. All the offerings are made of copper and liquid gold. The hall is exquisitely constructed and integrated, and it is suspected to be a ghostly work. The sacred image was solemn and dignified. He solemnly bowed and prostrated himself. All thoughts held their breath. After the ritual of prostration was completed, he followed the old path and descended to observe the bronze hall of the Yuan Dynasty. When he reached the divine kitchen, he took a short rest. In the early morning, braving the cold, I climbed to the top to watch the sunrise. But it was already past the hour of MAO. Fusang spat out pills and leaped onto the three poles. Because of the prostrate and worship, they entered the golden hall, polished their sacred countenance, and the light and luster were bright and moist. The Taoist priest also took out the golden cabinet to bestow the elixir inscriptions and jade images upon them. There are countless travelers coming and going, but it is impossible to see the origin 扃. Beyond the hall gate lies the vast expanse of the wild, with numerous peaks and valleys, crouching and resting, as if an emperor were perched high above, with three gates above and nine below. The crown covers the clouds, the four seas and eight wilds offer their treasures and tributes, prostrated themselves beneath the carriage, not daring to look up. Tongshan Mountain winds around, like surging waves, as if rushing towards the Thunder Gate, surging and shaking. Its bluish-purple branches and dark green lines are like jade painting screens and lotus 絪 mattress, elegant and charming, beautiful and leisurely, dazzling with luster.