Mingtang Mountain

Mingtang Mountain is located in the hinterland of the Dabie Mountains in southwestern Anhui, within the territory of Yuexi County, Anhui Province, 42 kilometers away from the county seat. Mingtang Mountain is part of the Dabie Mountain system. It rises abruptly from the winding branches of the Duozhijian Mountain Range, forming three peaks. The main peak has an elevation of 1563 meters and was historically a connecting point between the ancient states of Wu and Chu. According to legend, more than 2100 years ago, Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, named the mountain 'Mingtang' after setting up an altar for worship during his enshrinement of the ancient Nanyue, Mount Tianzhu. The locals, admiring the graceful and slender shape of Mingtang Mountain, which complements the majestic and upright Mount Tianzhu, and considering both mountains are located in Anhui and only a hundred li apart, coined the saying 'two mountains grow side by side, paired as a couple.' Therefore, Mount Tianzhu is also playfully referred to as 'Father Anhui Mountain,' and Mingtang Mountain as 'Mother Anhui Mountain.' Additionally, because there is a natural pattern of a rooster on the stone wall of the main peak of Mingtang Mountain, and from the north, the peaks resemble a rooster's comb, it is also known as 'Jigong Mountain.'