Stone Bell Hill
» Jiujiang, Jiang Xi

石钟山

Shizhongshan

Stone Bell Hill (Shizhong Shan) is located in Shuangzhong Town, Jiujiang City in Jiangxi Province. On the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Lake poyanghu, the hill is surrounded by water on three sides and is joined to the mainland on the fourth. This hill comprises two parts, the Upper Stone Bell Hill, facing the Lake poyanghu on its southern side and the Lower Stone Bell Hill, facing the Yangtze River on its northern side. The total area of these two hills is approximately 100,000 square meters (about 24.7 acres) with an altitude of 67.7 meters (about 222 feet).

Beautiful legend

There is a delightful legend that tells of the origin of Stone Bell Hill. One day, the Jade Emperor (the supreme deity of Daoism) wanted to build Lingxiao Palace in the Heaven, so he asked one god to carve two jade bells from the jade in Mt. Jiuhuashan. When the two bells were completed, the Jade Emperor asked another god, the one with great strength, to carry the bells up to the Heaven. When he was flying over the meeting point of the Lake Poyanghu and the Yangtze River with the two jade bells on his shoulders, he was distracted by the beautiful sceneries and forgot his mission. As a result, he dropped the two bells without knowing it. One bell landed on the side of the Lake Poyanghu, whilst the other landed on the side of the Yangtze River, giving us the Upper and Lower Stone Bell Hills.

What to visit

With a constant stream of visitors from different places for thousands of years, the Stone Bell Hill is famous for its singular prospects, a holy place for Confucian intellectuals, and a place of great strategic importance.

Singular prospects

As on one side of the hill is the Lake Poyanghu which is green, and on the other side is the Yangtze River which is yellow, the hill presents people with a kaleidoscopic view with changes in color.

Calligraphy masterpieces

Many literary giants of ancient China have left more than 20 calligraphy masterpieces carved upon the stone. Some of the most precious works date as far back as the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907).

Strategic importance

As a place of strategic importance, many historical events and battles occurred here, including the war between Zhu Yuanzhang (first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644)) and Chen Youliang, (a general of the late Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368)), and the ten-year war fought between Zeng Guofan (a famous general of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911)), and Shi Dakai (a general of the Taiping Army).

Taiping army stronghold

The present buildings date from the mid-19th century when the Taiping rebel commander Shi Dakai, choosing the mouth of the lake as a defensive position, built a stronghold on the hill, occupying is between 1853 and 1857. The Qing armies, miscalculating their enemy's strength, entered the lake in their war-junks, where upon the Taipings stretched ropes across the lake mouth, dividing the Qing navy into two and routing them. The Qing general, Zeng Guofan, utterly humiliated, attempted to drown himself but was rescued by his retinue. The remains of the Taiping army stronghold can still be seen, and a pavilion on the hillside contains a stone tablet dedicated by Zeng Guofan to those who lost their lives in that battle.

Plum Flower Hall

Peng Yulin, also a Qing general, later built a wonderful villa here with winding balconies, small ponds, carved pavilions and exquisite gardens. The lovely two-storied Plum Flower Hall was erected in memory of the cultivated young woman he loved but could not marry. She died of a broken heart and he painted 11,000 pictures of plum flowers with her in mind.

Mysterious bell-like sound

The most mysterious and the most attractive thing about Stone Bell Hill is the sound visitors can hear on the mountain. The legend tells why it is so called, however, it cannot really explain the strange bell-like sound that can be heard. There are three generally accepted theories to explain this.

  • The first one is that the hill is comprised of limestone; and fissures formed through water erosion. When water flows through these fissures, the sound occurs.
  • The second is that when striking the stone chimes, stalagmite and the stone pillar on this hill, people could hear that kind of strange sound.
  • The third one is that when water seeps into the limestone cave at the base of the hill, this generates the sound.

Su Dongpo (1036 - 1101), one of China's greatest poets, essayists, accomplished calligrapher and a public official, made three special trips to try to solve the mystery, and having eventually settled on the last explanation, write an essay on the subject.

When to visit

  • Opening Hours: 8:10a.m. - 17:00p.m.
  • Recommended Time for a Visit: One hour

Getting there

Bus Route: Take a shuttle bus in Jiujiang City and get to Hukou County There are ferries transfer clients directly to Stone Bell Hill.

Attractions around » Jiujiang, Jiang Xi

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Historical Site

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Cultural Site

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area

Garden & Park

Garden & Park

With a constant stream of visitors from different places for thousands of years, the Stone Bell Hill is famous for its singular prospects, a holy place for Confucian intellectuals, and a place of great strategic importance. And the most mysterious and the most attractive thing about Stone Bell Hill is the sound visitors can hear on the mountain.



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