Mount Longhu Xianshuiyan: Ancient Yue Echoes in Warring States Hanging
Geographical Connection: Jiangxi Province, Yingtan City, Guixi City, Mount Longhu, Xianshuiyan, Luxi River (Shangqing River), Twenty-Four Rocks, Shangqing Ancient Town, Zhengyi Temple, Taohuazhou, Feiyun Pavilion.
1978: Opening the Two-Millennium-Old Gates of the Underworld
Mount Longhu’s Xianshuiyan, a natural wonder famous for its “Cinnabar Cliffs and Azure Waters,” is not only the “Abode of Immortals” in Taoism but also the site of the archaeological excavation of Longhu Mountain cliff tombs, the largest of its kind in the world. From October 8, 1978, to January 17, 1979, a joint team from the Jiangxi Provincial Museum and the Guixi County Cultural Artifacts Office conducted a massive 100-day scientific expedition.
During this excavation, researchers used floating platforms made of 5,000 bamboo poles and a 60-meter-high steel tower to access caves suspended 10 to 60 meters above the water. In caves numbered 3 and 4, archaeologists recovered 37 well-preserved coffins and 16 skeletons. Carbon-14 testing by the Ministry of Culture’s Institute of Cultural Heritage confirmed that these coffins date back to the 5th–3rd centuries BC, representing the peak of Ancient Yue culture in the Warring States period, over 2,500 years ago.
The Twenty-Four Rocks: Celestial Remnants and Literary Inscriptions
Dotted along the steep cliffs on the east and west banks of the lower Xianshuiyan section of the Luxi River are nearly a hundred cliff tombs, collectively known as the “Twenty-Four Rocks”. Tang Dynasty poet Wang Zhenbai immortalized the site with lines describing “the Twenty-Four Rocks in the sky,” capturing their mysterious presence amidst the mountain mists. These caves bear ethereal names such as Immortal Coffin Rock, Water-Viewing Rock, and Loom Rock.
In 1581 (the 9th year of the Wanli reign in the Ming Dynasty), a monk named “Huiwu Daoren” left a small wooden box in Cave No. 2 inscribed with the phrase “Celestial Remnants,” reflecting the awe these tombs inspired throughout history. On the cliff housing Feiyun Pavilion, Ming Dynasty Grand Secretary Xia Yan personally inscribed “Jade Wall in the Sky,” lending significant cultural weight to these Warring States period ruins. The Shangqing River winds through this 10-kilometer scenic stretch, where 99 peaks echo the presence of these ancient burial chambers.
The 13-String Zheng and Loom: Technological Miracles of the Ancient Yue
The 220 to 235 artifacts unearthed from the Mount Longhu tombs have essentially redefined aspects of Chinese civilization. The most shocking discovery for international experts was two perfectly preserved 13-string zheng made of Catalpa wood. Identified by the Shanghai National Orchestra, these are the oldest and largest zheng ever found in China, pushing back the recorded history of the 13-string instrument by 1,000 years.
Furthermore, the 36 textile tools found, including hemp scrapers, weaving knives, and components of inclined looms, represent a landmark discovery. These artifacts prove that the Ancient Yue people 2,500 years ago had already mastered sophisticated dyeing and weaving techniques, pushing back the invention of the Chinese primitive loom by 500 to 600 years. These finds are not only symbols of the Ancient Yue’s economic power but also the primary reason Mount Longhu was listed as a “National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit”.
1989: Solving the Mystery of “Flying Wood”
The mystery of Xianshuiyan hanging coffin placement inspired countless myths, including tales of immortals using magic. To solve this engineering riddle, a Sino-US joint research group was formed in January 1987 by Professor Lu Jingyan of Tongji University and Dr. Cheng Zhenyi of the University of California.
On June 13, 1989, a world-renowned simulated ancient lifting experiment was held at Xianshuiyan. Researchers replicated ancient wooden winches and primitive clay pulleys, enlisting the help of the local Li brothers—five herbalists skilled in traditional cliff climbing. By setting anchor points at the mountain peak and using winch-controlled rope traction, they successfully lifted a 150kg coffin into a cave 20 meters high. This experiment suggested that the ancients likely utilized the buoyancy of the Luxi River and primitive fixed pulley blocks. Today, this “Coffin Lifting Performance” has become a patented tourism attraction drawing thousands of visitors daily.
Danxia Landform and Modern Heritage Protection
Mount Longhu possesses not only cultural wonders but also geological secrets. In 2005, a scientific survey determined that Mount Longhu’s Danxia landform is over 65 million years old. During the Warring States period, these peaks were partially submerged in water, providing natural waterways for coffin transport. On August 6, 1988, Mount Longhu was approved by the State Council as one of the second batch of National Key Scenic Spots, and in 2001, it was named a National Geopark.
Today, the Mount Longhu scenic area spans 200 square kilometers across six major zones, including Xianshuiyan, Zhengyi Temple, and the Great Shangqing Palace. With the administrative integration of Haoling Village in April 2000 and the elevation of the Xianshuiyan tombs to National Cultural Heritage status in 2001, this ancient resting place of the Yue people stands as a vital cultural link between the past and the future.