Qixingyan scenic spot enjoys a sightseeing history of more
than 1000 years. It lies to the north of Zhaoqing city about three
kilometers away. In 1982, Rock Qixingyan together with Mountain
Dinghushan was put under the same name of “Xinghu” Scenic Area.
This scenic area enjoys many well recognized titles in the travel
industry. Say, it was listed among the first designated State-level
Key Tourist Attractions. In the years of 1999 and 2000, Xinghu
Scenic Area was ranked as “State-level key Tourist Attraction”,
“Top Ten State Demonstration Site of Civilization” and “State-level
4A Resort” respectively.
The Xinghu Lake is composed of five lakes,
hence the origin of its name, a star-shaped lake. Xinghu (let me
put it into Chinese) occupies an area of 64.9 thousand square
meters. This lake has a history of over 350 years. It was first
documented in Ming dynasty.
[天柱岩]
七星岩共有七座岩石山，呈两列长条状，南列自西至东为石掌、蟾蜍、天柱、石室、玉屏阆风，北列为禾枪、阿坡。景区面积共8.227平方公里，天柱岩高约114米，峰顶上的摘星亭是七星岩最高建筑物，半山上的天柱阁可用膳住宿。
[Tianzhuyan (Sky-pointing Rock)]
Rock Qixingyan is made up of seven
rocks. It covers an area of 8.227 square kilometers.
These seven rocks line into two belts. The belt in the south
includes five rocks. These five are named after their shapes. If
you look from west to east, you will see Shizhangyan (Palm Pock),
Chanchuyan (Toad Rock), Tianzhuyan (Sky-pointing Rock), Shishiyan
(Stone Chamber Rock) and Yuping Langfengyan (Jade Screen Lang Feng
Rock). The belt in the north includes other two rocks. They are
named as He Qiang and Apo. I will tell you the stories about their
origin later.
Tianzhuyan (Sky-pointing Rock) rises up to
114 meters. The pavilion Zhaixingting (Star-Reaching Pavilion) its
peak is the highest construction in Rock Qixingyan
Tianzhuge is a building half way down the mountain. It is a place
which serves meals and provides beds.
[千年诗廊]
1962年2月外-交部-长陈-毅元-帅赞美诗廊“壁上题词句，千年城诗廊”。凿刻在天然较平坦的岩石上的图文称为“摩岩石刻”，通常是由书法家和石匠共同完成。
七星岩的摩崖石刻主要集中在石室岩的龙岩洞外及莲花洞。自唐宋以来，历代诗人墨客在此赋诗题字者络绎不绝，现存有摩崖石刻410余件，使人恍如置身于碑刻书法艺术的宫殿。最有艺术价值的是李邕的《端州石室记》。《端州石室记》是七星岩现存摩崖石刻中年代最早的一篇，刻于唐代开元十五年（727年），距今已有1200多年。李邕名满天下，书法艺术精湛，开一代书风，表现出书法风格从瘦劲疏朗向盛唐丰厚磅礴的转变，连李白和杜甫都崇拜颂扬他。中唐时期有名诗人李绅、宋代的名臣清官包拯、哲学家周敦颐、明代抗倭名将俞大猷都在此留下了摩崖石刻作品，清代的石刻不胜枚举。2001年“千年诗廊”被列为全国重点保护文物。
[Age-old Poem Corridor]
This Age-old Poem Corridor is known for Mo
Shi Ke (Mo Ya Stone Inscriptions). As you can see, caved and
chiseled on the smooth surface of the natural rocks are the
drawings and writings, recording important events or achievements
in history. These inscriptions are usually completed by the joined
effort of stonemasons and calligraphers. A Chinese late Minister of
Foreign Affairs, marshal Chen Yi visited here in February, 1962. He
commented, “The lines inscribed on the rocks here have made this
place famous after a thousand years”.
The stone inscription in Qi Xing Yan Scenic
Spot is mainly situated in the Longyan Cave and the Lotus Cave of
Rock Shishi (Rock Stone Chamber). After Tang and Song Dynasties, a
flow of poets and calligraphers left their writings on the rocks.
Currently, there are more than 410 pieces of stone inscriptions.
They are rendering you a unique tour in the museum of
calligraphy.
The one before us is called A Record of Stone Chamber in Duanzhou.
It is the earliest in existence here with a history of over 1200
years, inscribed in Kaiyuan Period of Tang Dynasty (727 A.D.). This
inscription is the masterpiece of Li Yi, who enjoys a good
reputation in China as a calligrapher. Li Bai and Du Fu, the two
renowned poets in Tang Dynasty, admired his talent. As is known, Li
Yi’s fine style in calligraphy is marked as a transition from
sureness of touch and clearness in earlier periods to richness and
strength featuring as the glorious Tang Dynasty.
Apart from Li Yi, other celebrities inscribed their works here. To
name a few, Li Shen, a famous poet in Middle Tang Dynasty; Bao
Zhen, an important official of Song Dynasty; Zhou Dunyi, a writer
and philosopher; Yu Dayou, an eminent general who fought against
Japanese invaders.
Given its special culture meaning, Age-old Poem Corridor was listed
as one of the National Key Culture Relics Conservation Units in
2001.
[水月宫]
水月宫始建于明嘉靖年间（1522-1566），后废。1985年春由国家拨款重建，占地6000平方米，红墙黄瓦，采用了中国传统的沿中轴线布局的院落式。大殿里供奉护持佛法神“摩利支天”。摩力支是梵文音译，“天”是神的异名。我国许多寺庙的大殿内两侧都有二十诸天神像，但不专祀，而这里作为主神而专祀，国内罕见。
摩力支有隐形法，使日神看不见她，所以成为武士崇信的偶像。这尊摩力支铜像1986年重铸，高5米、重6吨。
[Palace Shui Yue Gong]
Palace Shui Yue Gong was first built in
Jiajiang Period (1522-1566) of Ming dynasty, but deserted later. It
was reconstructed in 1985 with the financial support from the
government. It covers an area of 6000 square meters. As you can
see, the palace is decorated by red walls and yellow tiles. It
adopts the traditional Chinese courtyard style of spreading out on
either side of an invisible axis.
The main hall is especially dedicated to
“Mo Li Zhi Tian”. This arrangement is rare in China. If you visit
other temples elsewhere, you are most likely to see more than
twenty God statues standing on both sides of the hall. “Tian” is
the name Chinese used for God who sustains the power of the
Buddha.
Mo Li Zhi, a transliteration, originates
from Sanskit. Mo Li Zhi has a magic that she can make herself
invisible to the God of Sun. Because of this, Mo Li Zhi was
worshipped by many warriors in ancient China. The bronze statue of
Mo Li Zhi Tian we see here was remolded in 1986. It is five meters
in height and six tons in weight.
[玉屏阆风岩]
石山“屏风岩”东西相连，气势雄浑，并列如屏，故称“屏风岩”。明朝开辟时人们将东西峰分开，东峰称“阆风岩”，西峰称“玉屏岩”。
早在明万历年间这里就修了蹬道，清乾隆年间又再次重修，所以沿途可见明清的石刻。
从“十友亭”俯瞰平湖幽堤、村落城郭，一览无遗。玉皇殿始建于明万历四十六年（1598年），清康熙二十年（1681年）重修。建筑物砖木结构，重檐歇山顶，檐下斗拱繁多而且精细。
[Yu Ping Rock and Lang Feng Rock]
The adjoined Rocks before us are grand and
screen-like, thus got the name of “Ping Feng Yan” or “Rock of
Screen” in ancient times. Since Ming dynasty, people separated the
two rocks and called the one in the east “Lang Feng Rock” and the
one in the west “Yu Ping Rock”.
Paths on the rock were built as early as in
the period of Wanli, Ming Dynasty, and they were rebuilt during the
period of Qianglong, Qing dynasty. As a result, we can see along
the paths the stone inscriptions on the cliffs from Ming and Qing
dynasties.
Here we come to the “Shi You Ting”, or
“Pavilion for Friends Gathering” in other words. From the pavilion
we can get a bird view of the green lakes and tranquil
villages.
The palace in front of us is called “Yu
Huang Dian” or “Palace of the Emperor of Heaven”, put it in other
words, It was first constructed in 1598, in the period of Wanli,
Ming dynasty, and rebuilt with bricks and wood in 1681 in the
period of Kangxi, Qing dynasty. The roof of the palace is
exquisite. The overlapping eave and the delicate arches are worth
your while to have a close look.
[阿坡岩]
阿坡岩的传说：相传有一位仙女，在这里教打渔为生的乡民种植水涨禾高的大禾，使四乡获得鱼稻双丰收。她离去后，乡民尊她为“和后”、“和婆”（阿坡的谐音）。岩山东北麓还有明代刻的“禾后岩”三个大字。
阿坡岩下周围的石壁上遍布当代名人的摩崖石刻，很有书法价值。
岩下水洞全长300多米，是七星岩“八洞”中最长的一个水洞。夏天进去，凉风习习、暑气全消。如果乘船进洞探胜，里面的钟乳石千姿百态，为七星诸洞之冠。
[Apo Rock]
The rock mountain we see here is called Apo
Rock. It was named after a legendary fairy. She taught the local
fishmen to grow a kind of grain which would grow taller when floods
came. Thus this area was enriched with both fish and grain. In
order to express their thanks, the local people called the fairy
“Queen of Grain”, or “Grandmother of Grain”, which are similar to
the pronunciation of Apo in local dialect. If you look at the
north-east side of the rock, you can see “He Hou Yan”, the three
Chinese characters chiseled on the rock. The inscriptions in memory
of her were left from Ming dynasty, believe it or not.
Cliffs bellow the Apo Rock exhibit valuable
Mo Ya Stone Inscriptions left by contemporary celebrities. They are
of high calligraphic value. Shall we go and have a look?
The water cave below the rock is over 300
meters long. It is the longest of the eight water cavities in Qi
Xing Yan, or “Seven Star Rocks”. If you go into the cave in summer,
you will feel cool and comfortable. If you enter it on a boat, the
stalactites of different shapes will render you a feast for the
eyes. You can find no other better choice of the same kind in this
scenic area.
[湿地公园]
东湖传说是仙女湖。星湖湿地公园是标准湿地游览区，核心面积约2平方公里，水深平均达2米。湿地指天然或人工的、长久或暂时的沼泽地、泥炭地或水域地带，静止或流动的淡水、咸水、咸淡水的水体，还包括低潮时水深不超过6米的海域。湿地被誉为“生命的摇篮”、“地球之肾”，是鸟类、爬行类、哺乳类动物的乐园，物种的基因库，与森林、海洋并称为全球三大生态系统。1971年三十六个国家在伊-朗签订了《湿地公约》，1994年我国开始全面履行此公约，2004年12月12日，我国首个湿地公园“肇庆星湖湿地公园”正式被确认。
招鸟岛、月亮岛等20多个小岛浮现东湖湖面上，招鸟岛上有南中国第一大的“丹顶鹤园”。丹顶鹤被誉为“湿地之神”，目前全世界大约有2000只，中国约有1000多只，这个园内有50只，在中国排第四位。园中还有其它各种珍稀禽鸟。
[Wetland Park]
The water before us is a part of the East
Lake, called Fairy Lake. This lake is a must when you visit the
Wetland Park. The wetland area for sightseeing accounts for two
square kilometers, about 2 meters deep on average.
I shall give you a brief introduction to
the concept of wetland?
A wetland is an area of swampland or
turf land. It is a water area that is naturally or artificially
covered, for a short or long period time, with freshwater, or salt
water, or a mixture of fresh and salt water; a wetland is also a
small part of the sea area. Its depth of water does not exceed six
meters at low tide.
As you know, wetland is considered “the
Cradle of Life” and “the Kidney of the Earth”. Being one of the
three ecosystems in the world (the other two are forest and ocean),
wetland is a paradise for birds, reptiles and mammalians, and it is
also the gene bank of species. In 1971, USA and other 36 countries
signed the Ramsar Convention in Iran. China started to carry out
items of the Convention in an all-round way after 1994. On
Dec.12
th 2004, Xing Hu Wetland Park, the first wetland
park in China, was officially verified in the Convention.
Attention to both sides of the lake. On the
lake are more than 20 islands. The Birds Island and the Moon Island
are two of them.
This island before us is the biggest
eco-park for red-crowned cranes South China. As you know,
red-crowned cranes are considered “the Guardian Angles in Wetland”;
there are more than 2000 red-crowned cranes in the world, of which
China accounts for more than 1000. This park, with 50 red-crowned
cranes, ranks the 4
th of this kind in China. This park
is also a pleasant habitat for other rare birds.
(《导游实训教程》Timwu
等编）
