Shen Nu Peak is located to the east of Wu County in Chongqing, approximately 15 miles from the county town. It is one of the twelve peaks of Wu Mountain, resembling a maiden standing gracefully and overlooking the Yangtze River. The peak has been renowned throughout history for three reasons: First, Song Yu fabricated a story of a tryst between King Xiang of Chu and a divine woman in his ‘Fu on the Goddess’; second, there is a legend of the divine maiden Yao Ji descending to earth to help Yu the Great control the floods; and third, there is indeed a stone peak that stands like a young girl on the side of the mountain.
In ancient Chinese mythology, Shen Nu Peak is the embodiment of the Western Queen Mother’s youngest daughter, Yao Ji, who once helped Yu the Great to dredge rivers and eliminate water disasters. After the water calamities were resolved, she resolutely decided to stay in Wu Mountain to ensure the safety of ships, thus earning the respect and worship of later generations. According to the ‘Annals of Wu County’: ‘The daughter of the Red Emperor, Yao Ji, died unmarried and was buried on the sunny side of Wu Mountain as the Goddess. ‘ On the opposite bank of the peak, under the Fei Feng Peak, there is an existing platform called the ‘Book Granting Terrace,’ said to be the place where Yao Ji bestowed books upon Yu the Great. There used to be a temple dedicated to the Goddess in the east and west of the county town, which was later renamed Ning Zhen Temple. Throughout the ages, poets and literati have come to visit Shen Nu Peak, composing many poems and odes in its honor. The Tang Dynasty poet Liu Yuxi, after visiting the Goddess Temple, wrote: ‘The twelve Wu Mountains are lush and green, a solitary rock stands tall called the Maiden. The morning mist just opens as if rolling up curtains, the mountain flowers are about to wither like fading makeup. The Milky Way is beautiful at night with clear jade pendants, the clouds and rain once carried a unique fragrance. Why should the immortals be in the nine heavens, when the mortal gaze belongs to King Xiang of Chu. ‘ Li Shangyin, in one of his untitled poems, wrote ‘The life of the goddess is but a dream,’ which also originates from here. As the name suggests, the Shen Nu Peak Scenic Area is named after the world-famous Shen Nu Peak. Also known as Wang Xia Peak and Beauty Peak, for many years, people could only gaze at the goddess from the river, leaving behind endless reverie and melancholy in a fleeting glance. In 2014, the Shen Nu Peak Scenic Area was officially approved by the National Tourism Administration as a National 4A Scenic Spot. The entire area is open from January 1st to December 31st, from 07:30 to 15:00. Preferential policies include: Children under 1.2 meters (not including) enter for free; the elderly aged 65 and above enter for free; those aged between 60 and 65 (not including 65) pay half price; military personnel with valid identification enter for free; disabled people with valid identification enter for free; students over 1. 2 meters (including) with a valid student ID pay half price.Shen Nu Peak
Shen Nu Peak is located to the east of Wu County in Chongqing, approximately 15 miles from the count[...]
