Shi Liang Fei Pu is one of the essential attractions when visiting Tiantai Mountain. The valley is lush with vegetation, and a massive stone beam gracefully spans the mountains, with a waterfall cascading beneath the slightly arched stone beam, creating a unique and beautiful composition. This place has also become a ‘check-in’ destination for some tourists who follow Xu Xiake’s footsteps, as he visited here more than once.
The scenic area’s trails roughly form the shape of the Chinese character ‘Ru’, with three entrances and exits. The southern upper entrance is surrounded by a concentration of restaurants and farmhouses, and it is closer to the main waterfall scenery, making it the choice for most visitors. The western entrance is near the Small Bronze Pot Dripping Spring, about 2 kilometers away from each other. The scenic area is not large, and it can be toured on foot. During the rainy season or after rain, the waterfall’s water flow is greater, and the scenery is more spectacular.
Walking along the stream-side path, you will soon arrive at the Zhongfang Guang Temple, next to which Shi Liang Fei Pu is located. Zhongfang Guang Temple is the site of the 500 Arhats, and the tranquil yellow temple is built along the mountain, nestled among the green ancient trees, perfectly highlighting the valley’s landscape. Through the temple’s windows, you can overlook the panoramic view of the newer Zhongfang Guang Temple. Near the temple’s side entrance, you can appreciate the inscriptions on the stone beam at close range. It is said that Xu Xiake once walked above the stone beam, but later, for safety reasons, the stone beam was closed, and no one can walk on it anymore.
The water crashes and swirls among the rocks, cascading down from the stone beam into a deep valley tens of meters below, with the sound of the waterfall thundering like thunder. Looking back from below the waterfall, the ancient temple, stone beam, and waterfall blend into one, which can be said to be a classic scene of the scenic area. Don’t forget to take a standard photo here for remembrance. The nearby Shen Long Diao Wei Waterfall, known for its beautifully winding shape, is also a sight worth seeing. In addition to natural landscapes, there are many cliff inscriptions around the waterfall, among which the most famous is the ‘Shi Liang Fei Pu’ written by Kang Youwei and the one that adds much charm to the stone beam by Mi Fu.
The latter part of the tour focuses on appreciating the canyon’s landscape, walking along the water-side path, becoming deeper and more secluded, with fewer visitors. Passing Ying Zhen Tan and reaching Ding Bu Bridge, there is a fork in the road with ‘Fa Hua Chen Guang’ inscribed. Walking all the way to the exit (about 10 minutes) is the Small Bronze Pot Waterfall. Walking about 20-30 minutes to the right leads to the Longtan in the north. Out of the scenic area’s north gate, the Big Bronze Pot Waterfall, a few kilometers to the north, has a more natural scenery, but this area has not yet been developed into a scenic spot, with only some outdoor enthusiasts camping nearby.
Half-price for military personnel: With active military ID card. Free for disabled people: With personal disability certificate. Free for blood donors, teachers, and talents: With Zhejiang Province honor certificate for unpaid blood donation, honor certificate for 30 years of teaching experience, and Taizhou talent service card.
