Translation from the west gate of Pujun on the eighth day of June

"Diary of a Visit to Jiuli Lake" is an essay written by Xu Xiake, a writer of the Ming Dynasty. The article describes the author's journey to the summit of Hengshan Mountain, showing his spirit of not being afraid of dangers, hardships and courage in exploration practice.

Classical Chinese

Traveling between Zhejiang and Fujian is old. My ambitions were at Emei in Sichuan, Guilin in Guangdong, and as far as the mountains of Taihua and Hengyue; if Luofu, Dongqiao Mountain and Hengyue in Guangdong were followed by others. When you get to Yue, there are five waterfalls in Zhejiang Province and nine waterfalls in Fujian Province. However, Shu, Guang, and Guanzhong are far away, so I can't travel there; Hengxiang can take a false road, so there is no need to travel specifically. In order to be close, it was better to arrive at Jiujiu with three stones from Jianglang, so he planned to make an appointment with Uncle Fangruo to set off on the day after the Dragon Boat Festival in Gengshen (the first year of Taichang, 1620), when the lychees were newly ripe in Fengting Pavilion.

On the 23rd, we began to cross the Qinghu Lake in the mountains and rivers. The mountains gradually merge together, with many dangerous peaks and steep peaks on the east branch and steep peaks on the west branch. Looking at the end of the East Branch, there is a towering peak in the south, with clouds reaching into the sky, and it is about to fly. When asked, it is Jianglang Mountain. Looking forward, twenty miles later, we passed Shimen Street. Gradually approaching, it suddenly breaks into two, then turns into three; it has half-disconnected its head, and the root is cut straight down; when it is forced, it will sharpen upwards and converge downwards; if it is broken and reconnected, it will change its shape step by step. It's like an illusion with the clouds! Fuyandang Lingfeng and Huangshan stalagmites stand tall and steep, which are already magnificent sights. The sky and the sky are all in the deep valley, and the peaks cover each other, which makes them lose their wonder. That is Jinyun Ding Lake, which rises alone in the sky and is more majestic; but Buxu Mountain stands beside it, neither of them descending from each other, and they seem to be one from a distance. It's not as if this peak stands out among other mountains and changes on its own, each with its own uniqueness.

On the seventh day of June, we arrived at Xinghua Prefecture.

On the eighth day of the sixth lunar month, we left the west gate of Pu County, walked northwest for five miles, climbed the ridge, and forty miles to Juxi, we descended to Zhi over several ridges. Juxi is the lower stream of Jiujiu River. After passing Juxi Mansion, two miles away, cross the stream by stone steps. Another two miles, one side leads west to the col, and there is another ridge to the north. You can turn up the mountain. At that time, the mountains were deep and the sun was cold, the roads were untraveled, and people lost their way. Yuyi Lake's water flows down through nine streams, reaches a certain wonderland, and then approaches the stone path. Uncle Fang and his slaves were afraid of Gao Zhi, and they all thought it was a mistake. After a while, the situation gradually became blocked, and they thought it was a mistake, and the rest of their actions were encouraged. The higher you go, the higher you go, the sky is endless, the scorching sun shines brightly, and I feel tired and miserable. After a few miles, I reached the top of the ridge and thought it was the top. Turning to the west, there are peaks on the mountain that are twice as high as this one. Walking along the mountain in twists and turns for three miles, it is like wandering across the plains, just like the Wuling Mountains. It seems that you have entered the Peach Blossom Spring, and no longer know that you are on the top of ten thousand peaks. There is a pavilion in the middle road. To the west is the path for immortals to travel, and to the east is the path for Yu. Passing Tongxian Bridge in the south, crossing the small ridge and going down, there is the mansion and the Penglai Stone of the Bell and Drum Tower, where there is a thunderous waterfall. The stream comes out next to the Penglai Stone. The bottom stone is as flat as honed and polished. The water flows over the stone surface and is as even as a pavement. The lower ones are less, and the flat ones are more hollow. The round holes in them are used as stoves, mortars, bottles, and wells, all of which are named after elixirs and are the legacy of the Nine Immortals. When the current reaches this point, it suddenly falls into the lake. It is like the first wave of thousands of horses. It has the potential of thunder, which is the first surprise. The Nine Immortals Temple stands to the west, facing Li Lake. The lake is not very majestic, but a clear blue lake. It is on top of thousands of mountains and surrounded by greenery. The spirit of creation is also extraordinary! On the right side of the temple, there are stone drums, Yuanzhu, and ancient plum caves. The plum cave is on the side of the temple. It is made of large rocks and has a gate. Looking up, there used to be the Nine Immortals Pavilion and the Crystal Palace in front of the temple, but now they have all collapsed. When the temple falls across the lake, there are two to nine cans of water. I followed the lake to the right and reached the third ditch. I was in a hurry to return with Uncle Fang. He said: "Tonight, I should relax my mind and rest my strength, and meet the Nine Immortals quietly. I will work hard to achieve a wonderful victory, and wait for tomorrow." Return to the temple, go to Penglai Stone, barefoot and barefoot in the stream. The rapid water flowing over the Shize làn stone is vast, clear and shallow, with ten continents and three islands, and you can actually lift up your clothes and wade through it. Sitting in the ancestral hall in the evening, the new moon is hanging on the top of the peak, looking down at the Ping Lake, with a bright expression. In the silence, there is the sound of water flowing, and sometimes there is the sound of thunder. It is in the temple where I pray for dreams at night.

On the ninth day of the lunar month, I bid farewell to the Nine Immortals and went down to the poor Jiujiu. Nine boats went to Li Lake for several miles, and three boats went down. The road has been lost for a long time. A few months ago, Putian held a memorial ceremony for Yao and Yu, and ordered Lu Shan to open a complex bird road, which leads directly to Jiuji and out of Juxi. I regret that I didn't go up the river by taking a side path yesterday, but followed the main road and lost this wonder. So he put on his clothes and changed the route, and unexpectedly came out of Jiujiao. The waterfall is the second canal, in the south of the lake, opposite to Jiuxian Temple. The lake is poor and the water falls from here into the deep gorge. The rocks in the gorge are like split stones, and the two cliffs stand thousands of feet high. When the water first comes out of the lake, it is controlled by the rocks and cannot gain momentum. It falls from the sky in anger, flies and rushes, and the water and rocks are extremely majestic. Next down is the Zhulian Spring in the third stream, with the same scenery as the waterfall. There is a pavilion on the right cliff called Guanlan. A stone is said to sit naturally, and there is also a pavilion covering it. From then on, we went up and down the ridges and streams, winding through the gorges. The gorge wall is wide at the top and bottom, and the water in the bead curtain falls from the front; the water in the jade tube boils and overflows from the side. The two springs hang together, the gorge wall is cut down, and the iron barriers are tightly wrapped around it. The top is connected to the sky, the jade dragons dance in pairs, and the bottom is at the edge of the lake. The water in the pond is deep, clear and blue, although it is smaller than Li Lake, but it is surrounded by steep walls and surrounded by waterfalls. It is a collection of oddities, but this is the best! It is also called the fourth pond.

When we first arrived at the bottom of the gorge, Uncle Fang was eager to get out of the gorge. He sat at the mouth of the gorge and never entered again. I walked into the stream along the rocks and stood on the rocks beside the pool. I looked up at the two waterfalls rising from the sky. The cliffs were covered with rocks like the mouth of an urn. The rising sun is at the top of the cliff, and the sudden waves are covering up the flowing light. The pitch should be received and cannot be given up. As we follow the stream back down, two gorges suddenly cut up, one water slants back, and the road to the right of the stream is poor. Looking to the left, there is a wooden plank flying on the edge of the Weiji waterfront. There is a protruding stone break between the rocks. You can climb through the turbulent current. Then we entered the stream from the left and reached the stone gate of Wuji. The two cliffs are so large that they can only accommodate a thin line. If you want to close them or not, if you want to open them, they will have springs flowing down and cloud shadows blocking them above. The human beings are like a monkey, blown by the cold wind, and are about to fall. Gai comes from all directions, the mountains are deep and the roads are endless, and it is extremely quiet and steep, but you can only hear the sound of springs and the chirping of birds.

Out of Wuqiao, the mountain gradually opens up. The right side of the stream is lined with dangerous peaks, while the Feifeng Peak is facing it on the left. The turbulent currents around it are either clear pools or inverted gorges. If there are five stars in the six columns, the flying phoenix in the seven columns, the chessboard stone in the eight columns, and the general rock in the nine columns, they all got their names in sequence. However, the clouds are steaming and the rosy clouds are shining in the area, so it is interesting to find it in the mountains and rivers. Why do you need to carve traces to find it? Cover the water and ride on the gorge to spread it. When you get it, the cliffs and fallen rocks beside it are inserted obliquely into rocks, and the horizontal frames are made into rooms. The stacked buildings are buckled. It forms a cave; if it hangs, it will be a waterfall; if it is looped, it will flow; if it pools, it will be a spring; you can sit, lie down, lean on it, take a shower, and shade the bamboo trees to create clouds and smoke. For several miles, the eyes cannot move, and it is not enough to reach the sun. Every time you find another cave, you must go through the gap in the rock and reach the side. You can't be exhausted in one place! If the water hangs or tíng water accumulates and cannot flow, or the wings are flying and pouring, that is, the water is flowing. The Three Layers of Lu, the Wild Goose, the Dragon, and the Dragon Qiu each have their own strengths, but they are not as unique as the small bodies of this mountain.

Out of Jiuji. Along the stream and around the mountain, five miles to the east, there is a home for cultivating clouds and woodcutting stones. However, no one is not surprised when he sees people coming there. After another five miles, we reached the stone steps of Juxi and came out to the road.

On the tenth day of the lunar month, we passed Suanlingyi and arrived at Yuxi. Ten miles west of Wenheng Road Yi, there is Shisuo Mountain. The rock is the most beautiful and it is also the place where the Nine Immortals pray for their dreams. There is a saying in Fujian that goes, "Visit Shisuo in spring and Li Lake in autumn." Although it is not the right time, we should not miss it. Take advantage of the excitement and proceed. It is still fifteen miles away by the cross road and we will stay at Yuxi River.

On the eleventh day, we arrived at Bolipu, where we wandered from the path to the stone. Five miles west to the mountain, beyond a small ridge. After another five miles, we crossed the stream and reached the southern foot of Shisuo. Turning west along the foothills, you can see the cliffs on the top of the peak, which look like they are piled up and split. After walking northwest for a long time, there is a building facing the west of the mountain, which is a mountain climbing path. The stone steps were quite steep, so I walked up the steps wearing short clothes. The road is winding, covered with shadows of trees and rocks, old branches and old vines, tangled dangerous rocks leaning on the cliff, and the sound of chirping apes rising and falling. Suddenly there is a pavilion standing on a dangerous stone, standing tall and tall, high and far away, and there is nothing to oppose it. The pavilion is halfway up the mountain. If you fold it again, the stone steps will go straight up. If the steps are too small, the flying rock eaves will hang down in the air. Go up two more folds and enter the side door of the cave. When you come out, you will see the Nine Immortals Pavilion, which is spacious and elegant. On the left is the monk's hut, both leaning against the mountain in the sky, where you can move and look out. There are five or six steep peaks standing behind the pavilion, all tens of feet high, and each peak is two or three feet taller. The stone walls of the peaks are like hewn, and the roads are curved in the cracks, revealing the tops of each peak. The pines and vines grow taller, and the whole view becomes victorious. The monks offer tea, which is fragrant and delicious, and is produced in the mountains. Go down the side path to Chuiyan, and there is another path on the left. Yu said: "There must be something different about this." As a result, a stone hole was embedded in the sky. Go down through the cave and reach the mid-mountain pavilion. Go down the mountain and come back out of the crossroad.

This is a tour. Three of them are sixty-year-old, two are provinces, nineteen are counties, eleven are prefectures, and three are visiting famous mountains.

Translation

Traveling to Zhejiang and Fujian is a thing of the past. My wish is to visit Mount Emei in Sichuan and Guilin in Guangxi, as well as famous mountains such as Mount Taihua and Mount Heng. As for traveling to Mount Luofu and Mount Heng, that is my next plan. Going to Wuxie in Zhejiang and Jiulan in Fujian is the next step in our plan. However, when going to Sichuan, Guangxi and Shaanxi Guanzhong, my mother is old and the distance is far away, so I can't travel immediately; Hengshan, Xiangjiang and other places can be visited when passing by, without making a special trip. If you think about going somewhere nearby, the best way is to pass through Jianglang Mountain, Sanshi, and then go to Jiulian. So on the second day of the Dragon Boat Festival in the Geng Shen Year (the first year of Taichang, 1620), I and my uncle Fangruo set off for a trip as scheduled. It was the lychee season in the Inspection Department of Fengting City that was just ripe.

It started passing through Qinghu in Jiangshan County on the 23rd. The mountains gradually overlap. Most of the mountains in the east are steep and steep, like barriers; the mountains in the west are not high and lie down slowly. Looking at the end of the mountains to the east, there is a particularly prominent peak in the south, reaching straight into the sky, and its momentum seems to be flying. One room is Jianglangshan. Staring at Jianglang Mountain, he hurried forward and walked twenty miles to cross Shimen Street. As we walked closer to the mountain, the mountain suddenly divided into two, and then into three. After a while, the top of the mountain was divided into two again, cutting straight down. As we got closer to the mountain, the top of the mountain was sharp and the bottom was convergent. , seems to be disconnected, but connected. As soon as people move, the shape of the mountain changes, changing together with the clouds! There are Lingfeng in Yandang Mountain and stalagmites in Huangshan. They are dense, steep and upright. It is already a magnificent landscape, but They are all located in deep mountain canyons, with numerous peaks covering each other, but losing their own "strangeness". As for Dinghu Peak in Xuyun County, it is independent and tall, and its momentum is even more majestic; but Buxu Mountain stands right next to it, and the two mountains are about the same. From a distance, they seem to be one mountain, not as prominent as Jianglang Mountain. On the peak, there are thousands of postures, all showing their wonder. Arrive at Xinghua Prefecture on the seventh day of June.

On the eighth day of the lunar month, we set off from the west gate of Xinghua Fucheng, walked northwest for five miles, and climbed up the mountains for forty miles to Caoxi, going up and down more than a few mountains along the way. Moss Creek is the downstream of Jiulian. After passing Yingxi Mansion, walk two miles and cross the stream on stone steps. After walking another two miles, a small path stretches westward toward the mountain col, and there is a stone staircase to the north that leads around the mountain. At this time, the mountains were deep, the sun was hot, there was no pedestrian on the road, and I didn’t know where to go. I guessed that the water of Jiuli Lake flows down Jiulu, and there must be wonders when climbing up, so I walked up the stone steps. Uncle Fang and his servant were afraid of climbing higher and thought they were going the wrong way. Soon, the surrounding area gradually became narrower, and they thought they were going the wrong way, but I became more and more excited as I walked further. Soon we were getting higher and higher, the road was far and endless, the sun was scorching, and I was tired and tired. After a few miles, I climbed to the top of the ridge, which I thought was the highest peak; turning around to the west mountain, I saw a peak twice as high as this ridge. Walking zigzag back and forth along the mountains for three miles, the flat fields are vast and empty, just like the story of the Wuling people who mistakenly entered the Peach Blossom Spring, no longer knowing that they are on top of thousands of peaks. There are pavilions on the way. Extending from the west is the road to Xianyou County, and the east is the road I am taking.

Go south and pass Tongxian Bridge, go over the small ridge and go down, you will find the mansion, the Penglai Stone of the Bell and Drum Tower, and Lei Hongdi is also here. The stream flows out from next to the Penglai Stone. The stone underneath is as flat as a grindstone. The water flows over the stone surface as evenly as if it is covered with a layer of gauze. Slightly lower, there are many pits on the smooth bottom. The round holes in the pits are called stoves, mortars, squats, and wells. They are all named after the word "Dan" and are the remains of the Nine Carp Immortal. The stream flows slowly here, and suddenly falls into the lake, like the first wave of thousands of horses, with indeed the power of thunder. This is the wonder of the first waterfall in Jiu Di. The Jiuxian Temple is built to the west of the waterfall, facing Jiuli Lake in front. The lake is not very vast, but it is clear and blue in the mountains, surrounded by green trees and rippling clear waves. The deification of nature's creations is really strange! On the right side of the Nine Immortals Temple, there are stone drums, Yuanzhu, ancient plum cave and other scenic spots. . The ancient plum cave is next to the temple. It is made of large rocks and the gaps in the rocks form doors. Walking up through the cracks in the rocks, there used to be the Nine Immortals Pavilion and the Crystal Palace in front of the Nine Immortals Temple, but now they are all destroyed. Facing Jiuxian Temple and across Jiuli Lake, the water falling down is the second to ninth level waterfalls. I walked along the right side of Jiuli Lake and reached the third level waterfall. I hurriedly returned with Uncle Fang. I said, "Tonight I should calm my mind, rest my body, and wait for the Nine Immortals to entrust me with my dream. Let's wait until tomorrow to worry about visiting the wonders and scenic spots." Return to the Nine Immortals Temple, go to the Penglai Stone, and walk barefoot in the stream walk. The bottom of the stream is flat and open, the water is clear and shallow, flowing gently. The sandbars and islands scattered throughout the water are like a fairyland. You can cross it by lifting up your clothes. Sitting in front of the temple at night, the rising moon was hanging on the top of the mountain. I lowered my head and looked down at the calm lake. The scenery in front of me and my mood were very good. In the silence, there was only the sarcastic sound of water, and from time to time I could hear thunder. The sound of waterfalls. That night, I prayed to the Nine Immortals in the temple to entrust my dreams.

On the ninth day of the lunar month, we left the Nine Immortals Temple and went down to explore the end of Jiulu. Jiudi is about a few miles away from Jiuli Lake. Going down from the third level waterfall, the road has been cut off for a long time. A few months ago, Yao Yu, a minister of the Imperial Academy and a native of Putian County, ordered Lu Shan to repair and open this steep mountain road directly to Jiudi and out from Yingxi. I regretted that I did not go up the waterfall from the side path yesterday, but took a detour and followed the main road, missing the opportunity to view this wonderful scenery. So he packed up his luggage and took a different route, heading out directly from Jiudi. The second level is called the waterfall, which is on the south side of Jiuli Lake, just opposite the Nine Immortals Temple. At the end of the lake, the water fell into the deep valley. The deep valley seemed to be split open by a knife, and the cliffs on both sides stood as steep as walls, tens of thousands of feet high. As soon as the water flows out of the lake, it is blocked by rocks and cannot flow smoothly. The turbulent water falls from the sky, with waves splashing and water droplets spraying. The water and rocks look extremely majestic. Further down is the third Lianzhulian Spring, with the same scenery as the waterfall. There is a pavilion on the cliff on the right, called Guanlan Pavilion. A stone called Natural Sitting is also covered by a pavilion. From here, we go up the mountain and down the stream, and walk zigzag in the canyon. The mountain walls on both sides of the canyon are overturned at the top and wide at the bottom. The Zhulian Waterfall Spring falls from the front, and the Yuzhu Spring Waterfall gushes out mist from the side. Two waterfalls hang side by side. The walls of the canyon are steep and steep, surrounded by iron-wall-like cliffs. The mountain is as high as the sky. The two waterfalls are like jade dragons flying, pouring down into the pool. The water in the pool is extremely deep, green and clear. Although it is smaller than Jiuli Lake, it is surrounded by cliffs, waterfalls, and wonderful scenery. Only the scenery here is the best! It is the so-called fourth lake.

As soon as we arrived at the bottom of the canyon, Uncle Fang was busy walking out of the canyon and sat waiting for me at the mouth of the canyon without coming in again. I walked alone along the stone path at the bottom of the stream, went to the edge of the pool and sat on a stone. I looked up and watched the two waterfalls flying vigorously and powerfully in the air. The upper part of the cliff was overturned like the mouth of an urn. The rising sun just rose to the top of the cliff, and the falling water waves and jumping waves reflected each other in a colorful way. I looked down and looked up and was overwhelmed, and couldn't bear to leave. Further down the mountain stream, both sides of the canyon suddenly became steeper, a stream of water flowed diagonally, and the road on the right side of the mountain stream was cut off. Looking to the left, I saw wooden planks set up between the remaining steps on the steep rock. It could be climbed across the stream. So we walked across the stream and walked to the left, which was the fifth gate - Shimen. The cliffs on both sides are close to the middle here, and there is only room for a sliver of sky. Whether it closes or opens, the mountain springs are surging below, and the clouds cover the fog above. People are climbing in the middle, just like weighing monkeys. The cold wind blows, and people are so cold that they almost fall. Roughly since the fourth time, the valley has become deep, the roads have been cut off, and it has become extremely deep and steep. Only the sound of spring water and the chirping of birds can be heard.

After walking out of the fifth mountain, the mountains gradually opened up. The steep cliffs on the right side of the mountain stream are arranged like a barrier, and the Feifeng Peak on the left is circling and flying to the opposite side. Water flows criss-cross below, some of which are clear pools, and some of which reflect the canyon. As for the sixth five-star, the seventh-level Feifeng, the eighth-level chessboard stone, and the ninth-level general rock, they are all named in order. Since the clouds and clouds in this area are awe-inspiring, so the interest can be found in the mountains and rivers, why is it necessary to deliberately pursue the appearance of each scene and thing? Generally speaking, the water stretches according to the shape of the canyon, free and easy, without restraint. The collapsed cliffs and boulders on both sides of the water flow, sloping What is inserted is the rocky shore, what is horizontal is a stone chamber, what is stacked is like a stone, and what is twists and turns is a stone cave; what is hanging in the air is a waterfall, what is flowing around the stone is a small one, and what is accumulated is a clear spring; You can sit, lie down and rest, you can wash near the spring, the bamboo trees provide shade and the clouds and mist play with it. The beautiful scenery for miles makes people unable to look away all day long and never want to leave. Every time I went down to another place and saw another cave, I would definitely go in through the cracks in the rocks. The caves were twists and turns, and I couldn't exhaust the beauty in them all at once.

As for the water flows, some are hanging on the cliffs, some are gathered together, and some are soaring like bird wings and spraying water. Even Sandiequan Waterfall in Lushan Mountain and Longshu Waterfall in Yandang Mountain can only win by one characteristic, unlike this one. The mountain has perfect local and overall scenery.

Come out of Jiudi, follow the mountain stream and go eastward for five miles, and then you will find people farming and collecting firewood on the mountain with white clouds. They were very surprised when they saw someone coming. . After walking another five miles, we reached the stone steps of Yingxi River and went out the way we came.

On the tenth day of the lunar month, we passed Suanlingshi and arrived at Yuxi. I heard that ten miles west of Henglu Sao there is Shizhu Mountain. The rocks on the mountain are the most famous and are also the place where the Nine Immortals pray and dream. There is a popular saying in Fujian that "you can visit Shizhu Mountain in spring and Jiuli Lake in autumn." Although it is not the best season to visit Shizhu Mountain now, you can't miss the opportunity to visit this scenic spot in person. So I took advantage of the opportunity and went out. Because Henglushi is still far away from Yuxi. After fifteen miles, we stayed in Yuxi. On the 11th, after arriving at Bolipu, we walked west toward Shizhu Mountain for five miles, crossed a small ridge, and crossed the stream. We arrived at the southern foot of Shizhu Mountain. We turned west along the foothills and looked up to see the cliffs on the top of the mountain, which looked like they were being chopped by knives. After walking to the northwest for a long time, there was a building with its back to the mountain and facing west. This is it. Hiking path. The stone steps are very steep, so I walked up the stone steps in short clothes. The stone steps are winding and shaded by trees. The old vines are curved like dragons and coiled around the steeply sloping rocks. Apes are jumping up and down and crying. Continuously. Suddenly, there is a pavilion on the cliff, standing tall and high in the sky. There is nothing opposite to it. . Go up two more turns and enter through the side door of the cave. As soon as you exit the cave, you will find the Jiuxian Pavilion. On the left side are the monks' residences, which are built against the mountain. You can wander around and look into the distance. Five or six steep peaks stand tall, each tens of feet high. Each peak is two or three feet apart. The gaps are like being cut with a knife. The road zigzags through the gaps, and you can travel to the top of each mountain. . Pine trees are lying down, old vines are spreading, and the monks bring you fragrant tea. Go down the mountain from the side path to Douyan, and there is another path on the left side of the road. Said: "There must be strange scenery from here. "So I walked along the path, and sure enough there was a stone cave embedded in the mountainside. Go through the cave and you will reach the Mid-level Pavilion. Go down the mountain, reach the crossroad and then return to your hometown. This trip lasted sixty-three days a day, spanning The two ridges passed through 19 counties and 11 prefectures, and visited three famous mountains.