Xu Fu Yan Waterfall

The Xu Fu Yan Waterfall is located 7.5 kilometers northwest of Xuedou Temple, near Zhi'ao Village, Dong'ao Township. It features steep cliffs, with the top of the rock reaching an altitude of 476 meters and the waterfall itself measuring 142 meters in height. A massive boulder juts out from the cliff's mouth, which according to legend, is where an immortal rode a swan goose ascending to heaven, hence the name. From a distance, it also resembles a giant monkey leaning against the sky, thus it is called Ju Hou Yan (Giant Monkey Rock). Recorded in the 'Baoying Annals of Siming' from the Song Dynasty, the name Ju Hou Yan is mentioned, and on the sheer cliff, the characters for 'Ju Hou Yan' are carved, possibly by people from the Tang Dynasty. Now, the new characters 'Xu Fu Splashing Snow' have been carved. The area beside the rock is overgrown with grass and trees, and the top of the cliff has a wide stream with a bridge. The stream water is clear and white, originating from Chouchu Ridge, passing through valleys and forests, and becomes rapid and turbulent here, cascading down the cliff. After heavy rain, the sound is like thunder, shaking the valley. Looking down from the cliff, one feels a chilling vertigo over the deep abyss. Below the cliff, white mist rises, and water droplets dance like pearls and jade. There is a pool underneath, and the striking of tree branches against the water surface is a magnificent and spectacular sight. A poem by Lou Zechong, a person from Fenghua during the Ming Dynasty, says: 'A piece of cliff thrusts into the sky, where ancients once said immortals would ascend; swan geese fly with red shoes soaring through the clouds, and cranes carry jade flutes across the purple mist.' In 1991, the government allocated funds to build a winding pebble path, handrails, pavilions, reception buildings, and a stairway to the clouds.