The Dream of the White Horse on the Ridge: Exploring Baima Peak in Lu'an

Amid the vast mountains at the border of Huo County and Yuexi County in Lu'an City, Anhui Province, stands a granite peak soaring to an elevation of 1,777 meters. Shaped like a proud horse rearing into the sky, it is respectfully called "Baima Peak" by locals—this main peak of the Dabie Mountains is not only the core area of the Dabie Mountain National Geopark but also an ecological epic waiting for travelers to unfold.

1. The Majestic Vision of the Heavenly Horse
The name Baima Peak comes from its unique mountain silhouette. From certain angles, the entire peak resembles a white steed raising its hooves to take flight, galloping through a sea of clouds. As the highest peak of the Dabie Mountains, it forms a trinity with Duoyun Peak at 1,763 meters and Tianhe Peak at 1,755 meters, creating a "pin" character-shaped structure that forms the roof ridge of East China.

Geologists have uncovered astonishing secrets here: Baima Peak’s main body is composed of 230-million-year-old granodiorite, with rock surfaces crisscrossed by joints. These ancient fissures, sculpted by billions of years of weathering, have gradually formed today’s rugged and bizarre rock formations. Even more striking is the presence of the world’s largest eclogite belt deep within the mountain range—this high-pressure and ultra-high-pressure metamorphic zone is like a code from the earth’s depths, attracting geologists worldwide to decipher it.

The Dabie Mountains got their name from a poetic encounter. Legend has it that the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai ascended the main peak, gazing south at blooming mountain flowers and north at snow-covered peaks, exclaiming, “This mountain is vastly different from others!” This natural watershed between the Yangtze and Huai Rivers thus gained a name carrying both geographical distinction and spiritual symbolism.

2. The Pilgrimage of Climbers
“The most strenuous peak in Anhui Province, bar none”—this is the reverent verdict from mountaineering enthusiasts about Baima Peak. The scenic area has no cable cars; the entire ascent must be conquered on foot. Starting from the ticket checkpoint at 960 meters elevation to the summit marker at 1,777 meters, the nearly 800-meter vertical climb is like a ladder hanging in the sky, spanning over 10 kilometers.

Climbers must pass through eight wooden pavilions as checkpoints:
- Easy beginning: Between pavilions 1 to 3, streams babble, and the small shop at pavilion 3 is the last supply stop.
- Mid-section challenge: Pavilions 4 to 6 feature steeper slopes, with stone steps winding upward through primeval forest.
- Ultimate trial: The “Despair Slope” between pavilions 6 to 8 demands every step to battle both gravity and willpower.

The breathtaking moment of reaching the summit compensates for all hardships. A silver-white “1777” sculpture stands on a granite base, surrounded by rolling clouds. Visiting in May, the mountainsides blaze with azaleas, forming a vivid tapestry with the verdant Huangshan pines—whose roots twist through rock crevices, showcasing the resilience of life.

3. The Ecological Sanctuary Through the Seasons
Baima Peak reveals unique charms in every season:
- Spring Awakening (April-May): Orchid flowers emit subtle fragrance, cherry blossoms adorn branches, and tea pickers harvest the finest “Huoshan Yellow Bud” tea in terraced gardens at Jinzhuping. The average mountain temperature is 15°C, perfect for spring outings and tea tasting.
- Summer Coolness (June-August): While cities suffer heatwaves, July temperatures here range only from 22 to 28°C. The Dabie Mountain Resort rooms have no air conditioning, and blankets are needed at night. Rainbows often arch across waterfalls at dawn, and oxygen ion levels peak.
- Autumn Melody (September-November): Forests turn vibrant hues, with yellow leaves of the Qingqian willow and silver magpie trees carpeting golden mountain paths. From the heights, Bieshan Lake gleams like jade nestled among peaks.
- Winter Serenity (December-February): Snow seals the mountain, occasionally revealing frost flowers that form a crystal world. The stone walls of the ancient Siwangzhai fortress are snow-covered, resembling an ink-wash painting scroll.

4. Nature’s Gifts in the Hidden Realm
As East China’s last patch of primeval forest, Baima Peak’s park boasts 96% forest coverage, forming an ecological fortress. It preserves relic plants from the Tertiary glacial period: the needles of Dabie five-needle pine shimmer silver in sunlight, and the red fruits of the yew tree sparkle like rubies in the woods. When Rhododendron molle blooms, the entire mountain seems draped in brocade.

Deep in the dense forest dwell many rare creatures: pangolins forage among leaf litter, long-tailed pheasants dart through the canopy; the Chinese giant salamander swims in the deep pools beneath Longjing Gorge waterfalls. Researchers have even found traces of clouded leopards here—these mysterious presences testify to the health and integrity of this ecological sanctuary.

5. The Scenic Symphony of Mountain Spirit and Water Soul
Besides the main peak, three major landscapes compose Baima Peak’s magnificent symphony:
- Longjing Gorge Waterfalls: Four major waterfalls cascade down a 15-kilometer gorge. The 70-meter-high Longmen Jump resembles a white dragon leaping into the abyss, and the 50-meter Longjing Pool forms a 200-square-meter emerald basin. During the rainy season, the roar of torrents carries for miles, earning it the title “Dabie Mountains’ Premier Gorge.”
- Bieshan Lake Secret Realm: This 30-kilometer-long alpine lake reflects the perilous peaks of Bawangzhai. Boating reveals golden cliffs towering thousands of meters, the mysterious Fairy Cave, and the lakeside dressing table said to be where the legendary beauty Xi Shi once groomed herself.
- Siwangzhai Ruins: At 1,396 meters on Maoding Mountain, a 2,000-meter-long stone fortress was built during the Xianfeng era to resist the Taiping rebels. Six-meter-high stone walls undulate along the ridge, bearing witness to turbulent times.

6. The Cultural Code of Mountain Living
At the scenic area entrance, the Dabie Mountain Resort is an ideal stop to experience mountain life. The architecture blends naturally with the environment. Visitors can join morning yoga sessions to stretch amid the sea of clouds; at night, with no light pollution, the Milky Way is clearly visible, and starlight fills the terrace.

Local mountain people continue ancient crafts: they infuse two-year-old green bamboo with wine mash, waiting for the bamboo joints to grow before brewing amber-colored fresh bamboo wine. A sip releases a refreshing bamboo aroma. Tea farmers in Jinzhuping Village still handcraft yellow bud tea, with processes of fixing, spreading, and roasting that embody the true essence of a thousand-year tea culture.

When the last stone step is climbed and the 1,777-meter marker emerges through mist, standing atop the Dabie Mountains, looking north to the Central Plains and south to the misty Jingchu region, one understands Li Bai’s amazement at “mountain flowers blooming to the south, snow covering the north.” Baima Peak’s grandeur lies not only in its 1,777-meter elevation but in how its granite backbone supports the watershed between the Yangtze and Huai Rivers and how its primeval forest pulses with a geological legend spanning billions of years.

This peak, refusing cable cars, awaits true climbers in the most unadorned way—only by stepping on every stone stair can one read the magnificent poem of the Dabie Mountain spirit. Dabie Mountain Main Peak Scenic Area Baima Peak