Bellows Gorge (Fengxiang Xia)
Last Update : 2006-10-20 17:17:43 - About two kilometers (1.24 miles) from Baidi City is Bellows Gorge. A rock above the cracks of the yellow-brown cliffs resembles a bellows and was said to be the possession of Lu Ban, the great master of carpenters; thus this passage became Bellows Gorge.
- Last Update : 2006-10-20 17:17:56
- As the bellows rock hangs dozens of meters up the cliff, one can hardly reach it. Coffins affixed to the rocks tempted adventurers to risk the ascent. It is said that during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), someone succeeded in climbing up to take the coffins; however, the officials ordered their return in case their removal offended the immortals. They lay undisturbed until 1971 when two herb-picking climbers ascended Bellows Rock again and unveiled the enigma: positioned on the rock were two coffins from the Qin (221 BC - 206 BC) or Han Dynasties (206 BC - 220) when hanging coffins on cliffs was a popular Sichuan burial rite. Through this discovery, historical treasures were added, including copper swords, axes, straw sandals and banliang qian (metal coins) of the Han Dynasty.
