Meng Liang Stair and Hanging Monk Rock

Brief Introduction of Meng Liang Stair

Meng Liang Stair and Hanging Monk Rock is located at the mouth of Qutang Gorge, south bank of Yangtze River. It is on the east cliff of Fenbi Stone Carving. There are many square stone holes,1 feet deep, 0.8 feet wide, 0.7 feet hight, 3 feet in diameters. Those stone holes arranged in "Z" shape on the mountainside. The people call it Meng Liang Stair.

Origin of Meng Liang Stair

Meng Liang, a general in the historical romance novel The Yang Family. The famous general Yang Jiye has made a lot of outstanding military exploits in the northern China, but then he was captured by the enemy and he fasted to death. His story widely spred among the people. According to the Folklore of Fengjie Area, after Yang Jiye' death, his body was buried at Wangxiang Platform on White Salt Mountain. One night, Meng Liang chiseled many holes on the cliff to climb up to relocate Yang Jiye's body. But when Meng Liang just arrived at the mountainside, he was discovered by a bad monk. The monk deliberately mimic the cock crow let Meng Liang thought that it will be morning soon and Meng Liang stopped chisel the hole. People call this row of holes Meng Liang Stair.

Actually, the row of the holes are the site of ancient plank road, there are still remains a timber pile in the hole. On the ancient south bank of Yangtze River, there was a ancient town on the White Salt Mountain. This plank road probably was the access to the Qutang Gorge and White Emperor City. Those holes only reached at the mountainside, that is because above the hole people can climb through the mountain by the suspension cables.

Origin of Hanging Monk Rocks

In the east of Meng Liang Stair, there is a slightly protuberant rocks. It resembles a bear head monk hanging upside down, hence it was named Hanging Monk Rock. In the legend this is the monk who deliberately mimic the cock crow.