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The Imperial Brush Peak
In front of us, rising from the valley just as if they were stalks of bamboo are several thin and straight apexes.These take on the appearance of Chinese brush pens sitting in their holder with their points upward.
Actually it is quite easy to picture the pen points and stems; notice how some of the small pines at the crest of the formation resemble the hair of a pen! When you behold this, you are prone to conclude that these "pens" have come straight from the hand of some skilled craftsman. Such a mountain formation is rarely seen! In reality erosion caused by rain, and the effects of gravity, and many other complicated geological factors have contributed to the creation of such majestic and singular scenery.
Apart from Nature, who could possibly possess the patience and artistry necessary to create a masterpiece equal to this hard sandstone peak! Some imagine that Zhangjiajie's picturesque and poetic scenery has been painted with these wondrous brushes; the green mountains and waters were the outlines,the colors were borrowed from the winds, the flowers, the snow and the moon, while time and space was the artist's paper.
Legend has it that these brush pens were used by Emperor Xian, and so they were called "Imperial Brush". In China, the imperial brush is almost the symbol of the emperor's sovereign power. By drawing a comparison between these ordinary peaks and such imperial instruments, the local people reveal their great surprise for this scenery. This scenic spot is the symbol of Zhangjiajie's scenery and with the developing tourism industry these peaks are prominently depicted in tourist pamphlets and books.Thus people recognize them as the representatives of Zhangjiajie's amazing and immense canyon!
