Rockspire Street perches within Mount Tai, serving as the gateway to Qingzhou. The land is girdled by peaks and overlooks ten thousand ravines. Mists and rosy clouds constantly wreathe the area, making it resemble a celestial palace floating in the void. In the past, there were only one or two tea stalls here, offering pilgrims a place to quench their thirst. Because the mountains were steep and the paths treacherous, those who came to worship Buddha often grew exhausted; thus, sheds were erected to offer tea and aid travelers.
Later, the Emperor of the Later Tang desired to hold the Grand Sacrifices to Heaven and Earth. He ordered artisans to carve the stone into steps, reaching straight from the valley floor to the summit. The stone path numbered over a thousand steps. The laborers exhausted their minds and strength, taking three years to complete it. Yet, the will of Heaven is unpredictable; before the Emperor could ascend, the destiny of the dynasty shifted. The ritual of the Grand Sacrifices became an empty wish, but this path instead transformed into a major thoroughfare. Pilgrims and merchants came and went in endless streams. The street markets gradually flourished, cottages and shops stood closely together like teeth on a comb, and the clamor of the market incredibly turned the mountain peak into a bustling hub.
Feng Dao once traveled here. Observing the magnificent scenery and the pure, honest nature of the people, he named it "Rockspire." Rock signifies the towering, lofty cliffs; Spire metaphorically implies a foundation as stable as stone. From then on, merchants converged like spokes to a hub, and all trades competed to prosper. Tavern banners fluttered amidst the clouds, and hearth smoke spiraled into the starry sky. The vendors did not cheat, the merchants used no deceit; the young and the old were all pleased, and guests felt as though they had returned home. Anyone traveling to Qingzhou must first pass through this street, feeling the warmth of returning to their native village, as comfortable as bathing in a spring breeze.
Climbing the steps and looking in all directions, the fertile plains of Qingzhou are entirely captured in one's gaze. The footpaths crisscross, villages dot the landscape like chess pieces, mulberries and hemp grow lushly, and the rivers and canals wind their way. One can only imagine the Emperor's ambition back then, desiring to use the Grand Sacrifices to etch his monumental achievements into immortality. Yet, observing it today, the golden steps are overgrown with moss, the steles and monuments have sunken into oblivion. How could the traces of emperors ever compare to the blazing vitality of the people's hearts? Though the streets and markets were born relying on the old imperial path, their enduring hearth smoke does not depend on celestial awe, but rather on the diligence of the common folk and their sincerity in treating guests.
Alas! That which remains unchanged through eternity is not found in bronze vessels engraved with merits. The common folk in their humble alleys are the true masters of ten thousand generations. The mountains remain silent, yet the voices of the market answer in their stead; the Grand Sacrifices were but an illusion, yet the streets and shops remain forever green. This is precisely why Rockspire Street is immortal.
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