The sacred site of the stone ox, like a radiant smile from the world.

In the quiet temple, white clouds float, The sacred site of the stone ox. I found this place in the book "The Stone Caves of Bashu in the Human World." The winding mountain road was tortuous, with mountains on the left and cliffs on the right. The kindness and contemplation of the deep mountains were like a sweet dessert. Every time I turned a corner, the shadows and sunlight were a reward. Legend has it that a high monk once built a temple here, using strong oxen to transport materials. After the temple was completed, the oxen ascended to heaven, and people called this place Niuxian Temple. As soon as I arrived, I stepped on a pile of cow dung. The soles of my shoes trod on the grass, gradually erasing the greeting from the immortals. A long-tailed bird flew by the roadside. It might have to work hard to return to a state of solitude, so it flew with all its might, leading us to the cliff carvings— The moss is deep and dark, yet traces remain, The grass is lush and green, yet no one comes to harvest. The Niuxian Temple before me was already in ruins, surrounded by thick tea gardens. The cliff carvings were tilted and askew, some standing firm, yet weathered into various shapes. From the Tang Dynasty to the present. They must have been gazed upon by millions of eyes, yet as I stood before them, it was like a radiant smile from the world. The villagers said that even in their grandfather's generation, they knew these were relics left by their ancestors. Damaging them would bring misfortune and stomachaches. Nowadays, no one believes in stomachaches, but Niuxian Temple has truly been forgotten in the tea gardens of the wilderness. The emotions linger on the high hills, the sunset listens to the shepherd's song.