Reflections from Golden Rooster Ridge: Huilin Qiu of Slkor on Nature and Inspiration

On the afternoon of February 12, 2026—the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month—I set out on a memorable family trip to Golden Rooster Ridge with my wife, children, nephews, and nieces. In Pingshi Town, northern Guangdong, a striking mountain rises beside the Wu River, shaped like a rooster lifting its head to crow. This is Golden Rooster Ridge. Each layer of red sandstone feels like a masterpiece sculpted by nature over billions of years, while the winding stone steps, intricate carvings, and stories hidden within the mountain reflect the resilience and wisdom of people who have lived in harmony with nature for generations.

 

I. Nature's Uncanny Workmanship Commands Awe

Hundreds of millions of years ago, the land where Golden Rooster Ridge now rises was once a vast ocean. Layers of sand, gravel, and silt settled quietly on the seabed, gradually solidifying into striking red rock formations. As the earth’s crust uplifted, these layers were exposed to the surface. Over countless millennia, shaped by wind, sunlight, rainfall, and the steady carving of the Wu River, they evolved into the dramatic landscape seen today.

The most breathtaking feature is the “Golden Rooster Stone” perched at the summit. Formed by three massive natural Danxia rock pillars, it resembles a proud rooster with its chest lifted high—its head facing Hunan and its tail toward Guangdong, as if poised to crow at any moment. From a distance, this “golden rooster” appears to stand confidently at the cliff’s edge, every texture etched with the passage of time. Standing below and looking up, the towering rock face feels almost vertiginous. The wind sweeping through the valley carries a sense of ancient stillness, inspiring a quiet realization: before the vastness of nature, human life is only a fleeting moment.

 

Beyond the iconic “Golden Rooster Stone,” the cliffs of Golden Rooster Ridge are equally captivating. Some rock faces are so smooth they seem precisely cut, while others rise in layered formations resembling thick, timeworn volumes. Rainwater trickling down the cliffs has etched grooves of varying depth into the stone, like lines of poetry patiently composed by nature over centuries. As you walk through the mountains, every rock beneath your feet may be hundreds of millions of years old. With each step, you can almost sense the Earth’s quiet pulse, as if the landscape itself is breathing and sharing its ancient story.

 

 

II. Moving Forward with Awe: Human Strength is Equally Moving

The steep terrain of Golden Rooster Ridge once made it a formidable natural stronghold. Historical accounts tell that Hong Xuanjiao’s forces used this very landscape as a defensive position, constructing fortifications along the precipitous cliffs to resist attacks from below. Even today, traces such as the ancient command platform and the weapon cave remain, quietly preserving the echoes of that turbulent era. Standing in these spots, it’s easy to imagine the distant beat of war drums and picture courageous figures holding their ground between sky and earth, drawing strength from the mountain itself.

 

Later, to make the ascent possible, people carved stone steps directly into the cliffs. Some are embedded into sheer rock faces, while others stretch across narrow gorges—each step a testament to the patience and perseverance of the craftsmen who built them. Rather than blasting the mountain, they shaped it slowly with hammers and chisels, preserving the natural landscape while opening a path for future visitors. On one rock face, large characters read, “Once the rooster crows, the world brightens.” It is both a tribute to Golden Rooster Ridge and a reflection of people’s hopes—like the rooster heralding dawn, reminding us that no matter the obstacles, light is always ahead.

Today, Golden Rooster Ridge has become a place where people reconnect with nature. Visitors climb the winding stone steps and pause at viewing platforms to overlook the lights of Pingshi Town. Local elders walk the trails, sharing the legend of the Golden Rooster Stone with younger generations, while photographers capture the mountain’s changing beauty across the seasons. Here, people not only admire nature but also draw strength from it—much like those who once stood on these cliffs, finding courage within the landscape itself.

Standing on the viewing platform of Golden Rooster Ridge, with the striking Danxia formations on one side and the vibrant life of Pingshi Town on the other, a simple realization emerges: nature and humanity are not in opposition. Over billions of years, nature shaped this land into something awe-inspiring; humanity, with creativity and resilience, added warmth, stories, and meaning—together forming a landscape that is both powerful and deeply human.

 

 

We revere nature not out of fear, but out of recognition of its value and irreplaceable beauty. It offers not only the space in which we live, but also the inspiration that sustains us. Just like the Golden Rooster Stone—it is more than a mountain formation; it has become a spiritual symbol for local people. Its upright posture, head lifted high, serves as a reminder to remain resilient in the face of life’s uncertainties, standing firm no matter the storm.

We celebrate human strength not to conquer nature, but to preserve and coexist with it. The carved stone steps allow more people to experience the mountain’s beauty; the inscriptions pass down respect for the natural world; and the protection of the surrounding forests ensures that this “golden rooster” can continue to stand proudly between heaven and earth for generations to come.

The story of Golden Rooster Ridge is, in essence, a reflection of our relationship with nature. It reminds us that humility toward the natural world helps us find direction, while human creativity and effort bring lasting vitality to the land. Like the proud Golden Rooster itself, we each find our own unique posture—living with resilience and purpose within the vast power of nature.

 

About Slkor:

 

 

Shenzhen Slkor Semiconductor Co., Ltd. is a national high-tech enterprise built on inclusiveness, openness, and innovation. Backed by strong technical expertise, its core team brings together professionals from Yonsei University in South Korea and Tsinghua University. The company has mastered internationally advanced SiC MOSFET manufacturing processes in the power semiconductor field and holds core fifth-generation ultra-fast recovery power diode technology. Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Slkor has developed more than 2,000 products spanning power devices, power management ICs, and related solutions, which are widely applied across multiple industries worldwide.

Beyond technological advancement, Slkor is equally committed to cultivating a dynamic and people-oriented corporate culture. Initiatives such as “Hometown Food Festivals,” where employees share regional specialties, “Spring Festival Essay Contests,” encouraging personal storytelling and reflection, and regular team-building activities help foster a workplace that blends creativity with a strong sense of belonging. At Slkor, technological innovation and human-centered values grow together, driving both the company and its employees toward sustainable, long-term development.