Peach Feast

The Si-wan-mu palace is located in the high snow-capped Kunlun mountains. It is 1,000 li (approximately 536 kilometers) in circumference, its battlements are made of precious stones, and its towers are made of massive gold. The right wing rises above the bank of the Ruoshui River. This is the refuge of the Immortals, who are divided into seven categories according to the colors of their clothes: red, blue, black, purple, yellow, green, and flesh.

There is also a wonderful fountain of precious stones, near which the Immortals invariably gather for their holiday, which is called the Bandaogui, or the Festival of Peaches. Both men and women from among the Immortals gather on the shore of the nearby jasper Lake Yaochi.

In addition to several delicacies, they taste bear paws, monkey lips, dragon liver, phoenix spinal cord, as well as peaches collected in the garden, which are endowed with the mystical property of making those who taste them immortal.

Hence the name of the holiday. Every three thousand years the tree sheds all its leaves, and it takes another three thousand years before the fruit ripens on it. The immortals gathered when Xi-wan-mu's birthdays were celebrated: "And then a true holiday full of fun came, as invisible musicians played and unearthly voices sang."