In the hinterland of central Guizhou, encounter the legendary story of Caotang
In the hinterland of central Guizhou, there is a thousand-year-old ancient town called Caotang. There are dozens of natural and artificial ponds scattered around the ancient town. Due to the land reclamation movement in the 1970s, many ponds were filled in. The filling of ponds and land reclamation contrary to the laws of nature often resulted in long periods of dry weather that could easily lead to droughts and short periods of rain. For decades, people have said that "a good three hundred floods will last for nine out of ten years" and "a good three hundred floods will last for three years". Among the dozens of natural and artificial ponds, ancient grass Pond, Longjian Pond, Malu Pond, Yejia Pond, Pu'an Pond, Longmat Pond, Golden Bamboo Pond, Pearl Pond, Tianxin Pond, Shuzhu Pond, Lotus Pond and Niuwang Pond are the most famous and are known as Twelve Cao Ponds. . The thousand-year-old ancient town is famous for its grass pond. In the early Song Dynasty, the Tusi regime Caotang and Pingyi Xuanfu Division were also named after the ancient grass pond. Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, the name Caotang has been used by people to this day, and the legendary story of Caotang has been passed down from generation to generation by the people of the ancient town.
The ancient grass pond is located in Datianba, Sanbainao, Huchang Town. The ruins are now a flooded pond 12 meters long and 10 meters wide. According to "Sang Zi Shu Wen" and "Weng'an County Chronicles" of the Republic of China, the ancient grass pond was several miles long, with wetland water and grass stretching far and wide.
, the beautiful pastoral scenery of fishing for silk at moonrise.
The ancient Caotang project in the "Qin and Han Dynasty Memory" area covers an area of 400 acres. The project includes Qin Dynasty Garden, Han Dynasty Garden, Bagua Maze, Caotang Ghost Square Plank Road, Caotang Post Pavilion, Qingfeng Tea Pavilion, and Ancient Water Projects such as cultural display walls, ancient grass pond pavilions, Zangda cultural totem poles, and ancient health care gardens are under planning and construction.
Passing through the core areas of the ancient city ("Tusi Memory Area" and "Ming and Qing Memory Area") on both sides of the Grand Theater, Tianxing Pond is located at the entrance to Mao Zedong's residence. The original Tianxintang tells the story of the martyr Ajin, but after research, the story is biased towards ghosts and is not suitable for tourism development, so its name is still used, but its meaning is based on its position in the ancient town, "Tianxin Sage" meaning.
Malutang is located downstream of Yejiatang (Xasi Reservoir), and its center is next to the Malu Village Village. According to legend, in the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty, Song Jingyang, the general in charge of the Wuchang capital, Zhaowu, marched south to Caotang, but was hit by a drought. When exploring the water source, the dew springs gathered into a pond because of the rails leading the way, and the horses stepped on them. Later, a stone horse emerged from the pond. People thought it was auspicious from heaven, so they burned incense and offered sacrifices, and named the pond Malutang.
Pu'antang is located in the Tongjingwan Group of Xiasi Community in Caotang, and is located on the southeast side of the Tourist Reception Center of Caotang Guyi Scenic Area. There are many natural exposure points of groundwater in Pu'antang, and the water volume is abundant. The pond water overflows and merges into a stream to flow into the Caotang River.
Yejiatang is now called Xiasi Reservoir. Long before the Xiasi Reservoir was built, there was a pond here named Yejiatang. Most of the residents next to Yejiatang were named Ye. The family surnamed Ye likes to grow tea. Tea trees are planted in front of and behind the house and around the village, so this place is also called the Tea Forest. The reconstruction of Yejiatang Xiasi Reservoir took 8 years to construct. In 2011, the dam was renovated and reinforced. The Xiasi Reservoir area is surrounded by pine forests except for the dam side. The reservoir bank is curved and there are many forked harbors. There are forests all over the bank, and the environment is quiet, with water birds dancing in the air, fishermen casting their nets, and the sun setting in the west, making the water and sky the same color.
Jinzhu Pond, formerly known as Jinzhu Water, refers to several ponds near the residence of Jinzhu Village Committee in Huchang Town. Jinzhu Pond, which originates from the geological wonder Pearl Spring, has a large amount of water inflow. Local people blocked the water to form a pond to feed fish and shrimp. Jinzhushui has three springs that gather into a pond and is also a main source of Caotang River.
Pearl Pond, also called Pearl Spring, is located in a field dam next to the Bayi Primary School in Huchang Town, Weng'an County. The spring is about 2 meters wide and 3 meters long, and it is still in its original state. The Pearl Pond has a large water output, and the spring water continuously gushes out from the bottom of the pond. As the water gushes out, there are endless pearls one after another, some big and some small. If you clap your hands with both hands or jump with your feet on the edge of the pond, the number and frequency of pearls will increase. The heavier the clapping and jumping, the more and faster the pearls will emerge. Therefore, it is also called "Xike Pond", also known as "Xike Pond". Flowers on the water.”
Longmatang is located at the Shuangshui Well in Caotang Community. There are two springs in Longmatang. The springs are overflowing with abundant water, forming a swamp wetland with lush aquatic plants.
This used to be the main water source of Caotang tap water. Due to the expansion of the town and the increase in population, it was abandoned due to the small water transmission distance of the pumping station pipeline and Yejiatang (Xiasi Reservoir) was used as the drinking water source. "Pearls" also emerge from the spring wells in Longmatang, which together with pearl springs such as Golden Bamboo Water and Water Flower form the Caotang Pearl Spring Community. Generally speaking, Pearl Spring is relatively independent. Only this area becomes the Pearl Spring Group, which is a very rare geological wonder and tourism resource.
There are three springs gushing out of Shuzhu Pond. The spring water is cool and sweet, and it is the source of drinking water for the residents of Caotang Town. The "bubble and herbal tea" served in teahouses all over the streets of Caotang Ancient Town must indicate that the water comes from Shuzhutang. There are two rivers, one large and one small, flowing through the grass pond of the thousand-year-old city. The big one is called Caotang River, and its source is Jinzhu Water at the foot of Gaitou Mountain. The smaller one is called Papaya River. Strictly speaking, Papaya River is not a river, but a stream. Its source comes from Wangjiachong. The amount of water flowing through Shuzhu Pond is greatly replenished, so Shuzhu Pond can be said to be the main source of the Papaya River.
Lotus Pond is located in the eastern suburbs of Caotang and is the nostalgic memory of Caotang. The Lotus Pond is named after the beautiful and unique lotus flowers in the pond. Next to the pond is the famous Caotang Middle School. The Lotus Pond is not only a lotus pond scenery, but also a good place for people in the ancient town to get close to the water. In order to protect people's safety, someone erected an "Amitabha" stone tablet next to the deep water. It serves as a "Buddha Town" and as a warning. Later, people called "Amitabha" a nickname for the lotus pond.
Niuwangtang is located in the Chenjiawan Village Group in the northern suburbs of Caotang. It is backed by a large slope and faces a mound. It is a treasure of local Feng Shui. The locals call this mound "Dangmenbao", and "Dangmenbao" is covered with ancient cypress trees. In front is the endless Sanbainao Dam. Behind the ancient spring, a mountain range gradually decreases in height in several steps from high to low, extending to the spring. According to historical records, there is a Tianchi in Caotang. This Tianchi is located in the back mountain of Chenjiawan. There is a pool on the top of the mountain. It is "more than a hundred feet wide and unfathomable. If the rain is clear for a long time, it will be clear, and if it is clear for a long time, the water will be turbid and it will rain." This Tianchi is related to sunny rain. The rocks echo each other and became a famous scene in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Caotang has witnessed the glint of swords and beacon fires in the South for many times. Along with the rise and fall of the thousand-year-old town, it is filled with dreams and legends, with rippling smoke and wind and rain, accumulating the rich and colorful culture and history of the thousand-year-old town. .