Black Dragon Pool


The Black Dragon Pool is a famous pond in the scenic Jade Spring Park located at the foot of Elephant Hill,
a short walk north of the Old Town of Lijiang. It was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty and offers a
spectacular view on the region's tallest mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, over its white marble
bridge.

The pool is deep the water is clear. It is surrounded by towering old trees and bamboo groves. As the
legend goes, long, long ago there were ten flood dragons doing great harm to the people. Nine of the ten
dragons were subdued and buried under an ancient pagoda in Guzhuang Temple by Lu Dongbin, one of
the Eight Immortals in Chinese legend. Only a small black dragon was left in the pool and was
commanded to do good to the people. Hence the name "the Black Dragon Pool."

Tow important buildings complexes in the Black Dragon Pool are the Longquan Temple (Dragon Spring Temple and Black Dragon Palace.
Longquan Temple, the largest structure in the park, was first built along the pool early in the Han Dynasty. The temple was enlarged and
reconstructed several times during the succeeding dynasties. Most of the buildings visitors see today was completed during the Qing Dynasty. The
Black Dragon Palace is at the bank of the pool, which is where memorial ceremonies were once held. This palace was built in the Ming Dynasty,
around 700 years ago. It consists of three halls and two courtyards.

In front of the two temples, visitors will find ancient huge ancient trees, namely a plum tree, a cypress tree and a camellia tree. The plum tree was
planted over 1,200 years ago in the Tang Dynasty. The branches of the tree spread out in all the directions its roots twisting crisscrossed. The
cypress tree, planted in the Song Dynasty, is a bit younger. The tree trunk takes four-five man to circle with their arms stretched out. The third tree is
a camellia tree grew in the Ming Dynasty. The three ancient trees add even more charm to that attraction.

People believe that the gods of the Naxi people are living in the chestnut woods, beside the mouth of
springs, behind the carved doors and below the bridges. The springs come from the god-protected
mountains and gather in this place and finally form the dragon pool. Then water goes down a waterfall
and becomes the Yuhe River, pouring life to the Old Town.