Mishan Youth Reservoir

Mishan Youth Reservoir

Mishan Youth Reservoir is a national water conservancy scenic area.

The Mishan Youth Reservoir scenic area is located 13 kilometers north of Mishan Town, covering a total area of 5.00 square kilometers. The water surface area spans 1.138 square kilometers, with building area of 5,000 square meters.

The reservoir has a capacity of 357 million cubic meters. The dam stretches between two mountains from east to west, measuring 1,750 meters in length and 14 meters in height, with an asphalt road paved along the top—wide, flat, and adorned with pavilions, waterside pavilions, and marble sculptures. On May 4, 1958, it was jointly built by [a leader] leading 100,000 officers and soldiers along with educated youths, connecting the dam’s southern section with the Youth Reservoir residential area.

The Great Northern Wilderness Calligraphy Art Gallery is situated within the European-style Yunshui Mountain Villa, with its name inscribed by the renowned contemporary calligrapher Li Duo. Covering an area of 40,000 square meters, the stele forest is the largest modern calligraphy art stele forest in Northeast China, gathering over 1,500 exquisite stone carvings of calligraphy masterpieces by famous contemporary calligraphers as well as veteran revolutionaries and cultural figures who once worked or fought in Mishan. The overall design of the stele forest is unique, with steles, corridors, pavilions, and walls in diverse forms. The ground is paved with lawns and white marble, forming the eight large characters “翰墨铸缘，书艺千秋” (Ink and Brush Forge Bonds, Calligraphy Art Lasts for Millennia), which blend seamlessly with the stele corridor.

The “Sacred Ship Stone Drum” is a large combined stone carving in the Great Northern Wilderness Calligraphy Art Gallery. This sculpture consists of two stone drums and one boat-shaped slab. The drums feature small seal scripts written by the renowned calligrapher Chen Lingtuo: one reads “金石乐寿” (Joy of Metal and Stone Brings Longevity), the other “书画春永” (Calligraphy and Painting Spring Eternal). The boat-shaped stone is naturally formed, with one side inscribed with “瀚园击鼓、墨海行舟” (Drumming in the Vast Garden, Sailing the Sea of Ink), reflecting the relentless pursuit of Mishan’s many calligraphy enthusiasts.

Every cultural landscape carries its own flowing charm—the elegance of Qi Gong, the boldness of Ouyang Zhongshi, the agility of Shen Peng, the transcendence of Zhao Puchu… Regular, cursive, clerical, and seal scripts each have their distinct style, with diverse techniques and artistic essences creating a vibrant scene. Truly, it is “a collection of elegant verses, a gathering of abundant ink art, with masterpieces and wonders offering endless delight.” As the late former chairman of the Calligraphers Association, Shao Yu, wrote in his final words before passing: “Between the White Mountains and Black Waters, the scenery of Mishan is picturesque”; and as Hu Chundong inscribed on a stele in the gallery: “Mishan is fortunate, its name elevated by the Great Northern Wilderness; the villa speaks not, yet the corridor amplifies its fame.”