East City River

The East City River boasts a broad water surface, with the widest point stretching over 200 meters. Originally serving as the moat of the ancient city of Hailing, it was excavated in the second year of the Baqing era during the Song Dynasty (1227 AD). The scenic area covers a total of 124.5 hectares, of which 51.8 hectares are water. Since ancient times, the banks of the East City River have been a renowned scenic destination in Taizhou. Among the “Eight Scenic Spots of Hailing,” attractions such as “Wild Geese Resting on Reeds,” “Phoenix Pond and Brush Tip,” “Southern Moat Fishermen’s Songs,” as well as classical gardens like “Hongyuan” and “Lotus Isle,” are all located within the East City River scenic zone. For those who have recited “The Yueyang Tower Inscription” with gusto, besides feeling an even greater yearning for the splendid scenery of Baling, one might also recall two figures—Teng Zijing and Fan Zhongyan. Teng Zijing, who was later “relegated to the post of magistrate of Baling Prefecture,” once served as an official in Hailing. During the TianSheng era, when the Wenhuai Hall was built in Hailing, Fan Zhongyan, then the salt supervisor of Xixi, was on close terms with Teng Zijing and composed a poem for the hall titled “Writing for Wenhuai Hall of Clerk Teng in Hailing.” The poem goes: “In the southeastern maritime prefecture, a clean hall stands in the official residence. Reading the classics of Zhou and Confucius, playing music that echoes the age of Fuxi. A noble man does not rejoice alone; my friends come from afar.” A carved artwork titled “Literary Gathering in the Breeze,” which recreates the poetic interaction between Teng and Fan, was installed in March this year on the north side of the East City River Pumping Station, becoming a new yet old attraction along the riverbanks. The stories of eminent officials, virtuous scholars, and literati have all melted into the azure waves of the East City River. Meanwhile, the ancient city of Hailing, having weathered the storms of time, remains exquisitely charming. At this time of year, looking down from a height, the greenery along both banks of the river is so lush it seems almost impenetrable. The shadows of trees and buildings nestle together in the water, unshaken by the wind. Up close, the red poppies along the shore are in full bloom, vibrant and brimming with the passion of spring. Then there are the weeping willows by the water, whose dancing branches hang delicately down, just grazing the surface before quickly pulling away—like a wine lover stealing a sip and then quickly looking around to make sure no one saw.