The Cangding Large Well

The Cangding Large Well

The Cangding Large Well

Wells provided immense convenience for daily life and production in ancient cities lacking running water, giving rise to the saying, “Never forget those who dug the wells when you drink the water.” In Nanjing, a densely populated city, there were countless wells. In 1982, during a citywide cultural relics survey, locals provided clues to over 430 ancient wells. Particularly in the area west of the Gate (Menxi), where small streets interconnected and narrow alleys twisted around, there were many ancient and well-known wells. However, many of these wells have now been lost or filled in, and their traces are hard to find.

The largest existing ancient well is the Cangding Large Well, situated atop Fengtai Ridge in the southwestern corner of the city, and it is also the largest ancient well in Nanjing. Its name originates from the “Xiaojicang” (Brave Cavalry Granary), a granary storage site of the Ming Dynasty’s Brave Cavalry Guard. Due to this granary, a cluster of place names derived from it, including Cangshan (Granary Hill), Cangding (Granary Top), Cangpo (Granary Slope), and Cangmenkou (Granary Gate), with the Cangding Large Well becoming the most prominent landmark among them.

This well was built during the Yuan Dynasty and has a history of over 670 years. The top of the well shaft is narrow while the bottom is wide, with sturdy walls as solid as a city rampart, wide enough inside to hold dozens of people. Legend says the well is connected to rivers, never drying up even in severe droughts. Iron statues of Vajra guardians are embedded in the four directions of the well, standing majestically — a truly remarkable sight. The well is over 20 zhang (approximately 66 meters) deep, with the water surface only about one meter from the well’s mouth, presenting an imposing view.

In 1992, when Jiqing Road was expanded, the large well came to stand right by the roadside. The stone well curb is hexagonal, 55 centimeters high, with a well opening diameter of 50 centimeters. The area around the well curb bears grooves from the ropes used over the years...

...from drawing water; some grooves have worn deep into the stone by several inches, making for a highly striking sight. Ancient poets once wrote, “By the Brave Cavalry Granary, we seek the ancient well; at sunset, we speak again with the white-haired monk.”