Baytou Town Gecko Stone Carving

Baytou Town Gecko Stone Carving

The Baytou Town Gecko Stone Carving is a cultural relic protected by the Yangzhou Municipal Government.

Baytou Town Gecko Stone Carving

During the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, Yangzhou suffered from persistent torrential rains day and night over multiple summers, leading to extensive flooding of rivers and lakes and grave disasters. In an effort to pray for tranquil waters, a pair of stone gecko sculptures were placed along the riverbank at the northern end of the ancient Baytou Street, becoming part of the Huaiyang region’s legendary “Nine Oxen, Two Geckos, and One Rooster” water-controlling treasures. Now, only one gecko carving survives—it is made of bluestone, with its base measuring 1 meter in remaining length and 0.55 meters in width. Due to age, its head, right claw, and tail have been damaged. In 2004, the Baytou Town government installed a stone railing and an interpretive sign here.

Further Reading:

· List of the Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Yangzhou City