Ancient Stone Quarry Site of Shanghua Mountain

Ancient Stone Quarry Site of Shanghua Mountain

The Ancient Stone Quarry Site of Shanghua Mountain is a cultural relic protection unit of Haishu District.

The Ancient Stone Quarry Site of Shanghua Mountain, also known as Guangxi Pond, is located on the mountaintop north of Yanjiang Village in Yanjiang Town, Haishu District. It connects to Maojiadang and Tiantadang in Guangxi Village. Analysis of the stonework from Hongshuiwan Pond, located about a mile east of Tashan Weir, suggests that the stone came from Shanghua Mountain. As such, it is inferred that the construction of Hongshuiwan Pond, built in the third year of the Chunyou era during the Song Dynasty (1243), indicates that the quarrying history of Shanghua Mountain dates back to the late Southern Song Dynasty.

This mountain stretches several miles from east to west, serving as the main source of stone blocks for Guangxi Pond during the Ming and Qing dynasties in Ningbo.

The quarry openings connect from north to south, reaching nearly ten meters in height. The southern entrance features numerous stone pillars standing densely, resembling the grandeur of the Colosseum in ancient Rome when viewed from afar. Extending over a hundred zhang in depth, the site features crisscrossing passages that twist and turn, capable of accommodating a thousand people. To the east of the southern entrance, water has accumulated into a pool spanning about a hundred meters in diameter, deep enough for boats to navigate. Analysis of the stone texture, color, and the remaining stone beams within the cave suggests that the stone beams used in Hongshuiwan Pond and Guanchi Pond were quarried here.

The Shanghua Mountain quarry has a long history of extraction, and its various-sized quarry openings are a testament to the diligence and wisdom of the ancestors of the people of Yanjiang. They hold significant historical value and research merit for the study of the development of Ningbo’s architectural history. In September 2010, it was designated as the ninth batch of district-level cultural relic protection units in Yinzhou District. In 2016, following the adjustment of Ningbo’s administrative divisions, it was placed under the jurisdiction of Haishu District.