Jiujingou Scenic Area

Jiujingou Scenic Area

Jiujingou is located in the former Longwang Village (now renamed Jiujingou Village), Aikou Township, Susong County, Anhui Province, at the junction of Anhui, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces. It is part of the Dabie Mountain range, covering a total area of 36.72 square kilometers. The area features towering peaks, uniquely shaped rocks, deep valleys, the Nine Springs where water has dripped through stones over time, the Fairy Bath Pool that is both picturesque and lifelike, the glittering Leigong Pool, the three-tiered waterfall cascading like white silk, as well as the breathtaking "Stone-Shattering Wonder." There's also a thousand-year-old Buddhist pine with strange forms, and the Dragon and Great Canyon, which remains unexplored to this day. A natural oxygen bar, rugged canyons, lush vegetation, tranquil surroundings, traditional villages, pastoral fields — the “Jiujingou,” said to be “as beautiful as Jiuzhaigou,” is a perfect destination for peace and adventure.

The valley stretches approximately twenty Chinese miles in length, with the entire stream taking on a ribbon-like form. It gets its name from the nine deep wells distributed along the stream from top to bottom. Its scenic highlights include waterfalls, cliffs, peculiar rocks, and most notably, the naturally-formed stone wells within the springs. Jiujingou boasts clear mountains, serene land, emerald waters, dynamic waterfalls, deep wells, and steep cliffs, combining into a rare natural landscape — an undeveloped virgin land. Yet, it was discovered as early as the Song Dynasty by the great literary figure and statesman Wang Anshi. Throughout the dynasties, poets and scholars visited the site upon hearing of its scenery and left behind verses of praise. The most distinctive feature of Jiujingou is its water scenery and waterfalls, which cascade down like silver rivers from the sky. Especially the waterfalls at the Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Wells are especially fierce, with roaring waves echoing through the valleys. The Seventh Well Waterfall takes the form of a three-tiered drop from a cliff two hundred meters high, falling straight into the pool below the Seventh Well. After rain, it can reach a width of three meters, making it a rare spectacle in southwestern Anhui. The stream originates from Tianzhu Peak at the border between Xiyuan and Zhifeng. Here, the mountains are green, the environment serene, the waters clear, the waterfalls rushing, the rocks steep, the cliffs sheer, the pools numerous, and the wells deep — forming a rare natural wonder in the world. Over a stretch of nearly thirty Chinese miles on a massive rocky plateau, a stream flows down the mountain. Thanks to the continuous erosion by the cascading waterfalls over the years, nature has carved out nine deep pools.

During the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, Xiyuan suffered from severe drought for three consecutive years. Fields cracked, streams dried up, plants withered, and crops failed. People abandoned their homes and left the region, and for a time, the area was nearly deserted. Witnessing this, the three Zhou brothers — Huize, Huijun, and Huisheng — who lived near the local Dragon King Temple, were heartbroken. After deliberation, they decided to risk their lives to plead for the people. They had heard that the main reason for the drought was that the Dragon King, deity of water, was indulging in pleasure while ignoring the suffering of the people. They resolved to journey to the Dragon King’s palace in the Three Wells Dragon Palace to beg for rain. They bathed, purified themselves, prayed, fasted for seven days, and on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, arrived at the Three Wells. Without hesitation, they stepped into the dried-up well bottom to explore the Dragon Palace. Instantly, dark clouds covered the sky, lightning split the air, thunder roared deafeningly, and the rivers in Jiujingou surged. Soon after, rain fell in the curved fields but did not touch passersby. However, the three Zhou brothers never returned. From then on, the region enjoyed favorable weather, abundant harvests, and prosperity. Their self-sacrifice became legendary, praised throughout the area.

In the fifth month of the fourth year of the Huangyou reign during the Song Dynasty, Wang Anshi, serving as a magistrate in Shuzhou (present-day Qianshan County), heard of this story and was deeply moved by the Zhou brothers' spirit. He decided to visit the site in person to pay his respects. Traveling through Taihu, Fengxiang Post, Meidun, and into Jiujingou, he visited households, spoke with travelers, inquired about local conditions, and observed customs. At the spot where the Zhou brothers ascended to heaven, he looked up to the sky and sighed emotionally: “Though their bodies ascended as immortals, their spirits live on forever.” It is said that the three statues of the Zhou brothers in the Dragon King Temple of present-day Longwang Village in Xiyuan were commissioned and funded by Wang Anshi. Traveling upstream from the Three Wells, Wang Anshi experienced the serenity of the Fourth Well, the charm of the Fifth, the shimmering beauty of the Sixth, and the majestic waterfall of the Seventh. During this commemorative journey, Wang Anshi spontaneously composed many poems, lyrics, and essays. Unfortunately, most have been lost over time. The only surviving piece today is the poem “Jiujing” (Nine Wells): *“Along cliffs and streams for thirty li I tread,* *Where rugged heights lie fallow, none to sow or spread.* *I grasp vines, cling to creepers, reach the rocky base,* *And gaze above where waters crash with awesome grace.* *Their echoes bring storms to villages nearby,* *Their surge rolls earth like mud in gullies nigh.* *Birds flee in fear, beasts dash in dread,* *Snow falls in summer, thunder in thunderhead.* *Country folk oft glimpse spirits, scales agleam,* *With clouds that drift as in a dream.* *I stand long here, yet find no sight,* *But count the rushes growing on the height.* *The imperial envoy bound the dragon, scroll in hand,* *The petty officer sacrificed dogs, wine poured grand.* *The land’s sharp forms are nature’s chance design,* *Not meant to rule the rain or sun’s design.* *Mountains and rivers may one day collapse and fade,* *Valleys since olden times both fill and drain.* *Who can promise that a thousand years from now,* *The Heavenly Pillar stands, and springs still flow?”*

Aikou Township: Where the mighty Yangtze River stretches vast and misty, and the majestic Dabie Mountains rise in beauty and grandeur — nestled south of the mountains and north of the river, Aikou is the gateway to Anhui, located at the intersection of Anhui, Jiangxi, and Hubei provinces, bordering seven counties. It connects to Wangjiang to the east, borders Huangmei to the west, neighbors Taihu to the north, and faces Mount Lu to the south. Geographic coordinates: 115°02′20″–116°34′40″ E, 29°47′20″–30°25′29″ N. It lies within the northern subtropical monsoon humid climate zone, with an average annual temperature of 14.5°C–16.9°C, average annual sunshine duration of 1,930–2,090 hours, and average annual precipitation of 1,250–1,430 millimeters.

… Detailed information about Aikou Township ++