Qingxi River

Qingxi River

The Qingxi River is now called the Baiyang River and is divided into Upper and Lower Qingxi. According to the "Draft History of Qing · Geography Records", the upper Qingxi originates from Qingxi, while the lower Qingxi comes from Nantaipu Mountain, both flowing eastward and westward into the river.

The Upper Qingxi is near Wanluo Mountain, one of the city’s famous scenic areas. "Qingxi Moonlit Night" is one of Guichi’s ten scenic spots just outside the city. In the 13th year of the Tianbao era (A.D. 754), Li Bai came to Qiupu, traveled along the Qingxi, composing poetry, fishing alone, and enjoying music. Faced with the towering Jiangzu Stone, several zhang high, and the beautiful scenery along the river, the poet was deeply captivated.

Historically, the Lower Qingxi was known for its exquisite beauty and abundant fish. In the early years of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty, a Hebo Office (a fishery tax collection agency) was established here. Liu Ji (also known as Boyan), a renowned statesman and military strategist, once visited the Lower Qingxi to meet his old friend Yao Boyuan, who worked at the Hebo Office. He composed a seven-character ancient-style poem in a fresh style, portraying the scenic beauty of the clear waters and lush mountains of Qingxi, as well as its rich fishery resources. In the mid-Ming Dynasty, a seven-story pagoda was built in the Lower Qingxi, standing close to the Baiya Mountain Pagoda, each displaying its own charm and further enhancing the beauty of the lake and mountain scenery.