Sacred Spring

Sacred Spring

At the summit of Tu Mountain, west of the Yu Temple, sheer cliffs rise high. By descending along winding stone steps, pushing through dense thickets, and climbing over rugged rocks, one can reach the renowned Sacred Spring. Alternatively, taking the northwest path from the Qimu Stone is a more convenient route. When the Ming Dynasty’s Song Lian visited Tu Mountain, he recorded in his *Travelogue on Visiting Tu and Jing Mountains*: “A narrow path leads into the overgrown wilderness, arriving at a crevice in the rock, where a pool of spring water lies, its taste remarkably sweet. A thatched hut was built there, called the Sacred Water Pavilion. The water was used for rain prayers and often proved effective.”

From this, we can see that the name “Sacred Spring” comes from the belief that “during droughts, praying for rain by the spring always yields results.” Hence, the “Sacred Spring” is also known as the “Spirit Spring.” According to the *Huaibei County Annals of the Jiaqing Reign*, “On the western cliff of Tu Mountain lies the Sacred Spring. Old records say it is also called the Spirit Spring.” Today, people regard this one spring with two names as both the Sacred and Spirit Springs. The two characters “Sacred Spring” carved into the cliffside rock are said to have been personally inscribed by the Song Dynasty’s Su Dongpo when he visited Tu Mountain with his concubine and two sons. Nearby, the two characters “Spirit Spring” are believed to have been carved by Liu Zhongguang, the governor of Haozhou in the Song Dynasty, who prayed for rain by the spring during a visit to the Yu Temple.

The water of the Sacred Spring is crystal-clear, sweet, and cool. It never dries up even in severe droughts and flows ceaselessly all year round. Brewing tea with its water fills the air with fragrance, and using it to make Tu Mountain’s misty tea creates a match made in heaven. Perched atop towering cliffs and overlooking a deep ravine, the spring is surrounded by shadowy trees and clustered bizarre rocks, offering an environment of serene seclusion and striking beauty. On a night when the bright moon hangs in the sky and its reflection shimmers in the twin springs, the scene becomes transcendentally pristine—truly breathtaking.