Cold Ravine’s Hanging Rainbow

Cold Ravine’s Hanging Rainbow

In the southeastern corner of Mengcheng County, there is a north-south water ditch connected to the moat around the city, called “Cold Ravine.” The water is crystal clear and gurgles softly as it flows. After rain when the sky clears, a rainbow often appears above the ravine. It reflects in the water, setting off the moist and pristine landscape of the earth — a particularly delightful sight. Legend has it that there was once a child bride who often went to the Cold Ravine in the freezing snow to break the ice and wash clothes. Her hands cracked and bled, staining the stream red, which turned into a rainbow. The child bride then ascended the rainbow and ascended to heaven. A Qing Dynasty poet, Tian Benpei, wrote:

A hundred-foot rainbow’s shadow,

Lingers cold in the chill spring.