Sacred Water Pond

Sacred Water Pond

Sacred Water Pond is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

Sacred Water Pond is located atop a mountain 1,500 meters northeast of Xing Village, Xinmin Township, Anyi County, Jiangxi Province. Originally built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1573–1621), it covers an area of approximately 4,600 square meters. Oriented from east to west and shaped in an irregular rectangle, the site includes a temple, a heavenly pool, a stele pavilion, and is enclosed by walls.

In front of the temple is a heavenly pool that neither overflows nor dries up throughout the seasons. It houses red-bellied four-legged dragon fish, and its waters were honored by the Qing court as “Sacred Water.” The red-bellied dragon fish in the pool were once bestowed an imperial title and a plaque by Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty, inscribed with the words “Dragon Peace and Auspicious Blessing.” The railings around Sacred Water Pond were commissioned and built in the eighth year of the Tongzhi reign of Emperor Muzong of the Qing Dynasty (1869), constructed from granite and remain well-preserved to this day. On the southern side of the heavenly pool stands a stele pavilion built during the Tongzhi era, which currently houses five surviving stone tablets. These tablets document the memorials submitted by Zeng Guofan, Governor-General of Liangjiang, and Liu Kunyi, Governor of Jiangxi, as well as the facts of the Empress Dowager’s imperial decree and the bestowment of the plaque.

Sacred Water Pond boasts a long history, rich cultural content, and significant value.

In December 2006, it was announced as part of the fifth batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units in Jiangxi Province.

Xinmin Township: Located in the northwest of Anyi County, Xinmin Township spans an area of 74.5 km² and has a population of 12,000. It serves as a key transportation hub at the junction of Nanchang, Jiujiang, and Yichun, enjoying a prominent geographical advantage. The area features a beautiful environment and abundant resources. Often described as “seven parts mountains and half water, two parts fields, and half roads and estates,” Xinmin is a mountainous township with layered green peaks, winding streams, scattered farmlands, and pleasant scenery. The highest point in the region is Tiezinao Mountain, with an elevation of 587 meters, while the lowest is the cultivated land near Wuxi Village, at an elevation of 20.5 meters. The annual average temperature ranges between 23–27°C, with annual precipitation of 1,700 mm and a frost-free period lasting over 270 days... More detailed information about Xinmin Township++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units