Chaoyang Mountain

Chaoyang Mountain

Chaoyang Mountain

Located to the west of Louwo Village in the northern part of Shagou Town, it is also known as Tianmuzhai Mountain. The Qing Dynasty’s *Yi County Annals* records: “Chaoyang Mountain lies about a *li* south of Jiao Mountain. On both the eastern and western banks, large rocks rise unevenly, facing each other like clasped hands, while the eastern foothills are bordered by the winding flow of Longtou Pond, which meanders southward. A sheer cliff lies across the middle of the stream, with fierce springs leaping across, spraying beads of water and snow-like foam, the sound resounding beyond the water. Nearby there is a large flat rock where dozens of people can sit. Many visitors come here to drink and compose poetry, and because it resembles the stone pools of Liuzhou, it is called ‘Stone Pond.’” The Stone Pond no longer exists today. To the south of Chaoyang Mountain lies Nainai Mountain. On the sunny side of Nainai Mountain is Yuhua Spring, and on its western foothills is Liangquan Spring. The two springs converge, flow through Nanchang, pass Yangzhuang, and then enter the Grand Canal. Chaoyang Mountain once had ancient temples, which have now been rebuilt with funds raised by local residents, attracting a continuous stream of worshippers. The mountaintop of Chaoyang Mountain forms a *guyue* (a flat-topped hill with steep cliffs), with nearly a *li* of sheer cliffs. Standing at the top and looking over the area around Shagou, you’ll be greeted by stretches of forest, chains of ponds, winding streams, and vast fertile fields—a truly refreshing sight.

Shagou Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Xuecheng District, Zaozhuang City. In the Ming Dynasty, a town was established with a patrol and defense office and a garrison; in the Qing Dynasty, it had a military command post before becoming a town. In 1958, it belonged to Lincheng Commune in Teng County, became Shagou Commune in 1961, and was restructured as a town in 1984. It is located 7.5 kilometers from the district government. Covering an area of 25.8 square kilometers with a population of 26,000, it is traversed by the Beijing-Shanghai Railway and National Highway 104. It administers Shagou First Village, Second Village, Third Village, Fourth Village, Dongwu, Xiwu, Guowa, Yangzhuang, Dizhuang, Panzhuang, Yuanhe, Qiaomiao, Qizhuang, Guzhuang, Lizhuang, Dongguo, Xiguo, Huanglou, Banjing, Guanmiao, Dutang, Lixu, Tangzhuang, Lilou, Pangzhuang, Ma…   Detailed information about Shagou Town++