Scenic View of Dragon Bed

Scenic View of Dragon Bed

Travel west along the road in front of the former Banhu Township government, pass through Wuhou Village, and after about 2 kilometers, you’ll see an ancient stone bridge. Cross the bridge and head south, then follow a rugged path along the edge of the mountain for another 200 meters to reach the Scenic View of Dragon Bed. This attraction consists of three parts: the Dragon Bed Waterfall, Dragon Bed Rocks, and Dragon Bed Gorge.

The Dragon Bed Waterfall is 35 meters wide and 13 meters high. From a distance, it looks like a white silk ribbon hanging in the mountain valley. Above the waterfall, the water is as green as sapphire, with the beautiful scenery on both banks reflected in the water, creating a picturesque scene. Below the waterfall, the water flows gently, and the granite rocks are smooth and clean, with fish clearly visible in the water. On the lower part of the cliff to the south of the waterfall, there is a large square rock that is 10 meters long and 5 meters wide. The surface of the rock is flat and smooth, and the waterfall flows down over it, forming a smaller waterfall that complements the larger one, creating a charming sight. This is the legendary “Dragon Bed.” According to legend, Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu, raised an army to fight against Wang Mang. Outnumbered and defeated, he retreated to the Wudaoju Mountain area. Riding alone, he broke through the encirclement and arrived at Wuhou Village in the former Banhu Township. Liu Xiu noticed that Wu Han, a general of Wang Mang, was leading troops straight toward him. Thinking quickly, Liu Xiu descended into the mountain stream and suddenly discovered a broad rock under the cliffs on the east bank of the stream. It could shelter him from the sun above and keep the water out below — a perfect hiding place in a desperate situation. He hid his warhorse and crouched alone on the rock without daring to move. Coincidentally, thick fog rose at that moment, completely covering the mountain stream. When Wang Mang’s pursuing troops arrived, they couldn’t find any trace of Liu Xiu and had no choice but to head south. Liu Xiu narrowly escaped again. Later, locals named this large rock where Liu Xiu had lain the “Dragon Bed.”

On both sides of the Dragon Bed, various uniquely shaped rocks stand in great numbers. Some resemble sharp swords, some look like jade rabbits, and others like golden monkeys. Upstream of the waterfall, there are three dazzling large granite rocks. One of them stands flat by the water and is called Fishing Rock. Legend has it that Jiang Ziya once fished here with a straight hook. Another rock resembles an upright turtle, looking back as half of its body hangs in midair while the other half is submerged, and is called Turtle Rock. The third rock looks like a general standing guard for Emperor Guangwu and is named General Rock.

Below the waterfall lies the Dragon Bed Gorge, stretching 2,500 meters with six winding turns. The waterfall flows down through the gorge toward the Dashuhe River in Yicheng. The entire gorge is wonderfully diverse, with winding paths and secluded beauty. Unique rocks line both sides of the gorge, and birds chirp in the valley. The air is fragrant with flowers and fruits, creating a delightful landscape. In summer, springs gurgle through the valley, mist rises, and the bottom of the gorge remains cool and pleasant, making it an ideal spot for summer retreats and leisure.