Boar Forest

Boar Forest

Boar Forest, located north of Guohai Village in Guancheng Town, Shen County, is said to be the place where Lin Chong, a hero from the classic novel *Water Margin*, narrowly escaped death while being exiled from Bianjing to Cangzhou. During the Northern Song Dynasty, the forest was infested with wild animals, and many people lost their lives there. Chapter Eight of *Water Margin* describes it as: “Withered vines layered like foot bindings, lush branches dense as clouds, not knowing when the sun will shine again, only the endless sorrow of wronged souls.” According to the *Guancheng County Annals*, to the east of Boar Forest Village lies the Tuhai River, and to the west is the Majia River. These two rivers were among the major waterways dredged and managed by the legendary Yu the Great during his flood control efforts. To the north of the village are three gullies (Yu Gully, Wang Gully, and Ma Gully), and to the south are three temples (Red Temple, Zhu Temple, and Twin Temple), making the terrain quite complex.