The Site Where Zilu Asked for Directions and the Ancient Ferry Crossing

The Site Where Zilu Asked for Directions and the Ancient Ferry Crossing

The Site Where Zilu Asked for Directions and the Ancient Ferry Crossing is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Site Where Zilu Asked for Directions and the Ancient Ferry Crossing

The Questioning Platform is located 5 kilometers south of the county in Guanjin Township, at the southern end of Guanjin Market, west of National Highway 106. It was built during the Spring and Autumn Period by King Zhao of Chu to commemorate the occasion when Confucius, traveling from Chu to Cai, had Zilu ask for directions here. It later fell into disrepair. In the 44th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1616), County Magistrate Wang Qianjun rebuilt it, “several feet high, surrounded by bricks and stones, square on all sides and nine meters across,” and constructed a shrine on the platform. However, nothing remained after the wars in the late Ming Dynasty. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, the platform base had again been buried, leaving only a stele inscribed with “The Place Where Zilu Asked for Directions,” which is over 0.5 meters wide and more than 2 meters tall. It still stands at the southern end of Guanjin. At the northern end of Guanjin lies the famous Guanjin Ferry Crossing, one of the Eight Scenic Spots of ancient Xincai County. It was an important water and land hub along the north-south thoroughfare from the Spring and Autumn Period through the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In those days, as evening fell, merchants, travelers, carts, and boats would gather here, filling the crossing with lights, the splashing of oars, and bustling crowds. To the south of the market lies the ruins of the Zilu Questioning Platform; on both sides of the ferry, rolling hills and winding waters are fringed with reed thickets and rows of towering willows. Observing these historic remnants and enjoying the beautiful landscape is truly a feast for the eyes. Today, the Ru River has been straightened with a new channel and bridged over, rendering the ferry obsolete. With the implementation of China’s reform and opening-up policies, to strengthen ties with economically developed coastal regions, the Xincai County Party Committee and County Government are planning to build docks at both Guanjin and Liancun, aiming to fully leverage the navigational advantages of the Hong and Ru Rivers toward connecting rivers to the sea, thus boosting the local economy.

Guanjin Township: Guanjin Township is located 6 kilometers south of Xincai County. It borders Xixian County of Xinyang City to the south, connects with Songgang Township to the east, and adjoins Zhengyang County to the west. National Highway 106 runs north–south through the township, while the Ru River flows east–west. Six old river channels are distributed among the township’s 13 village committees, with relatively good water quality. The township enjoys a superior geographical environment, convenient communication and transportation, ample water conservancy and power resources, and rich natural assets. It administers 18 administrative villages, 154 natural villages, 279 villager groups, 13,047 households, and a population of 52,000, covering a total area of over 90 square kilometers with 67,000 mu of arable land. The township government is located in Guan… More detailed information about Guanjin Township++