Yutian Old Dragon Pool

Yutian Old Dragon Pool

The Old Dragon Pool is located about two kilometers northwest of Huangjia Mountain in Yutian County, faintly visible from the mountain. It consists of the First Pool, Second Pool, Third Pool, Fourth Pool, and then a narrow gorge known as “One Line Sky.” With winding paths leading to serene spots and winding trails around the peaks, the surrounding undeveloped emerald hills and green ridges stretch far and wide. Legends shroud the Old Dragon Pool — mysterious, ancient, and full of lore. The dragon pools may not be old forever, but the green trees remain evergreen, and the site is somewhat famous within hundreds of square miles.

Nestled among verdant mountains, the Old Dragon Pool enjoys convenient transportation — cars can drive all the way to the mountaintop. The mountain folk are simple, kind, and hospitable, warmly and genuinely assisting passersby. They patiently and in detail answer questions about directions, which is truly touching. Hidden among the green trees are mountain dwellings, with houses among the foliage and people seemingly living inside landscape paintings. Surrounded by mist, it’s a heavenly corner of the world. Occasionally, the crowing of roosters or barking of dogs breaks the tranquil silence of the mountain village.

Surrounded by mountains on all sides, where peak connects to peak, the Old Dragon Pool features dense pine trees, wildflowers carpeting the ground, rabbits darting through the woods, bees and butterflies fluttering over blossoms, birds dancing on branches, and katydids singing in the thorny thickets. A stream babbles softly, and the spring water tastes sweet. The mountain air is fresh, filled with the scent of grass. Blue skies, white clouds, green trees, lush grass, and blue mountains stretch out under the high, thin clouds. It’s an ecosystem in its most natural state — with untouched mountains, primitive roads, and unspoiled vegetation. Visiting the Old Dragon Pool makes one feel young, as if returning to childhood; it brings joy, making one forget worries; it also evokes a sense of life’s impermanence, reminding us how fleeting time is.

The waters of the Old Dragon Pool are crystal clear, with fish playing and frogs singing. By the pool grows a patch of reeds, which feels quite rare — reeds are common in lowlands, but seldom seen in the mountains. This unique phenomenon is shaped by the pool’s geographical location, climate, and vegetative environment. After rain, the green mountains look as if they’re about to flow with color. The Old Dragon Pool, post-rainfall, sees waterfalls streaming down in all directions. Deep holes are worn into the stone slabs by the pool, and there are horseshoe prints on the rocks. Some say they were left by Xue Rengui’s warhorse, others claim they belong to Yang Liulang, and some even say they’re from Qin Qiong’s steed. In reality, they were formed by the erosion of rainwater, making one sense the mighty power of water wearing down stone, the marks of time, and the brevity of life. A scholar from the Kangxi era left behind a poem titled “Visiting the Dragon Pool”: “Cold and jade-green waters babble into the great river; it’s said an old dragon’s lair lies within. Friends, do not marvel at its lasting fame — it’s simply that the source has abundant living water.” The “living water of the source” refers to future generations. When later visitors read this poem, they learn that people before them had been to the Old Dragon Pool, that it was someone who recorded its existence, and who endowed it with culture. This is the earliest written record about the Old Dragon Pool that can currently be found, giving it historical and cultural significance.

Standing by the Old Dragon Pool, with mountain breezes blowing, you look up at the cliffs. The rocks are picturesque, in diverse forms — some colorful, some with beautiful patterns, some of fine texture, and others uniquely shaped. Some are exquisitely delicate, others ethereally graceful, all extraordinary. Shrubs grow among the rocks, with vines creeping and twining. Pine, elm, and cypress trees sprout from crevices in the stone, standing tall and firm, majestic and tenacious. Clusters of green emerge from the sheer cliffs, as beauty competes with sublimity. There are caves in the cliffs, like wall hangings unreachable by humans. Gazing into them stirs the imagination and deep thought — these are places that inspire creative thinking.

The Old Dragon Pool, a scenic gem of the Yanshan Mountains, is a wonderful place for leisure. Wang Dongyu