Horse Running Spring and Fallen Hat Tomb

Horse Running Spring and Fallen Hat Tomb

Horse Running Spring and Fallen Hat Tomb is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located in Mapaoquan Village at the southern foot of Balingshan Mountain in Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, this is another Three Kingdoms relic closely associated with Guan Yu’s steed, the Red Hare, and steeped in legendary tales. The stone tablet “Inscription on Han Dynasty Guan Yu’s Horse Running

Spring,” erected beside the spring in the year

1840, explains the origin. The inscription reads: “When Liu Bei was besieged by Cao Cao at Dangyang, Guan Yu led his troops to rescue him. On their way through this place, both men and horses were exhausted, suffering from unbearable thirst and unable to move forward. The Red Hare Horse pawed the ground with its hooves, neighed loudly, and its loyalty moved the mountain spirit. The rocks split open and a spring emerged. The troops and horses drank, regained their strength, and quickly hurried to Dangyang to save their lord.” Thus, the spring got its name.

The spring is horseshoe-shaped, 85 centimeters in diameter and about 2 meters deep. The water is clear and sweet, and never dries up even during prolonged droughts.

It contains over 20 types of minerals, and mineral water branded as “Horse Running Spring” has been developed and produced locally. Adjacent to the eastern side of the spring lies Fallen Hat Platform. Legend has it that when Guan Yu was hurrying to Dangyang to rescue Liu Bei, the wind was strong, the journey urgent, and the horse galloped swiftly—his battle helmet was blown off by the wind. As this is a highland platform, and out of reverence for Guan Yu’s loyal and heroic act, locals named the platform Fallen Hat Platform. During the Double Ninth Festival, people often come here to climb the platform, pay tribute, and enjoy the scenery. The Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai once visited this platform and was inspired to write the timeless poem “Drinking at Longshan on the Ninth Day”: “Drinking at Longshan on the ninth day, yellow flowers smile and bloom; drunk, I watch the wind blow off my hat; dancing, I love how the moon keeps me company.” Beside the Fallen Hat Platform lies a large ancient burial mound, which is also named Fallen Hat Tomb after the platform.

Balingshan Town: Located about 10 kilometers west of Jingzhou City in Hubei Province, Balingshan Town sits between three ancient cities: the ancient city of Jingzhou, the ancient city of Ji'nan, and the ancient city of Wancheng. The town covers a total area of 114 square kilometers, with 55,400 mu of arable land, 18,000 mu of hilly and knoll land, and administers 18 villages, 3 farms, and 1 neighborhood committee, with a population of 35,000. Transportation is convenient within the area, with a hardened road from Jingzhou to Liaowang Tomb leading directly into the town. To the south, it connects closely with National Highway 318, to the east it neighbors National Highway 207, and the provincial Yihuang Expressway runs through the jurisdiction, with an exit at Balingshan. The telecommunications industry is developing rapidly, with program-controlled telephone lines extending to every household... More details about Balingshan Town++