Ancient Architectural Complex of Peach Blossom Spring

Ancient Architectural Complex of Peach Blossom Spring

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Peach Blossom Spring is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Peach Blossom Spring is located on the south bank of the Yuan River at Shuixi, about 15 kilometers southwest of Taoyuan County, Changde City, Hunan Province. The area, spanning approximately 5 square kilometers, boasts picturesque scenery and is said to have gained fame due to the "Peach Blossom Spring" essay written by the Eastern Jin poet Tao Yuanming.

Temples and monasteries were first built here during the Tang Dynasty, flourished in the Song Dynasty, were destroyed by fire in the late Yuan Dynasty, and were rebuilt in the sixth year of the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty (1455). They were again destroyed by fire in the late Ming Dynasty. In the 18th year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty (1892), the Yuanming Ancestral Hall was renovated, and pavilions and towers were added along the mountain, named after lines from Tao’s poems. Subsequent repairs have been carried out over time. Existing structures include the Jixian Ancestral Hall, Peach Blossom Temple, Square Bamboo Pavilion, Step-on-Wind Pavilion, Moon-Exploring Pavilion, Water Source Pavilion, Chrysanthemum Garden, and Thousand Hills Field.

In 1959, the Ancient Architectural Complex of Peach Blossom Spring was designated as a Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the People's Government of Hunan Province; in May 2006, it was listed as part of the sixth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units