Tianlin Rhinoceros Pond

Tianlin Rhinoceros Pond

Rhinoceros Pond is located about 0.5 kilometers east of the People's Government seat of Langping Township.

It is said that over four hundred years ago, this area was home to a Yao ethnic village, and beneath the settlement lay a deep pond where a rhinoceros lived. On a hot summer morning, feeling the need for fresh air, the rhinoceros first poked out its horn. The horn emerged from beneath the family shrine of Old Man Zhao. Mistaking it for a bamboo shoot, he tried to pull it out but couldn’t. When he struck it with an axe, the rhinoceros felt the pain and suddenly rolled over. The entire village sank without a trace, leaving only the pond behind, hence its name.

The pond is gourd-shaped, covering an area of 400 square meters and reaching a depth of about 50 meters. It is surrounded by undulating earthen mounds covered year-round with blooming wildflowers and lush trees. About forty to fifty meters to the north of the pond lies a range of dark green mountains with sheer cliffs and towering peaks. On clear, blue-water days, the reflections of the sky, clouds, mountain shapes, and tree shadows create a stunning picture in the water. Occasionally, fish of various sizes leap out, rippling the surface and casting shimmering light across the pond, making the entire scene come alive — a view so beautiful it is truly enchanting.

Though no streams flow into the pond, its water level naturally rises and falls. Between winter and spring, the water becomes shallow, and sometimes even the remains of house frames can be seen. Even more intriguing is that the pond’s water changes color. Sometimes it’s emerald green, sometimes pale blue, other times light yellow, faint red, or even a dull ink-black. Sometimes the color changes only once every few years or even decades, while at other times it shifts several times a year or even multiple times a month. Occasionally, even without rainfall, the pond’s water turns murky on its own.

After the liberation, afforestation was carried out on the earthen mounds around the pond. A dam was also built at the gap to the east of the pond to store water for irrigation. The pond’s surface became wider, the water deeper, and the scenery even more beautiful.