Ancient Gujing Dragon Spring

Ancient Gujing Dragon Spring

The town of Baiyi was densely populated, and in the early years, residents faced difficulties accessing drinking water. Adding to the challenge, the “Fragrant Distillery” consumed a significant amount of water, making trips to the river for water especially laborious. One evening, the exhausted Lady Zhang had a dream in which an elderly man with flowing white hair approached her and lightly tapped the ground of a low-lying area behind the town with his dragon-headed cane, saying, “There is water here.” Just as Lady Zhang was about to ask further, the old man suddenly transformed into a golden dragon and vanished into a myriad of rays of light. Lady Zhang was astonished, so she chose an auspicious day to dig a well. When they reached a depth of thirty feet, two clear springs indeed gushed forth from a stone shaped like a dragon’s mouth. Everyone was overjoyed, and construction continued at a brisk pace. In less than half a month, a water well was completed and named Dragon Spring Well. Its water was cool, sweet and refreshing—warm in winter and cool in summer. Drinking it refreshed both body and spirit, and lingered pleasantly on the palate. When used to brew wine, the water lent a naturally fragrant taste, yielding a uniquely exquisite brew that earned universal praise.

From then on, the town’s people drank water from the magical spring and enjoyed wine from the magical spring. Both the young and the old lived joyfully and harmoniously, resulting in a peaceful and auspicious atmosphere. The town flourished with talented individuals and a remarkable number of long-lived elders, earning the reputations of “Land of Longevity” and “Town of Scholars.”

While serving as an official in Yunnan, Imperial Scholar Wu heard a colleague from the capital recount a peculiar story. A royal envoy, sent to observe local customs, arrived in Baiyi and was captivated by its landscape. Nestled between mountains and embraced by rivers, the town was bathed in a sea of clouds and brilliant light, its scenery picturesque. The river’s waters were so clear they reflected the surroundings like a graceful and gentle maiden. As a breeze drifted across the surface, ripples gently moved, while the sandy banks, untouched by human footprints, were dotted with lush green grass. On this idyllic shore, egrets could be seen flying, swimming, or resting in carefree tranquility. It felt as though one had strayed into a paradise veiled in mist and beyond the mortal world. As he wandered, charmed by the scene, the envoy saw two elderly men catching dragonflies and playing on a verdant sandy beach—but they suddenly began quarreling. One of the elders muttered, “You bullied me. I’ll report you and get you beaten!” Puzzled, the envoy wondered just how old these two must be—and how much older their grandfather would be. He decided to approach them to find out more. He accompanied the old men back to their home, where he found an even more elderly man sitting in the main hall: snowy-bearded, with a face as youthful as a child’s, a noble forehead like a wine gourd, and bearing a striking resemblance to the legendary South Pole Immortal. The old man warmly invited the envoy to stay. Intrigued by the secret of their longevity, the envoy kept a close watch and discreetly investigated every detail.

One early morning, the envoy strolled near Dragon Spring Well and chanced upon two chubby children playing joyfully by the well. Suddenly, one of them seemed startled and—splash—fell into the well. Alarmed, the envoy rushed forward, ready to help, but no sound or struggle came from the well. Puzzled, he suddenly noticed two large polygonatum plants emerging from a crevice in the well’s stone wall. Their vines intertwined with the leaves of an old yellow-leaved tree nearby, swaying and draping gracefully. Amid the green vines and fresh yellow blossoms buzzed bees and butterflies. Occasionally, a breeze sent petals drifting into the well, releasing a subtle fragrance. Suddenly, it all became clear. “Ah, so that’s the secret,” he thought. Polygonatum has beautifying and longevity-enhancing properties—a plant that’s lived for a hundred or two hundred years can even develop spiritual essence. And so, he announced that a Fragrant Distillery should be built there. Before long, merchants and travelers flocked in great numbers. Drawn by the aroma, they dismounted from their horses or disembarked from boats, eager to purchase the famed liquor.