Yongzhu Spring

Yongzhu Spring

Yongzhu Spring

In Weining Yi, Hui and Miao Autonomous County, there is an ancient well called Yongzhu Spring. Built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the well has a history of nearly 300 years and is a key cultural relic under protection. The People’s Armed Police (PAP) detachment in Weining County is located next to the well. For many years, the detachment has taken it as their bounden duty to protect the well, guarding it at all times as if it were their own eyes, and is hailed by local residents as the “Guardians of the Ancient Well.”

The railings around the well feature exquisitely carved bas-reliefs depicting vivid and elegant scenes such as “Emperor Shun Plowing the Fields,” “A Lone Rider Travels a Thousand Miles,” and “Four Courtyards Await the Moon.” One night, a sentry spotted two shadowy figures sneaking toward the well. “Who’s there? What are you doing?” the sentry shouted. The moment he spoke, the shadows dropped what they were holding and fled. The next day, the officers and soldiers found a steel pry bar and a hoe near the well. Fortunately, the well remained undamaged.

The water in the well is clear, limpid, and crystal-clear. Local households use it for brewing liquor, boiling sugar, and making beverages. For a time, beverage factories and workshops in the town all drew water from the well, leading to a “supply shortage.” Some mischievous children, taking advantage of the low water level, even tried fishing by lowering nets into the well. The detachment immediately dispatched officers and soldiers to regulate water collection and stop the children from fishing or damaging aquatic plants. At the same time, they also educated the public on the Cultural Relics Protection Law, distributed relevant materials, and continuously raised awareness about cultural relic preservation.

With the continuous development of local tourism, many visitors come specifically to admire the grace of the ancient well. Some tourists, after viewing the well, wish to carve their names into it. The officers and soldiers actively persuade and explain to the visitors, and they have also brought uniquely shaped stones from nearby mountains to place around the well, offering a more appropriate alternative for visitors to carve their names or messages.