"Three-River-Source" Monument

"Three-River-Source" Monument

The "Three-River-Source" Monument is a cultural and tourism attraction.

"Three-River-Source" Monument

The Three-River-Source Nature Reserve Monument is situated by the Tongtian River in Jiegu Town, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It stands 6.621 meters high and has a base covering 363 square meters. The front of the monument is inscribed with the words "Three-River-Source Nature Reserve," penned by [name redacted], and the back features an inscription written by former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Buhe, carved in both Chinese and Tibetan. Towering and majestic, the monument is perched atop a hill near the Tongtian River ferry crossing. The Tongtian River, anciently known as the "Yak River," flows through the Yushu grasslands and stretches 1,000 kilometers. It gained fame for being featured in the classic Chinese novel *Journey to the West*. The Tongtian River ferry was an important crossing along the ancient Tang-Tibet Ancient Road. The river is filled with jutting rocks, has rapid currents, and produces roaring waves that crash against the banks with deafening sound. Today, a bridge spans the ancient crossing, turning a once treacherous divide into a smooth pathway. On the southern bank of the Tongtian River Bridge lies a massive rock known as the "Scripture-Drying Stone." Nearby, ancient cypress trees are adorned with prayer flags. Legend has it that when the monk Tang Sanzang and his disciples returned from their journey to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, they were crossing the Tongtian River when the turtle they were riding flipped them into the water as revenge for not fulfilling his request. After reaching the shore, the group dried their waterlogged scriptures on this very rock. Though it is a mythological tale, markings resembling script are still faintly visible on the stone, making it a popular and picturesque tourist attraction in Yushu Prefecture.