Foreigner Waving

Foreigner Waving

Introduction In the middle of the Yellow River near Daliushu in Zhongwei city, there is a prominent river rock jutting out of the water. The top stone is round, resembling a human head, and beneath it extends another stone that looks like an outstretched arm. From a distance, it vividly appears as if someone is standing in the river, waving. Legend has it that during the late Qing Dynasty, a Western missionary first conducted missionary work around Lanzhou in Gansu, then moved on to Baotou in Inner Mongolia. At that time, there were no railways or direct roads between Lanzhou and Baotou. After much deliberation, he decided to use a local method—traveling downstream on a sheepskin raft.

The Yellow River from Lanzhou to Shapotou in Zhongwei is full of rapid currents and dangerous shoals. For safety, the missionary hired an experienced old boatman and set off on an auspicious day. Even so, he remained uneasy throughout the journey, constantly praying. By coincidence, when the raft reached the area near Daliushu, a large bluish rock stood in the middle of the river. Fearing the raft would crash into it, he ignored the old boatman’s warnings. Just as the raft approached the rock, he kicked off with both legs and leaped onto the boulder. The old boatman, using his pole, nudged the raft away from the rock, steering it downstream.

The missionary stood on the rock and waved at every passing raft, hoping someone would rescue him. Many boatmen wanted to save him, but the water was too deep and fast to get close to the rock. And so, the missionary remained alone on the rock, day and night, exposed to wind and sun, yet still waving continuously. Later, perhaps because the water level dropped, the towering rock rose even higher, and from afar—it looked like a foreigner waving to people.

Ningxia Zhongwei