Ninety-Nine Springs

Ninety-Nine Springs

In the Huotengxilie Grassland at the northern foot of the Yin Mountains, south of Kebul Town in our banner, you will witness the enchanting and legendary beauty of the Ninety-Nine Springs.

The small lakes scattered across the Huotengxilie Grassland are the so-called Ninety-Nine Springs. In fact, the number of springs and pools of various sizes densely spread across this grassland far exceeds ninety-nine. Some of these small lakes are referred to by a myriad of names, such as Shimen Haizi, Hongyan Haizi, Weimei Haizi, and Xiao Qinghai Haizi. In summer, the round haizi (lakes) look like mirrors. Clusters and patches of wildflowers adorn the shores of these lakes, big and small, creating a fairy-tale-like scene. Why are these haizi all round? It turns out that this area was once part of a prehistoric volcanic belt, where volcanic eruptions formed numerous “volcanic craters.” Over the years, these craters accumulated thick layers of black soil, grew wild grass, filled with rainwater, and thus formed the round haizi. So they aren’t actually springs, and calling them haizi isn’t entirely accurate either. Because the northern ethnic minorities, living in vast deserts, rarely saw bodies of water, any water surface was referred to as a “sea.”

Several generations of emperors from northern nomadic tribes regarded this place as their summer palace and retreat, often coming here to escape the heat and enjoy the scenery. The first emperor to visit the Ninety-Nine Springs was Tuoba Gui, the founding emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Successive emperors of the Northern Wei also came to the Ninety-Nine Springs. The Khitan leader and founder of the Liao Dynasty, Yelü Abaoji, as well as Emperor Xingzong of Liao, both came here to escape the heat, enjoy the view, and plan military campaigns. In the early Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi, while on his campaign against Galdan's rebellion, passed by the Ninety-Nine Springs. Impressed by the beautiful scenery and cool climate, he once considered building a summer palace here. It is said that he abandoned the idea only because there were not a hundred springs or a hundred varieties of flowers. Had Emperor Kangxi built his summer retreat here, Chengde Mountain Resort might never have come into existence.

The Ninety-Nine Springs also possess a magical quality: the water level neither decreases during droughts nor rises during floods. Legend has it that one year, not a single drop of rain fell on the Huotengxilie Grassland. The land cracked like a turtle shell, devoid of any vegetation, turning into a barren wasteland for miles. Yet the Ninety-Nine Springs remained full of crystal-clear water, nourishing the Huotengxilie Grassland, which stayed lush as a carpet, with blooming flowers everywhere. During heavy rains, the water in the springs does not overflow. It is said that one year, when continuous rainfall triggered flash floods and mountain torrents, floodwaters from the Huotengxilie Grassland poured into the Ninety-Nine Springs. Yet the springs neither overflowed nor drained, remaining as calm as a mirror. The Ninety-Nine Springs nourish all life in the Huotengxilie Grassland like a mother’s milk.