Huizhou Jiulongtan

Huizhou Jiulongtan

Jiulongtan is located in the Tangquan Scenic Area, 25 kilometers from downtown Huizhou. The famous Qing Dynasty poet Jiang Fengchen once wrote in a poem, “I’ve heard of Baishui Mountain, whose waterfalls rival those of Mount Lu,” praising these falls as no less spectacular than those of Mount Lu. The cascading waterfall makes nine turns, each forming a pool, resulting in nine deep pools — hence the name. The poet Li Bai once described Peach Blossom Pool in southern Anhui as being “a thousand feet deep,” and Huizhou has its own “Jiulongtan,” which even inspired poetry and lyrics from Su Dongpo. It’s clear that this scenic spot is no less remarkable than other famous “pools.”

There is a beautiful local legend about how the Jiulongtan waterfall was formed. It is said that long, long ago, nine dragons were flying through the heavens. At the time, the weather was very hot, and as they searched for a place to rest, they spotted a place called Baishui Mountain, covered with lush green trees and cool breezes wafting through the air, so they decided to settle there. Due to the immense weight of their bodies, the surrounding trees were crushed and flattened. Over time, as the dragons writhed and rolled about, the land became more and more concave and deeper, and after centuries of erosion by water and rain, it eventually became what is now known as Jiulongtan.

“When the pools fill, the water overflows and cascades down in a sheer drop.” The lowest and largest pool is commonly referred to by locals as “Dragon Mother Pool.” Standing by the base of the waterfall at Dragon Mother Pool, you can see a stream of water hanging like a strip of white silk from the cliff face, with strings of droplets joyfully spraying out, winding downward from high above at a leisurely pace, softly murmuring as if the heavens and earth were playing a zither. One might say it captures the essence of “high mountains and flowing water.” Carved into the rock face by the pool are large characters reading “Emerging from the mountain yet unsoiled” and “Washing away the nine clouds of dreams from within.” The latter is quoted from a poem written by Su Dongpo during his visit to Jiulongtan. Both inscriptions were carved in the winter of 1935 by Li Yangjing, then commander of the former Third Army.

Looking up, visitors can see the nine dragon waterfalls descending from the sky, breaking through the barriers of the cliffs, leaping off the precipices, making nine turns, never once pausing. Each turn carves out a deep pool, leaving behind a profound mark. Then it surges forward relentlessly, gliding away like a silver dragon flicking its tail. In the rainy season, the waterfall displays a truly majestic momentum — “thundering and crashing into the deep pools, scattering pearls and jade beyond the heavens, as the dragon’s pool bursts through emerald glass.”