Divine Ship Ancient Ferry

　　The Divine Ship Ferry is located near Chaoyang Temple in Shaojie, Maolan Town, Yun County, on the Lancang River at the border between Yun County and Nanjian County. According to folklore: “During the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Jianwen Zhu Yunwen sought refuge here after fleeing the palace and was sheltered by a local family.” The river at this point is about 70 meters wide, with a flow speed exceeding 5 meters per second. Local historical records state: “Turning eastward, it becomes the Divine Ship Ferry, flanked by towering mountains on both banks. The currents are fierce, roaring like thunder, and its depth is unfathomable.” The ferry crossing has less than 1 kilometer of calm water surface, immediately followed downstream by a waterfall dozens of meters high. Legend has it that even eagles flying over the falls are often sucked into the churning waters by the powerful currents. A slight misstep by boatmen could send the ferry plummeting into the abyss, leading to countless fatalities among boatmen and travelers throughout history.

　　Historically, this was the only ferry crossing within nearly a hundred li (approximately 50 kilometers) upstream and downstream of the confluence of the Lancang River and the Heihuan River. In ancient and modern times, merchants traveling east-west or passing through Yun County in Lincang region all crossed here, making it an important stop along the ancient post road. The *Newly Compiled Comprehensive Gazetteer of Yunnan* records: “The Divine Ship Ferry is located fifty li north of Yun County. All travelers heading to Shunning (now Ning’er), Myanmar (now Ning’er), Yun (County), and Menghua (now Weishan and Nanjian) would inquire about crossing here.” Legend also says that Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, during his southern tour, was ferried across by the local deity Gonglang Tuzhu and the city god of Yunzhou. The Divine Ship Ferry was not only a vital crossing in ancient times but remains an essential route for travel between Yun County, Fengqing, Nanjian, and Weishan, still operating with wooden boats and manual rowing. On the eastern bank, there are multiple remnants of old ferryman residences, and a small shrine is built into the cliff by the river. It once housed a clay statue of the “River-Calming King,” now destroyed, with only the shrine’s ruins remaining.

　　In April 1949, the Jingyun Bridge was built downstream of the Divine Ship Ferry, allowing for vehicle passage. In 1986, construction began downstream of Jingyun Bridge on the Manwan Hydropower Station, and modern transportation replaced the Divine Ship Ferry.