Mishan Youth Reservoir

　　The Mishan Youth Reservoir scenic area is located 13 kilometers north of Mishan Town, covering a total area of 5.00 square kilometers. The water surface area is 1.138 square kilometers, and the built-up area is 5,000 square meters.

　　The reservoir has a storage capacity of 357 million cubic meters. The dam stretches between two mountains from east to west, measuring 1,750 meters in length and 14 meters in height. Its top is paved with an asphalt road that is wide and flat, adorned with pavilions, waterside pavilions, marble sculptures, and other embellishments. On May 4, 1958, it was jointly constructed by – leading 100,000 officers and soldiers along with educated youths, connecting the dam’s southern section with the Youth Reservoir residential area.

　　The Great Northern Wilderness Calligraphy Art Gallery is located within the European-style Yunshui Mountain Villa, with its name inscribed by the contemporary renowned calligrapher Li Duo. The 40,000-square-meter stele forest is the largest modern calligraphy art stele forest in Northeast China, gathering over 1,500 exquisite stone carvings of calligraphy masterpieces by famous contemporary calligraphers as well as veteran revolutionaries and cultural figures who once worked or fought in Mishan. The overall design of the stele forest is unique, with steles, corridors, pavilions, and walls in diverse forms. The ground is paved with lawns and white marble, forming the eight large characters “翰墨铸缘，书艺千秋” (Ink and Brush Forge Bonds, Calligraphy Art Lasts for Millennia), which blend seamlessly with the stele corridor.

　　The “Sacred Ship Stone Drum” is a large-scale combined stone carving in the Great Northern Wilderness Calligraphy Art Gallery. This carving consists of two stone drums and a boat-shaped slab. The stone drums feature small seal script calligraphy by the famous calligrapher Chen Lingtuo, inscribed with “金石乐寿” (Joy of Metal and Stone Brings Longevity) and “书画春永” (Calligraphy and Painting Spring Eternal). The boat-shaped slab is naturally formed, with one side inscribed with “瀚园击鼓、墨海行舟” (Drumming in the Vast Garden, Sailing the Sea of Ink), reflecting the relentless pursuit of the many calligraphy enthusiasts in Mishan.

　　Every cultural landscape has its own flowing charm — the elegance of Qi Gong, the boldness of Ouyang Zhongshi, the agility of Shen Peng, the transcendence of Zhao Puchu… Regular, cursive, clerical, and seal scripts each have their distinct styles, with diverse techniques and artistic essences creating a vibrant tapestry of schools. It can truly be said to be “a collection of elegant verses and rich calligraphy masterpieces, offering endless appreciation.” As the late former chairman of the Calligraphers Association, Shao Yu, wrote in his final words before passing: “Between the White Mountains and Black Waters, the landscapes of Mishan are picturesque like paintings”; and as Hu Chundong inscribed on a stele in the gallery: “Mishan is fortunate, its name elevated by the Great Northern Wilderness; the villa speaks not, yet the corridor amplifies its fame.”