Sandu Scenic Area

　　Sandu Scenic Area is located in Wuning Town, Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province, commonly known as "Dragon Head Gully." As a provincial-level scenic area, it lies just 5 kilometers from the city center. The area features towering cliffs, rugged rocks, numerous caves, and waterfalls cascading from the sky, making it an exceptionally scenic and thrilling destination. Known as the "Number One Cave Mansion in the South of the Yangtze River," it is a popular spot for spring climbs, autumn outings, summer escapes, and winter appreciation. Major attractions include: "Listening to the Rain Pavilion," "Eighteen Bends," "East Heavenly Gate," "West Heavenly Gate," "Mythical Clay Sculpture Corridor," "One-Jin-Silk Gully," "Bell and Drum Tower," "Turtle Rock," "Cave Hotel," "Huiyou Cave," "Tiger Cave," "Goat Horn Cave," "Lotus Pond," "Sixty-Six Steps," "Hundred Steps Cliff," "Lotus Pond," "Wangyu Pavilion," "Thousand Buddha Pagoda," and more.

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　　Among them, "One-Jin-Silk Gully" is the most beloved by visitors. This gully is a deep rock crevice that splits vertically from the mountain top to the base, about one meter wide and unfathomably deep. Legend has it that even if a one-jin (500g) ball of silk thread tied to a stone were lowered into the gully, it would not reach the bottom—hence the name "One-Jin-Silk Gully." Visitors often toss pebbles or set off firecrackers into the gully, enjoying the echoes that bounce back.

　　

　　　Sandu Screen Rock is located in the southeastern part of Dongyang City, 9 kilometers from the city center, spanning the low mountain and hilly areas of Wuning and Hengdian towns, covering a total area of 10.7 square kilometers. The area includes the Luoping Mountain and Screen Rock Mountain ranges, which are extensions of the Dapan Mountain range, with the highest peak reaching an elevation of 521.4 meters. The forest vegetation is mainly Masson pine, with some bamboo forests and scattered broadleaf trees such as sweet gum and camphor. The foothills and ditches are lined with fruit trees like plum and peach. Wildlife includes squirrels, rabbits, weasels, wild boars, and various bird species. The scenic area has a subtropical monsoon climate, with distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, and a pleasant climate, averaging 17.2°C annually. The area boasts layered peaks, steep cliffs, lush pines, and rich vegetation. It is also home to peculiar rocks, strange stones, unique caves, and waterfalls, offering stunning natural scenery. The region is dotted with historic temples and rich folklore, attracting visitors since the Tang Dynasty. The entire scenic area contains 98 scenic spots, divided among the Sandu Scenic Area, Screen Rock Cave Mansion, and the Lanting and Guanding Temple sites (sections), receiving over 100,000 visitors annually.

　　　　The Sandu Scenic Area was originally named "Dragon Pool Pit," established in the eighth year of the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty (867 AD). At that time, villagers raised funds to erect a statue of Shennong (the God of Agriculture) in hopes of ensuring bountiful harvests and peace throughout the year, drawing worshippers from far and wide. Legend says that during an ancient drought, a dragon, moved by the suffering of the people, defied the Jade Emperor’s orders and secretly brought rain to the earth. Upon discovery, the Jade Emperor imprisoned the dragon here, giving the area its name. To this day, remnants such as the Dragon-Slaying Platform, Dragon Bed, and Dragon Pool remain. The majestic Dragon King Temple stands tall at the entrance of the scenic area, having stood for a thousand years. The "Azure Cloud Cave" and "White Cloud Cave" are said to be the dwelling places of the Green Snake and White Snake from the Legend of the White Snake. The local Xu family, descending from Xu Xian, and the legends surrounding "Dragon Pool Pit" have made it famous for over a thousand years, remaining a thriving destination with endless streams of visitors, as recorded in local chronicles.