Longxi River

　　It is the first river in China to undergo cascade development. The Longxi River scenic area, located in Yunlong Town, Liangping District, Chongqing, is 18 kilometers from the county seat and 10 kilometers from Shuanggui Hall, the ancestral home of the Southwest Zen Buddhist sect. Upon exiting at the Yunlong station of the Chongqing–Yichang Expressway, visitors can enjoy the picturesque scenery of the Longxi River. The scenic area is a comprehensive natural tourist destination integrating science education, sightseeing, and leisure. In January 1964, the brave people of Liangping fought against nature with the spirit of the Foolish Old Man Who Removed the Mountains, cutting across the ceaselessly flowing Longxi River and forming an approximately ten-kilometer-long artificial lake within the Yunlong area.

　　The beautiful Longxi River originates from the Liangping East Mountain Forest Park, flows through Liangping and Dianjiang counties as well as the Changshou District, and joins the Yangtze River within Changshou, spanning a total length of 230 kilometers. The riverside is surrounded by bamboo and trees, with fruits fragrant in all seasons. Fishing boats shuttle across the river, while flocks of birds fly about, presenting a quintessential scene of the Jiangnan water towns. The vast Yinja Dam Agricultural Development Zone on the endless flatlands adds even more charm to the Longxi River scenic area. The sweet radishes on the east bank and the crisp cucumbers on the west bank are premium produce sold to Wanzhou and Chongqing. In late spring, the emerald green cucumber fields stretch for four or five li, as far as the eye can see. After meals, families take strolls along the shaded riverside paths, wandering amidst the green waters, bamboo groves, verdant leaves, and yellow flowers, breathing in the fragrance of cucumbers and listening to birds chirping among the trees — a truly delightful experience. Boating along the river, visitors are greeted by rows of emerald bamboo on both banks, willows gently swaying, and towering black poplars and elm trees scattered everywhere. The Chongqing–Yichang Expressway soars overhead, allowing one to feel the pulse of modern life amid the tranquil, jade-like river. Less than 200 meters from the expressway bridge lies an ancient stone bridge quietly lying atop the green waters. Unlike typical flat bridges, this one features a semicircular arch with a radius of about two meters in the center, allowing passing boats to go through. From afar, it resembles either a rising sun about to burst forth or an upside-down bright moon reflected in the riverbed. On sunny days, holding an oil-paper umbrella atop the bridge with a gentle breeze brushing your dress feels truly ethereal. For those accustomed to the hustle and bustle of city life, walking along this intoxicatingly green riverside is nothing short of pleasing to the eye and refreshing to the soul. The dragon boat races held on the Longxi River attract large numbers of tourists. Major attractions include Yunlong Ancient Town, Dapingzhai, Shuanghekou, Tianxingzhai, and the Qili Beach Ice Potholes.

　　Yunlong Ancient Town: Originally built in the late Ming Dynasty, the town was initially called Shayajie and was renamed Longshapu in the 21st year of the Kangxi reign (1682) during the Qing Dynasty. During the Republican era, it was renamed Yunlong after a carved stone bridge depicting “a dragon treading on clouds.” The town served as a bustling commercial hub on the Xiaonan Road from old Liangping to Chongqing, once teeming with merchants and trade. Even more spectacular was the exquisite covered bridge built over the broad and bright Longxi River. The bridge was not only ornately carved but also renowned for the legend of the “dragon treading on clouds.” Having withstood centuries of change, Yunlong Ancient Town now presents an air of simplicity and vicissitude. Yet, its streets, architecture, local customs, and market atmosphere still retain the elegant charm of the past. Most shop buildings were made of wood and bamboo, using wooden frames or wooden planks for walls, or bamboo fences plastered with powder. Roofs were mostly gabled or hip-roofed, with gray tiles and plain walls, exuding a refreshing and unadorned simplicity. The old street is divided into upper and lower sections, each with distinct characteristics: the upper section features wide eaves up to five meters shielding pedestrians from rain along the entire street, while the lower section is paved with bluestone slabs, offering a cool and serene ambiance.

　　Ice Potholes: The Yunlong Ice Pothole Cluster is located at the Qili Beach Hydropower Station on the Longxi River. As boats approach Qili Beach, visitors are greeted by countless pothole-like cavities densely covering a massive rock face, creating a spectacular sight. Most of the cavities are oval or round, with larger ones measuring three to four meters in diameter and smaller ones just a few centimeters. Some are as shallow as a finger’s depth, while others reach seventy to eighty centimeters. Their shapes resemble mortars, pots, bowls, cups, or spoons. Some are uniquely perforated, with holes interconnected. Professor Han Tonglin, an ice pothole expert from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, conducted an on-site investigation on December 3, 2004, and concluded that this cluster is a rare geological relic resulting from Quaternary glacial movement, dating back approximately two to three million years. He noted that the Qili Beach ice potholes are river valley-formed and, in terms of preservation and density, rank among the best in Southwest China. Such an extensive, continuous cluster is extremely rare and has been dubbed the “World’s Number One Pothole.” The Qili Beach ice potholes hold high scientific research value for studying ancient climate, environment, global warming, and even human origins and skin color formation.

　　Taipingzhai: About one kilometer downstream from Qili Beach lies the renowned Taipingzhai Revolutionary Guerrilla Base. A solitary peak sharply rising from the landscape, its steep cliffs stand like a massive screen along the Longxi River. Spiral stone staircases lead up to the fortress gate — over a thousand steps climbing about 200 meters high, built along the cliffside. Though the majestic gate remains well-preserved, it seems rather small compared to the ancient and precipitous stronghold. Since the fortress walls blend seamlessly with the cliffs, from the riverside dock, the gate appears no more than a palm-sized opening, epitomizing the saying “one man can hold the pass against ten thousand.” Ascending to the top reveals a completely different world — lush ancient trees, dense shrubs, and courtyards interlinked, creating a unique scene of walls within the fort and a fort within the walls. Three fortress gates — Zhaoyangmen, Anlemen, and Shuidongmen — remain intact, especially the bold and vigorous regular-script characters “Anlemen,” which have endured over 150 years without any damage, truly breathtaking. Traces of ancient architecture abound. The courtyard once managed by the wealthy Chen Dingyuan over two generations still stands, consisting of six parts: the main hall, pavilion, fireproof gate, study building, theater stage, and grand schoolhouse. Particularly impressive is the grand schoolhouse built along the mountain — a row of orderly houses atop a nearly ten-meter-high stone retaining wall, integrated with it to form a natural watchtower. The entire retaining wall is polished smooth, with seams so tight that not even a blade as thin as a cicada’s wing could fit. Beside the wall is a large arched stone gate leading to a row of imposing stone stairs that descend to the inner courtyard, connected to the watchtower. During the Republican era, Taipingzhai was also a central hub for underground Communist activities in Liangshan.

　　Tianxingzhai: Tianxingzhai, standing just tens of meters high, rises alone and dominates the vast flatland. Especially on its eastern, western, and northern sides, the terrain is steep and sheer. Four fortress gates — Shengdeli, Zhaoyangmen, Nanjimen, and Beidoumen — can still be faintly seen. Standing atop Zhaoyangmen in the northeast corner offers panoramic views of the beauty in all three directions. This stronghold historically controlled the water transport of the Longxi River to the west and the vital route of Liangping’s Xiaonan Road to the east, making it a strategic military location. According to the Liangping County Annals, in the second year of the Jiaqing reign (1797), the White Lotus Rebellion leader Wang Sanhuai, leading troops across Bashu, had to take a detour around Tianxingzhai. Today, Tianxingzhai is lined with fruit trees and alive with flocks of birds. There is also a crystal-clear pond on the hill, surrounded by fruit trees and home to swimming fish. Staying in the farmhouse at the mountaintop feels like being in a paradise. On quiet nights, the sounds of dogs barking behind wooden doors and frogs croaking by the pond create a charm that can only be truly appreciated onsite.