Wushan Jiulong Valley

　　    Inside Changzhen Yingpan Village lies a renowned natural landscape and historical site known as "Jiulong Valley," also locally called Shizhu Gully. It features four ancient fortress gates, nine natural stone fortresses, seven ancient workshops, and three ancient gun emplacements, serving as a refuge from war throughout history. Natural attractions include the Nine Dragon Pillars, Lion Cave, Nine-Story Tower, Black Bend, Water Curtain Cave, waterfalls, and Nine Locks.

　　    Starting from Wushan County town, drive 60 kilometers along the Wushan-Dachang Highway to Fangjiacao in Yingpan Village. There you’ll find a gate inscribed with "Chongqing Rural Tourism Poverty Alleviation Demonstration Area." Pass through the gate and drive another 2.5 kilometers to reach the Jiulong Valley scenic area.

　　    In the distance, a solitary peak rises abruptly, resembling a stone pillar – the iconic landmark of Jiulong Valley. Opposite the pillar, on the adjacent mountain, there is a vertical stone nest. Legend says the pillar split away from this nest. A local folk song goes: “Pillar faces nest, treasures like melon scoops hidden. To claim them all, just shake the pillar hard.” Below the pillar lies a winding, deep stream where crystal-clear water flows year-round into the Daning River at Dachang. Locals commonly call it Shizhu Gully. From a high vantage point along the gully, looking toward Dachang, the surrounding mountains rise and fall, interlocking like locks. This distinctive mountain formation is vividly called “locks,” and with nine layers of overlapping peaks, it’s known as the “Nine Locks.”

　　    Legend has it that when the monk Tang Sanzang and his disciples were journeying to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, they arrived at Shizhu Gully. Suddenly, thunder roared, and rain poured heavily. A dragon came rushing down from upstream, and behind it, floodwaters surged, submerging the land under three feet of water. Terrified, Tang Sanzang turned pale and repeatedly chanted “Amitabha.” Sun Wukong realized the dragon was undergoing its transformation into a flood dragon, causing havoc. When such dragons rise, the waters swell to match their height—but the Thunder God keeps them from rising more than three feet, or risk being struck by lightning. Just as the flood threatened to engulf the group, Sun Wukong plucked a hair from his ear, chanted “Change!” and the hair transformed into a towering stone pillar hundreds of feet tall, pinning the dragon beneath it. Years later, a temple was built atop the pillar, along with a pool that never dries up. Beside the pool grows a rare medicinal herb, guarded by nine small snakes. Hence, the pillar is also called the Coiled Dragon Pillar or the Nine Dragon Pillar. Why? Because on the southwest base of the pillar, nine protruding stones resemble nine dragon heads — a true marvel of nature’s artistry.

　　    Though it looks like a single pillar, its top spans an area of one mu (about 0.067 hectares). A mountain path leads halfway up the pillar, where a steep, towering rock offers a breathtaking view of the deep valleys and gullies below — rugged, steep, crisscrossed with paths, and dotted with caves that provide excellent hiding spots, making it a refuge from wars across the ages. Descending around the pillar and entering the fortress gate, you’ll find an ancient stone tablet with relatively clear inscriptions. The title, “Proclamation on the Collective Repair of the Fortress Gate,” documents how locals in the 26th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty pooled funds to repair the gate and defenses of Shizhu Fortress. Further inside, the fortress is surrounded by overlapping mountains and a network of intriguing caves filled with uniquely shaped stalactites rarely seen elsewhere. In front of the Water Curtain Cave, a two-tiered waterfall cascades dramatically down toward Luohan Bao, then flows along the rock face like a dragon leaping into a deep pool — locally known as the Thunder God Waterfall. The diverse vegetation throughout the gully resembles a natural bonsai forest, astonishing to behold. The pristine streams and nine interconnected pools add to the scenery. The area enjoys a mild climate year-round — cool in summer, warm in winter — and boasts numerous unique attractions. With wonders like the Water Curtain Cave and the charm of a natural forest park, visitors are enchanted by its surreal beauty and tranquil atmosphere.

　　    Shizhu Fortress is just 3 kilometers from the ancient town of Dachang and adjacent to the Dachang Wetland Flower Garden. Easily accessible by boat or vehicle from Wushan County town, it forms part of a circular tour route that includes the Lesser Three Gorges, the Thousand-Year Ancient Town, the Wetland Flower Garden, and Jiulong Valley — truly living up to its title as a Chongqing Rural Tourism Poverty Alleviation Demonstration Area. Currently, the site can accommodate over 100 visitors for food and lodging. Here, you can not only admire miraculous natural scenery but also experience the simple and sincere local culture.

　　    Jiulong Valley — Photo by Ding Kunhu