Mist over the Grass Pond

　　　　In the area to the east inside the south gate of Hanzhong City, it was quite desolate in earlier years. There used to be a pool of stagnant water there, covering an area of about five or six mu. Rainwater from the streets and alleys gathered in the pool and remained year-round without drying up. The banks of the pond were wide, covered with lush, fine grass, hence the name "Grass Pond." Around the pond were ancient willows, clusters of green bamboo, blooming red smartweed, and white geese swimming. Amid the densely populated ancient city, it presented a unique scenery reminiscent of a Jiangnan mountain village.

　　　　On the right bank of the southern side of the Grass Pond, there used to be the Grass Pond Temple. The Nanzheng County Annals, quoting inscriptions in the temple, recorded: “It is unknown since when it was built, as the past is too distant to trace.” The temple had lofty and spacious halls and pavilions, with exquisitely crafted structures, representing ancient architecture that embodied the effort and wisdom of the working people.

　　　　Every dawn and dusk, the nearby households emitted curling cooking smoke; the surface of the pond was covered with misty fog. A gentle breeze would waft the mist through the bamboo and willow branches, onto the rooftops of the halls and pavilions, among the flowers and grass, and over the green waters of the pond. From a distance, the scenery of the Grass Pond appeared as if enveloped in light smoke and thin mist—this was the historical scene of the “Mist over the Grass Pond.”

　　　　Before liberation, parts of the Grass Pond Temple’s buildings had decayed and partially collapsed; the Grass Pond itself, due to years of silt accumulation, had been reduced to a small puddle. After liberation, the temple buildings were repaired and repurposed as offices for health authorities. A large number of residential buildings were constructed around the Grass Pond area. The scenic spot, once enjoyed solely by feudal literati, had long vanished along with the progress of the times.