Taoyuan Lake

　　Nestled among emerald bamboo-covered cliffs, a cave entrance emerges, flanked by a few peach trees. In early spring every March, the crimson peach blossoms contrast beautifully with the lush green bamboo, creating a picturesque utopian scene — this is the Taoyuan Cave Mansion.

　　According to the *Qianshan County Annals*: “Below the Xiantao Cliff west of Chazhuang lies a cave, surrounded by wild peach trees that bloom in five colors. The peaches are edible, and the place is known as Taoyuan Cave.” During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Taoist alchemist Zuo Ci practiced his arts here. Zuo Ci, styled Yuanfang, was from Lujiang (present-day Qianshan). The Taoist alchemical tradition of the Eastern Han’s Elixir Furnace School was passed down through him. Between 190 and 195 AD, Zuo Ci secluded himself in Tianzhu Mountain, dedicating himself to refining alchemical elixirs. From the Nine Wells River at the foot to the western pass of Xiguanzhai, his sites of cultivation and dwelling can still be found along the way.

　　In front of Taoyuan Cave lies Taoyuan Lake, named after the location. In ancient times, this area was abundant with wild peaches that bloomed in various colors, commonly referred to as Peach Blossom Spring.

　　The entire dam of Taoyuan Lake is over 70 meters long and 12.5 meters high. It was constructed by Chazhuang Village in Tianzhu Mountain Town as an investment to improve the tourism environment. Here, you can witness the rare sight of the Rainbow Waterfall.

　　Between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., sunlight shining on the waterfall creates a rainbow through the mist, which shifts depending on your viewing angle — a truly spectacular view. The lake covers an area of over 120 acres, holds 250,000 cubic meters of water, and has a depth ranging from 3 to 12 meters.

　　Surrounded by mountains and shielded by the peaks of Tianzhu Mountain, the lake’s waters are crystal clear and shimmering. The winding mountain ranges divide the lake into several sections, making the area seem like a dragon hiding its body while revealing only its head — boating here feels like navigating a watery maze, full of delightful surprises.

　　The most beautiful sight of Taoyuan Lake is the reflection of the Tianzhu peaks. When the surface is calm and mirror-like, the peaks of Tianzhu Mountain are mirrored in the lake, forming a grand natural painting of mountain and water scenery.

　　After the streams of the Tianzhu Mountain scenic area converge past Songjia Banqiao, they are called the Nine Wells River, stretching approximately 6 kilometers. With significant elevation changes, the river drops sharply nine times along the way, carving out nine large pools. Pearl Well — one of the nine wells, located south of Jiangjiapan.

　　Here, the river is wide, the current gentle, and the drop relatively small. The jagged rocks at the well’s mouth obstruct the rushing water, splashing silvery droplets that glisten like pearls. Hanging Pot Well — the second of the nine wells, features a waterfall only three or four meters long. The rocks beneath the falls resemble a hanging pot, narrow at the mouth and wide at the base, with unfathomable depth. Wind Well, Cloud Well, and Dragon Well — the third, fourth, and fifth of the nine wells — mark where the river makes a sharp 90-degree turn to the east-west direction. The drop exceeds 100 meters, cascading in three continuous falls to form upper, middle, and lower waterfalls. The water sprays like snow and jade, shaking the valley and startling birds and beasts alike.