There is a saying in the Dao De Jing: "Man follows the Earth, the Earth follows Heaven," which means that Daoism views the human body as a microcosm and Heaven and Earth as a macrocosm. Accordingly, the structure of the human body carries the information of the structure of Heaven and Earth, with meridians and acupoints; the Earth is the same, having its own meridians and acupoints, known respectively as "Dragon Veins" and "Earth Acupoints." And upon these "Dragon Veins" and "Earth Acupoints," there is said to reside "divinity." It is believed that visiting places with "Dragon Veins" and "Earth Acupoints" allows one to absorb their auspicious energy, which is considered an omen of good fortune. So, what kind of "heaven-made and earth-matched" connection does Hailongtun, situated atop Longyan Mountain in Guizhou, have with the "Dragon Veins" and "Earth Acupoints"? To understand this, we must start with the veins and acupoints themselves.
Some say that China has 14 "Dragon Veins," including nine land dragons and five water dragons. The nine land dragons are: the Tianshan, Kunlun, Qilian, Yin, Qinling, Nanling, Greater Khingan, and Lesser Khingan mountain ranges; the five water dragons are: the Yangtze River, Yellow River, Huai River, Heilongjiang River, and Pearl River. As for the "Earth Acupoints," they have certain topographical characteristics—generally centered around an acupoint, they form a pattern of being backed by mountains and facing water, with protection on both sides. In professional terms, the backing mountain is called the "Approaching Dragon," also known as Xuanwu; the left protective mountain is the Azure Dragon, and the right protective mountain is the White Tiger; the main area of the acupoint itself is called the inner hall layout, while the area outside is the outer hall layout. Within the outer hall layout, rivers meander through, and there is a small hill near the front of the acupoint called the "Table Mountain," and far away, a high peak called the "Facing Mountain." Such an excellent "Earth Acupoint" is referred to as a "Feng Shui treasure land."
The ancients called Mount Kunlun the "Ancestor of China’s Dragon Veins," and thus, emperors of successive Chinese dynasties hoped to have their tombs located on Feng Shui Dragon Veins to bring themselves good fortune. Today, feng shui experts also believe that China’s "Dragon Veins" all originate from Mount Kunlun, and only the mountain ranges extending from Kunlun are considered orthodox "Dragon Veins." Moreover, on the offshoots of Mount Kunlun, there are indeed three imperial-level super tombs—the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, and the Qianling Mausoleum—which have remained intact for thousands of years. This may be a manifestation of the auspicious signs of the "Dragon Veins."
Of course, whether it's "Dragon Veins" or "Earth Acupoints," they are divided into hierarchical levels based on certain characteristics, so that people can receive corresponding blessings. The most fundamental criterion for measurement is morality. The higher a person’s moral standard, the greater their fortune, and the longer their family’s prosperity and continuation will last.
In Guizhou, located in southwestern China, there are also several such "Little Dragon Veins," namely the Wumeng Mountain Range, Dalou Mountain Range, and Wuling Mountain Range. Near the Dalou Mountain "Dragon Vein," there was a Tusi clan whose ancestor, Yang Duan, came from Taiyuan to Bozhou in the southwestern region during the Tang Dynasty. He quelled the rebellion of the "Nanzhao Kingdom," and after the matter was settled, the court ordered Yang Duan to "hereditarily govern" Bozhou, thus setting an example for the Yang family and marking the beginning of the Tusi system. Later, the Yang family was divinely ordained to rule for six hundred years. During this time, the Yangs built the military ancient fortress Hailongtun in this land rich in natural beauty, continuing until the early period of the Ming Dynasty. Because their family had performed good deeds and accumulated virtue for generations, bringing blessings to the region, Yang Duan’s thirteenth-generation descendant, Yang Can, also achieved remarkable merit—not only expanding territory but also educating the people. Historical records describe him as "filial, friendly, frugal, and naturally governed with leniency and simplicity, which the people found convenient." Under his governance, Bozhou saw a "great transformation of local customs" and became "almost indistinguishable from the refined culture of the Central Plains." Heaven, recognizing their family’s achievements, rewarded them by extending their family’s rule for another hundred years. This continued until the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, when the family’s final ruler, Yang Yinglong, rebelled and was suppressed by the Ming Dynasty’s general Li Huolong, bringing the rule to an end after a total of more than seven hundred years.
During the over 700 years of Yang family Tusi rule over Bozhou, the region actively embraced Central Plains civilization and introduced advanced culture, eventually transforming Bozhou from a "mixed dwelling place of barbarians and locals" in a southern wilderness into a rich and prosperous land where Central Plains culture blended with minority cultures. And when the nation needed them, the Yangs often stood up bravely to defend the unity of the multi-ethnic state. This reflects the Yangs’ deep understanding of balance and their proper handling of the relationship between "family" and "state." Hence, the Yang family was able to maintain rule for over twenty generations spanning more than 700 years.
So, what is so special about the "Dragon Vein" where Hailongtun is located? According to accounts, Hailongtun is surrounded by clustered peaks, with deep valleys, and Longyan Mountain rises high into the clouds. The valley contains the Baisha River, covering an area of about 5 square kilometers, surrounded by sites such as Tongzhu Pass, Tiezhu Pass, Feilong Pass, Feifeng Pass, Chaotian Pass, Feihu Pass, Wan’an Pass, Xi Pass, Yunfeng Tower, as well as ruins like Water Dungeon, Gold Treasury, Silver Treasury, Gunpowder Pool, Embroidery Tower, Drill Ground, and Quarry. It combines the majesty of mountain passes, the peril of ravines, and the beauty of streams and valleys, and is famed for its grand momentum and precipitous passes.
It is evident that Hailongtun, situated on the "Dragon Vein," indeed possesses an aura of fortune and blessing. Notably, Hailongtun was inscribed on the "World Cultural Heritage" list in July 2015. It has become the most well-preserved military ancient fortress in China and one of the most intact medieval military castles in the world, serving as an important cultural landmark in northern Guizhou. No wonder nowadays, an increasing number of tourists flock here—those blessed with good luck come to pray for its continuation, while those with misfortune seek a change of fortune, all hoping to gather and nurture various auspicious omens for their personal lives, families, careers, and studies on this "Feng Shui treasure land."
Great virtue is accumulated, thus blessings extend to future generations. The divine, following the laws of the workings of Heaven and Earth, and obeying the will of Heaven, utilizes the Earth’s acupoints to form a unified alignment of "Heaven, Earth, and Man," opening the channels connecting the three realms to allow their harmonious functioning—achieving "the unity of Heaven, Earth, and Man." The auspicious signs brought by the Dragon Veins across China attract countless tourists. And now, Zunyi’s "Little Dragon Vein" Hailongtun is also an "Feng Shui treasure land" that must not be overlooked. Just as locals say: walking through the Tusi city is like donning a "garment of prosperity."