I read Ding Ling’s novel The Sun Shines Over the Sanggan River a long time ago, and even then I was deeply impressed by the Sanggan River. The Sanggan River originates in Shanxi, flows through Hebei, joins Guanting Reservoir, and then flows into the Yongding River before joining the Haihe River—it is an important tributary of the Haihe. Legend has it that every year when mulberries ripen, the river often dries up, hence the name.
The Sanggan River is an ancient river in northern China. It has nurtured the timeless civilization of the region, where the natural scenery is beautiful, the land along the banks is fertile, and there are numerous ruins of ancient walls and fortresses. Many lesser-known ancient relics can be found here. The Sanggan River is the mother river upon which parts of Shanxi, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia depend for their survival.Flowing across the lands of Shanxi and Hebei, the Sanggan River has given birth to an ancient and splendid civilization. Having endured wind, snow, and rain, it has also created a constantly changing landscape. With the passage of time, the Sanggan River is quietly transforming everything around it.
After visiting the Sanggan River many times, I’ve developed a deep attachment to it. My understanding of it makes me reluctant to leave, compelling me to return again and again. I listen to the breathing of the river, marvel at the wonders of the canyon, savor the changes of time, feel the desolation of the wilderness, experience the simplicity of local life, and enjoy the gifts of nature. Each time I visit the Sanggan River, I make new discoveries, have new experiences, and feel new emotions. If you love this feeling, take a trip to the Sanggan River basin—no matter the season, spring, summer, autumn, or winter, you’ll find joyful rewards...
In the early spring of 2008, the first time I visited the Sanggan River, I was captivated by the frozen riverbed and the gradually melting spring water. The barren land, covered with withered wild grass, was awakening from its winter slumber. Tree branches along the banks were ready to burst into life, and the flowing river water broke through the ice and surged downstream, bringing new vitality to the serene and vast wilderness.
When2013the first day of the year, the sun shone on the Sanggan River, and I returned once more to that familiar and beloved place.
I’ve been to some parts of the Sanggan River basin many times. This time, I went shortly after a snowfall. On the shaded roads, the snow lay thick and undisturbed. The mountain winds in the Sanggan River canyon remained as fierce as ever. The reeds by the river had been battered by the wind, leaving behind bare stalks. The river flowed slowly through the frozen channels on both banks. The cold weather made the area seem even more desolate, until a group of sand partridges foraging by the water broke the silence, revealing a tenacious vitality...
On several of my trips to the Sanggan River, I was fortunate to receive help from a farming couple I met during my first visit. In winter, the warmth of their heated earthen kang and the aroma of their delicious home-cooked meals made me forget the chill of the wilderness.
Many villages in the Sanggan River basin are still quite poor. Some families even use patchwork curtains and door covers made of scraps of cloth to keep warm in winter. As we go to appreciate the beauty of nature, let us also do our best to bring a bit of care, helping those in need to escape poverty, while also purifying and elevating our own souls.
The Sanggan River in winter is nurturing life and hope. I believe that the melting of the icy river into spring waters and the sprouting of fragrant green grass are just around the corner.
The Sanggan River basin has a long history, with the culture of the Great Wall extending far and wide—it is a civilization that will never fade away.
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