(Black Dragon Pool)
Monday, November 24, 2008, 7:43 AM
The Black Dragon Pool is at 12 kilometers northeast of the city. It has become a popular tourist attraction over 700 years ago in the Ming Dynasty. In fact, the place contains many attractions and the Black Dragon Pool is the only one of them.
The Black Dragon Pool was so named after an interesting legend. It was said that in ancient time there was a black dragon living in this pool.
Tow important buildings complexes in the Black Dragon Pool are the Longquan Temple (Dragon Spring Temple) and Black Dragon Palace. Longquan Temple, the largest structure in the park, was first built along the pool early in the Han Dynasty. The temple was enlarged and reconstructed several times during the succeeding dynasties. Most of the buildings visitors see today was completed during the Qing Dynasty. The Black Dragon Palace is at the bank of the pool, which is where memorial ceremonies were once held. This palace was built in the Ming Dynasty, around 700 years ago. It consists of three halls and two courtyards.
In front of the two temples, visitors will find ancient huge ancient trees, namely a plum tree, a cypress tree and a camellia tree. The plum tree was planted over 1,200 years ago in the Tang Dynasty. The branches of the tree spread out in all the directions its roots twisting crisscrossed. The cypress tree, planted in the Song Dynasty, is a bit younger. The tree trunk takes four-five man to circle with their arms stretched out. The third tree is a camellia tree grew in the Ming Dynasty.
The three ancient trees add even more charm to that attraction.
