Chaozhou westlake

Chaozhou Westlake, hill green with rely on lake, lake is blue with close to hill. is the moat of Chaozhou, with the west move of city build barycneter, here already become watershed between ancient city and new city area, also city tache that come down in one continuous line, on carry out “protect old city area , establish new city are” guideline, should give attention to two and progress together. if city layout of Chaozhou already oriented in landscape, so Westlake is a green garden of ancient city, can call the green bright pearl of new century environment protect city.

Westlake is a branch of Han River in the past, also is slender lake clashed by flood. According to 《Fang Yu summary》record: “Stretch in decade mile” build north bank in Tang dynasty, cut it away from Han River, become s wide and long lake. During year 758 to 759, emperor issue rescript, set 81 free captive animals pool and this Westlake is one of it (in the past foot of Westlake hill carved “free captive animals”, now at south side of lake center kiosk there is a pool, called free captive animals pool). Because cucurbit hill which is Westlake depend on, has a effect of protecting city, feudal official in past dynasty all pay attention to the build and dredge of it. Worth mention is that in Nan Song, magistrate of army Lin Biao and magistrate of state Lin Guangshi, they contribute to Westlake and cucurbit hill a lot. Lin Shiguang 《Dredge lake inscription》. In Yuan dynasty, Chaozhou chaos caused by war destroys the sights of Westlake a lot. At early Hongwu due to Chaozhou heavily repair circumvallation, use half of stone and fill the lake, called moat. Later ever rebuild some sight in succession. In Qing dynasty, because suffer destroyed several times, sight of Westlake almost destroyed. In year 1673, build middle city on Westlake hill, defend “three Pan” chaos. Resist Qing of Liu Jinahong make Westlake become army fort of dig moat, enclose fence and set emplacement. at nation period occupy as private garden by Hong Zhaolin---“Hong Garden”. so someone summarize brief history of Westlake as: begin from Tang, famous in Song, destroyed in Yuan, prosperous in Ming, waste in Qing.

Here except “Westlake fish raft” which is full of poetry, along lake to downhill, key points of interests and famous historical sites, pavilion and kiosk can be found everywhere, some is nature of inertest, some manpower carve, should adorn Westlake into “beauty can be eat” garden. And every sight has a elegant name, such as “Ancient cave and Buddha light”, “narcissus night moon”, “Plum manor new snow”, “Purple bamboo and bell”, “fishing stage autumn sight” etc. Now most is no trace to seek, but those appealing legend also take delight in talking about. Most possess legend color is “quick cave” and inscription under Shouan rock. Behind “Li Gong kiosk”, there is a narrow and long stone cave; not enough 3 meters high but can hold more than ten people. Enter from one end near “Li Gong kiosk”, along narrow and long cave path to another exit, also engraved ease poem on stone wall, this cave called “Quick cave” it is said in year 1592, someone visit here and thinking about how to name this cave, suddenly see a child fall into the lake, hurry go to save him, so name it “quick cave”. Inside there are carved stone that narrative that incident: “September 3rd of Wanli, Lin Qiaoshong, Zhang Zhike, Liu Xingxue, Chen Ming climb here, see a little child drown in lake, and save him.” this maybe engraved by kinfolks of little child in order to thank this four “hero”.

Shouan rock is on north of quick cave, structure is unique, odd stone lap over and tree is luxuriant, like a huge gardens bonsai. Rock carved “Shouan rock” and some adversaria stone inscription. Most interesting is rock wall is flat and straight, like cut by sword. on this stone wall carved two rows of poem: “guest come and cypress is jade green, someone is inferior to the clear of lake.” stone in front of rock is converse horizontally, carved name of twelve successful candidate on it, also some people call it “successful candidate stone”, this name also lie horizontally, look roughly is natural fall, indeed it hides a legend afford for thought.

It is said this fall stone former is on link on Shouan rock. Due to the landscape here is very beautiful, at the end of Ming dynasty twelve successful candidates settle on this geomantic omen treasure place, and carved their name on the flat stone in front of rock, want to on the scroll of fame. However later Qing army enter the pass and Ming dynasty subjugate, most of this successful candidate in order to get fame and money, throw to court when national calamity is near and the land of country is break, act as bureaucracy of Qing dynasty. at that time, Chaozhou is at not Ming and mot Qing dynasty period, every time Chaozhou people pass through here and point to stone and execrate the people surrender to Qing.

For a long time, rock even feels shame together with this people. it is said during Kangxi period, stormy night, thunder and lightening, one sound “Honglong”, rock is burst apart, that stone carved by twelve successful candidate, like suffer sword hack, fall off at the foot of rock from altitude, half buried into earth and this name need to look horica

At cut of stone after split, Chao people see former mention poem. Roughly read like general poem that praise the sight, but taste carefully has other moral: accent of “Shan Bo Cui” is near “Shan Po shui”, “Dong Hu Qing” is partial tone as “Tong Hu Qing”. Look at the handwriting, and like carved inside before crack. On earth who dare to carve so “traitorous” poem, nobody can say, so only can call it “immortal guest inscribe”. In fact this is just a legend, among twelve successful candidate, Lin Xuchun in Ming dynasty, he is , later minister of , after return to hometown benefit people, start construction irrigation works, initiate east river rapid water tower, do lots of benefit things for people, died when he is 80 years old, and not benefit the court.

Visiting Westlake might as well have a look at lotus pool, here maze is quiet and water lili flow fragrant, possess Shuzhou gardens lingering charm. at north end of lotus kiosk there is a “unique stone hall”, showing nature’s astonish skill. west kiosk bridge is Westlake garden management, left wall of cabin beside is rather thick, there are blue embed porcelain “Shouan ancient wall” on the wall, this ancient wall has a more than 360 history and also concealed a romaunt.

At early Song dynasty, here former is state study address, later state study moves to gold hill in city, here becoming “Jinghui temple”. Soldiers in Ming dynasty destroy Jinghiu temple, rebuild in year 1593, renamed Shouan temple. one year magistrate of Haiyang Gao doubt that his concubine bawdry with the monk of the temple, grudge in his heart, and poison his concubine to death in secret, send coffin in temple, and say there are jewelry buried with the dead. later ask a criminal awaiting for execution hide in temple and steal the jewelry and out in habitation of shaman, magistrate of county ambuscade with soldier and besiege the temple, arrest the shaman, judge them steal jewelry in the coffin and destroy the temple, only exist one wall. Some people build a small temple on this wall in Qing dynasty, named Jiu Tianniang temple, and Jiu Tianniang temple collapse in 1924. Now, here becomes a flavor restaurant for visitor enjoys Westlake fish and Chaozhou dish.

Along this dish restaurant walk about 10 meters northward, is the most famous “virgin fount” of Westlake. Virgin fount cave like a well, is three Chi deep, fountain is extremely clear and mellow. Before inaugurating the lake, because here is a slope, mouth of spring in hillside and brushwood like a virgin that live in dell and shame of meeting with people, so call it “virgin fount”. Chaozhou people like tasting Kongfu tea, especially employ people get fountain here, it is said use this fountain to cook tea is especially pleasant and fragrant, no mixed taste. in the past Chao people Lin Dachuan tasting tea here, a poem write: “don’t know triphibian bird come here, taste which number fount in the world?” and make virgin fount is more famous. now garden employee manage Chaozhou masterwork phoenix tea seat, famous tea match first-grade fountain, let visitor drink tea here can relax thinking and have a good rest, enjoy astonish sights of Westlake and Chaozhou Kongfu tea art, at the same time, can hear some legend about marvelous spectacle of Westlake, make you on the scoop.