Black Dragon
Pool
As
the water is as green and lucid as jade, the pond is also
entitled "Yuquan" or Jade Fountain. On the bank
of the pond willows hang their withes like silk thread. One
can see arbours and pavilions beside the pond, temples hidden
in the trees and variegated flowers found everywhere. "A
tree of cherry blossom accompanies a tree of willow, while
a rose climbs to the tip of one of a tree's twigs." That
is how the calm and exquisite view of the place is described.
Longshen Pavilion on the east side of the park was built in
the second year of the Qianglong era of the Qing Dynasty.
In its five compounds are grown over 500 kinds of flowers,
their grace and beauty all defy description. It is therefore
praised thus: "At Yuchuan the flowers of the four seasons
are like embroidered brocade". Emperor Jiaqing and Emperor
Guanxu conferred on it royal honours for its famed excellence.
Deyue Pavilion was rebuilt in
1963. The poet Guo Moruo dedicated two couplets
to it. One reads: 'The vernal breeze caresses
thousands of willow withes, the view is splendid
only in this part. Three million jade dragons
fly in the heaven, so ravishing is nature's charm."
The other reads: "Thirteen peaks are reflected
in the Dragon Pond with diving dragons up in heaven
and flying dragons down on earth. Jade waters
flow half a li, with jet the body and turquoise
the soul."
At
the north end of the park there stands the famous Five-Phoenix
(Wufeng) Pavilion also called Fayun Pavilion, built
in the 29th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty
(T601). It is the main building of Fuguosi Temple, with
a height of 20 m. and in the style of flying cornices
and threefold overlap. Since the ground floor has octagonal
flying cornices, the threefold overlap makes up 24 angles;
so from every viewpoint the pavilion looks like five
phoenixes spreading their wings for flight. Hence its
name. The structure is built on a noble scale, with
elaborate carvings, redolent of antiquity and a strong
local flavour as well as distinctive ethnic colour.
The pavilion was originally
built on a mountain far away from the town. For
the convenience of visitors, it was moved to this
park and constructed by the side of Deyue Pavilion,
to the mutual enhancement of their splendour.
Its reflection in the clear water of the Jade
Fountain makes the view all the more exquisite.
In the 12th year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming
Dynasty (1639), the famous traveller Xu Xiake
came here on his tour and stayed for eight days
in the pavilion, which he took as a fortune.
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