Black Dragon Pool
» Kunming, Yun Nan

黑龙潭 '两树梅花一潭水,四时烟雨半山云'

Heilongtan

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.

What to visit

Black Dragon Pool

An ancient legend lends the Black Dragon Pool its name; it is said that a long time ago there were ten wicked dragons that caused much destruction and did great harm to people. One day, one of the Eight Immortals of the Chinese legend "Lu Dongbin" subdued nine of the dragons and jailed them in a tower. Only the youngest black dragon was left, charging with protecting and benefiting the people as the price of its freedom. This dragon is believed living in the Black Dragon Pool till today.

The pool is divided into two parts by a bridge, and although the water is connected, the two sides are different colors and the fish in either side never swim to the opposite part of the pool. Moreover, for hundreds of years, this wondrous pool has never dried up, even in drought years.

Black Dragon Palace

Near the Black Dragon Pool is the Black Dragon Palace, which was built in 1394 (in the reign of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty) and rebuilt in 1454 (in the reign of Emperor Jingtai of the Ming Dynasty). The whole palace consists of three halls and two courtyards, and the main hall features a stone plaque written by the governor of Yunnan in the Qing Dynasty to praise the views here.

Dragon Spring Temple

The Black Dragon Palace is also called the Lower Temple, because when you walk along the stone steps, you come directly to the Upper Temple - the Dragon Spring Temple - which is hidden among ancient trees.

History

Drangon Spring 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 today were completed during the Qing Dynasty.

Halls

The temple includes Thunder Deity Hall, North Pole Hall, Sanqing Hall, Jade Emperor Hall and some other halls where the deities of Taoism are worshiped. The Dragon Spring Temple is the largest Taoist temple in southern China.

Three huge and ancient trees

In front of the two temples stand three huge and ancient trees, namely the Tang Dynastic Plum, the Song Dynastic Cypress and the Ming Dynastic Camellia.

  • Plum tree
    The plum tree was planted over 1,200 years ago in the Tang Dynasty. The main branch of the plum has already died of old age, but the branches of the tree spread out in all the directions full of vital force and vigor. Its roots twist crisscrossed.
  • Cypress tree
    The cypress tree, planted in the Song Dynasty, is a bit younger. The 25-meter-high (82 feet) cypress has a very thick trunk - so thick that it takes four or five adults with linked arms to encircle it.
  • Camellia
    The camellia planted in the Ming Dynasty is a prodigious tree which blossoms every year and always precedes the other camellias.

Dragon Spring Plum Garden

There is a very large plum garden, Dragon Spring Plum Garden, which occupies an area of over 28 hectares (69 acres). More than 6,000 plums representing about 87 varieties create a sea of flowers at each end of the year.

When to visit

  • Opening Hours: 08:30a.m. - 18:00p.m.
  • Recommended Time for a Visit: Two hours

  Weather

  1. Is Kunming's weather like Spring all year round?

  Transportation

  1. Noitce this when you take a bus
  2. Noitce this if you plan to rent a car

  Shopping

  1. Avoid buying fake goods
  2. If you have bought some ivory or ivory handicrafts...

  Travel

  1. Is it safe to travel in Kunming?

  Other Hints

  1. Tips for you to have a pleasant tour in Kunming
  2. Is it easy for me to make a call?
  3. Toilet Facilities
  4. Keep healthy
  5. Emergency
  6. Useful Numbers
  • Is Kunming's weather like Spring all year round?

    Kunming belongs to the subtropical plateau monsoon climatic zone; the annual average temperature is 14.7 and the yearly precipitation is 1,024 mm. It has the best climate of all Chinese cities, popularly known as the "Spring City". Kunming does not have severe winters or hot summers and the natural features of the four seasons are clearly defined. For the visitor, this means that Kunming is in bloom all year and a year round destination.


  • Noitce this when you take a bus

    Stand close to the door to get off at the next stop, otherwise, the bus driver does not stop.


  • Noitce this if you plan to rent a car

    Foreigners must have a Chinese driver's license. We suggest tourists rent a car with a local driver to avoid going crooked road.


  • Avoid buying fake goods

    Fake goods are prevalent on the streets of Kunming and while they might seem like tempting purchases, beware that you could be faced with their being impounded and charges brought against you when attempting to bring them back into your home country.So, please try to avoid buying goods from peddlers on streets. Instead, please choose large stores as your shooping places.


  • If you have bought some ivory or ivory handicrafts...

    As a rule, ivory and ivory articles are forbidden to be taken out of China. In China, bring out ivory articles or ivory carving needs strict checkup. The testimonial issued by relative governmental department is required.


  • Is it safe to travel in Kunming?

    The city of Kunming is a safe place to be with low levels of crime and few obvious threats to visitors. Like any big city however, it has its rogue element so the usual caveats with regards to pickpockets and bag snatchers apply. Keep money, wallets, purses and personal items of value well hidden and in hard to reach places. Avoid frequenting run-down or sparsely populated areas especially at night and be particularly conscientious with regards to personal safety if you are a lone female traveller.


  • Tips for you to have a pleasant tour in Kunming

    You should also wear sunglasses to shad their eyes from ultraviolet ray.

    When the lack of oxygen at high altitude occurs, it is necessary to take good rest or receive treatment by sucking oxygen.

    The southwest is an area where the minority nationalities live in compact communities and their culture, customs and habits vary from place to place. Attention should be paid to the following situation.

    • The Dai nationality resent outsiders entering their stockade village on horse back;
    • in the Jingpo village, the place where the Jingpo (Chingpaw) nationality hang the ox head cannot be touched;
    • when seeing logs placed at the door of the va (wa) nationality, one must avoid putting on short pants, must not step on the threshold, not to spit in the presence of other People and what is more, one must not hurt animals and birds at random.



  • Is it easy for me to make a call?

    While public phones are easily found in small shops along streets in Kunming, we suggest tourists make low-cost IDD or DDD calls in post offices or telecom buildings.


  • Toilet Facilities

    Most toilets in Kunming charge no more than 0.5 yuan. Tourists can find free sanitary toilets in some large department stores or fast food restaurants.


  • Keep healthy

    Be wary of where you choose to eat in Kunming, hygiene standards at street vendors and some restaurants may not meet western standards and you could end up with a whole lot more than just a portion of fried rice if you're not careful.

    Water from the tapsshould be avoided for drinking purposes and for brushing teeth and bottled water, which is cheap, can be found everywhere and should be used instead.

    Health care in Kunming's public hospitals is below what is considered international standard so visitors requiring medical care are advised to make use of the newly-opened Richland International Hospital.


  • Emergency Numbers:
    • Fire: 119
    • Ambulance: 120
    • Police: 110
    • Traffic: 122

  • Useful Numbers:
    • Weather forecast of the scenic spots: 16800122
    • Zip code inquiry: 3139491
    • Consumption Complaint: 12315
    • Kunming Tourism Complaint: 3164961


The interesting Black Dragon Pool l is divided into two parts by a bridge, and although the water is connected, the two sides are different colors and the fish in either side never swim to the opposite part of the pool.



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