Black Dragon Pool Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information
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