Nanxi River: A fairyland lost in the human world

Author: Xu Jiaguo
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features:
"，," how much people love nature. From the "Clear morning seeking the secluded and extraordinary, letting the boat cross the vast" of the Southern Dynasties poet—the pioneer of Chinese landscape poetry Xie Lingyun 1,600 years ago, to the "I can responsibly declare to the world: Nanxi River is very beautiful" of the contemporary famous writer Wang Zengqi. Throughout history, how many scholars and literati have been moved by the landscape of Yongjia, and how much ink have they spilled. From the calligrapher Wang Xizhi of the Jin Dynasty to the poet Meng Haoran of the Tang Dynasty, the literati of Song Dynasty Su Dongpo and other generations, none were not eager to paint and compose poems about Nanxi River, praising it as "Water is a green silk belt, mountains like jade hairpins." Its mountains and waters are everywhere bright and, sunny and rainy, always good and curious. The charming mountains, rivers, villages, and customs will attract more and more domestic and foreign tourists to visit and appreciate.
Nanxi River is located within Yongjia County, Zhejiang Province, bordering the Yandang Mountain Scenic Area to the east, 23 kilometers south of Wenzhou City, connected to Xiandu to the west, and linked to Xianju to the north. It is a famous national-level scenic area.
The Nanxi River National Key Scenic Area covers a total area of 625 square kilometers and is divided into seven major scenic zones: Nanxi River and Riverside Rural Culture (also known as Yantou Scenic Zone), Dayuo Rock, Shimen Rock, Shuizhen Rock, Beikeng, Dumen, and Sihai Mountain, with over 800 scenic spots. The 300-li-long Nanxi River integrates natural scenery with cultural landscapes, renowned for its clear water, unique rocks, numerous waterfalls, ancient villages, and beautiful sand beaches, making it the only national-level scenic area in China that is famous for its pastoral mountain and water scenery.
The 300-li-long Nanxi River winds and twists, known as the "36 bends and 72 beaches." It runs through Yongjia from north to south, with a catchment area of 2,429 square kilometers. The river flows from north to south, eventually merging into the Ou River and emptying into the East China Sea.
Nanxi River is beautiful in its primitive simplicity and natural charm; Nanxi River is beautiful in its purity and gentleness, completely pollution-free. According to tests, its silt content is only one ten-thousandth of a gram per cubic meter, with neutral water quality, a pH value of 7, meeting national Class 1 water standards, and is hailed by experts as the "Underwater of the World." The river is clear and lush, with beautiful scenery, reflections in the water, and fish and pebbles visible at the bottom. During the day, taking a boat or raft on the river, gazing at the rolling green mountains in the distance, admiring the lush sand beaches up close, and enjoying the blue river water, one can feel refreshed and forget all worries. At night, seeing the twinkling lights of fishing boats, hearing the evening songs of fishermen, feeling the gentle river breeze, and listening to the gurgling water, one can fully express their secluded emotions. Resting in the sand beaches, with branches overhead and lush grass, the daytime feels dim and tranquil, perfect for deep conversations filled with poetic charm—what greater joy could there be?
The upper reaches of Nanxi River have deep and far-reaching streams, with clear rapids and green pools visible everywhere. In high and steep mountain areas, waterfalls plunge from cliffs. Baizhang Waterfall, Luoyang Waterfall, Yaxia Ku's Shy Waterfall, Shimen Tai's Nine Waterfalls, and Beikeng Longtan's Three Bends Waterfall each have their unique shapes and wonders, appearing from a distance like the Milky Way pouring down from the heavens; up close, the cascading water is magnificent...
Nanxi River's extraordinary rocks and peaks are scattered like stars and chess pieces, including the spectacular Taiming Rock with its sheer cliffs, the deep blue triangle rock of Sanjiao Rock, the natural bonsai Shizhi Rock, the nine-zhang tall Tianchi Turtle Peak, the river-god pillar Shimen Rock, the twelve peaks piercing the clouds, and the Nanya where troops once camped... Real mountains, real water, real paintings—suitable for sunny days and rainy days, for singing and composing poems, for wine and poetry... Every place is suitable for people, every place intoxicates, and every place is captivating. These extraordinary rocks and peaks are often accompanied by hidden caves, offering a serene and endless wonder. There is even a folk songing: "Nanxi has many mountains and ridges, peaks and rocks countless; caves are said to be the abodes of immortals, but where are the immortals?"
With its unique charm, Nanxi River still preserves cultural relics from the Neolithic Age, ancient towers, bridges, pavilions, archways, and battlefields from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It preserves ancient villages built with the concepts of "Seven Stars and Eight Poles" and "Four Treasures of the Study," as well as Yin-Yang and Feng-Shui designs. It also holds a large number of complete genealogies and clan records. These invaluable historical and cultural relics allow us to understand the essence of ancient China's "agricultural-reading society" and "clan society."