Salt of the Past: Haku

Author: Liu Guangping et al
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: The ancient town of Hei Jing is located on the banks of the Longchuan River, 92 kilometers northwest of Lufeng County. It is renowned for its salt production, with salt extraction dating back to the early Eastern Han Dynasty. Over 2,000 years, it has developed into a economically prosperous and culturally diverse ancient town, leaving behind numerous historical landmarks. Historically, there were 51 Buddhist and Taoist temples, and 4 mosques. There are 92 historical artifacts, including stone carvings, stone inscriptions, ancient buildings, and ancient tombs. Notable attractions include the Hei Jing Confucian Temple, the Five Horse Bridge, the Zhenjue Zen Temple, the Ancient Salt Workshop, the Dragon Temple, the Wu Family Courtyard, the Zhutan Temple, the Feilai Temple, the Juefeng Temple, the Tomb of the Martial General, the Stone Dragon Cremation Tombs, the Neolithic Site, the Eighteen Paddy Fields, the Drip Spring Waterfall, and the Stone Slab Street.
Hei Jing is a deeply readable history book, often referred to as a "living fossil of Ming and Qing society" and is recognized as a provincial-level historical and cultural town. Unlike the small bridges and flowing water of Lijiang Ancient Town, Hei Jing Ancient Town exudes a timeless and lingering charm. The winding paths climb steep mountains, with peaks almost touching the sky. As the saying goes, "Ten thousand mountains stand tall, one river carries misty smoke." The ancient town is nestled against mountains and rivers, with streets winding and curving. Stone carvings, stone inscriptions, ancient buildings, and ancient tombs are arranged in a neat and orderly manner. Over the years, the uneven gravel roads and weathered stone walls have etched the age and vicissitudes of the ancient town. At night, the thousands of lights on both banks of the Longchuan River flicker like the twinkling stars in the Milky Way. The relentless flow of the river echoes, as if telling the world of the ancient town's glory. Being immersed in this atmosphere, with the Five Horse Bridge, Confucian Temple, Wu Family Courtyard, Zhutan Temple, Feilai Temple, and Hei Jing, one cannot help but feel the profound emotions of history and the fleeting nature of life. As the poem goes, "The scenic beauty of the misty river is passed down through the ages, pioneers. Born from Diancang's Fengfeng Ridge, water converges from Ye's realm to Longchuan. The Five Clouds Ode holds no equal, the two rivers flow with renowned springs. In this blessed era, distant lands abound with wonders, no need to rely on the Gǔlǎn to plan borders."