Honglongjing (Red Dragon Well) in Dali Old Town

Overview

  • Honglongjing, or Red Dragon Well,  situated in the southwestern section of Dali Ancient Town, begins at the western city wall and extends eastward along Fuxing Road for just a few hundred meters.
  • Recently, it has become a popular destination for tourists, thanks to its enchanting features. The area boasts a year-round clear stream that creates a scenic backdrop of “clear spring flowing over stones,” particularly refreshing during the summer and autumn. Key attractions include “Jade Cabbage,” “Twelve Zodiac Signs,” “Waterfall Platform,” and “Stone Arch Bridge,” which enrich the cultural landscape.
  • The lush greenery, including willow and osmanthus trees, enhances the area’s beauty, especially in autumn when the fragrant osmanthus blossoms fill the air, adding elegance to Hong Longjing. This makes it a standout example of successful development in Dali Ancient Town.

Attraction Information

  • Dali Ancient Town is traditionally known for “flowing water in every street and flowers in every household.” Over time, this idyllic scenery faded, but recent efforts have revived it, restoring the town’s refreshing and serene atmosphere. Nestled at the base of Cangshan Mountain and beside Erhai Lake, Dali Ancient Town boasts a history exceeding 1,300 years as one of China’s earliest historical cities.
  • During the Tang and Song dynasties, it flourished with picturesque views of flowers and flowing waters. However, damage to this landscape occurred over the years. Since 2000, the local government has worked to restore it, culminating in the completion of major landscape projects in 2003.
  • This revitalization features canals, waterfalls, and scenic spots, with waters sourced from Cangshan Mountain flowing through the town’s streets, stretching 3,600 meters with a daily water volume exceeding 6,000 cubic meters.

Main Influence

  • In addition to “Foreigner Street,” Dali Ancient Town has developed another prominent street, marking significant urbanization efforts by the local government.
  • This enhancement not only boosts the town’s charm but also contributes to Dali’s vision of being “a grand city of mountains and water, a magnificent garden of wind, flower, snow, and moon.”
  • With richer cultural depth and improved aesthetics, the ancient town attracts visitors from afar.

Legend

In traditional beliefs, gods symbolize supernatural powers, but Bai folklore blurs the lines between humans and deities. A notable example is the “legend of Hong Longjing,” where a water deity, the dragon, embodies human emotions and can even marry. In the ancient town’s western area, two streets—Hong Longjing and Dashuigou—are closely linked. Dashuijing was known for its water mills, where a father and his beautiful daughter, Zhao, worked. One day, while repairing a broken waterwheel, Zhao captured a red carp, which she later released. That night, a handsome young man in red, claiming to be the Red Dragon of Yeyucheng, appeared and proposed marriage, sparking a secret romance.

Eventually, Zhao became pregnant, revealing the truth to her father. When the Red Dragon presented them with gifts—a dragon pearl for their son and an iron plate for drought relief—their fate intertwined with the local water sources. Zhao Jianwei, their son, discovered his unique water-calling abilities during a severe drought and, using the iron plate, summoned rain, earning royal rewards. His journey transformed him into an earth dragon, saving the region from drought. Despite seeming fantastical, these tales highlight the deep cultural ties and values in Bai folklore, reflecting humanity’s connection to nature and the divine.