Wave Well

Wave Well is so called because it is said the well once would give rise to waves when there were waves in the Yangtze River. So it enjoys its reputation for the rolling waves at its bottom.

Wave Well has a nearby location to the bank of the Yangtze River at the Langjing(Wave Well) Lane of Xiyuan Road in Jiujiang City. It is also called GuanyingWell. According to the historical records, it was dug by Guan Ying, a famous general in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD). It is probably the oldest historical relic and one of the top attractions in the city. The well is in the center of an ancient tetragonal pavilion. There are inscriptions forthe well by some eminent ancient scholars such as Li Bai and Su Zhe. These inscriptions contributed much to the well's fame. The well has a depth of about 15 meters(49.2 feet) and a diameter of one meter (3.3 feet) or shorter. It looks deserted with lichen on its wall; however, there is still clear water inside.

With regard to the mystery of the well's giving rise to the Yangtze waves atancient time, there are various explanations. The most believable two are put forward by Li Bai and Su Zhe. Li Bai, a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), said that in the well, there is a spring's mouth connecting with the Yangtze River, so people would often hear the waves rolling in it. Su Zhe, an outstanding proser of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), believed that the well had waves just because of the spring it had at the bottom.

Now, however, one can no longer see or hear such wonders. A dike has been established to prevent the floods that the Yangtze River brings, and the waterway under the ground between the well and the Yangtze River has been blocked. And nobody knows exactly what led to the disappearance of the waves.

Tips: You can take a taxi or a bus to the well. Due to Jiujiang City's special geography, there are many tasty local foods from other places. The recommended foods are lotus root soup, stewed meat with salt black beans, scrambled eggs with lily flowers and braised chicken with chestnuts, etc.