Pool of the Black Dragon

(Local Name: Heilong Tan) The Pool of the Black Dragon, situated 14km/8.5mi north of the city in the park of the same name, is famous mainly for the Taoist Temple of the Dragon Spring (Longquan Guan), which is believed to have been founded under the Han dynasty, i.e. some 2000 years ago.

Further down, on the west bank of the pool, stands the second part of the temple complex, the Palace of the Black Dragon (Heilong Gong), dating from 1454. Growing on the temple site today are a plum tree from the Tang period (618-907), a cypress from the Song era (960-1279) and a camellia from the Ming period (1368-1644).