Di Cui Tan is an artificially excavated pond adorned with water lilies within and a Yucui Pavilion outside, accompanied by a massive rock. The pond waters are crystal clear, the water lilies emit a subtle fragrance, the pavilion is simple yet exquisite, and the rock is inscribed with the words ‘Boundless Wind and Moon’ and ‘Mogan Good’. In 1987, Qian Juntao, a student of Lu Xun and a seal engraver, calligrapher, and painter, visited Moganshan to escape the heat and arrived at Di Cui Tan, finding it a pity that the large rock was unadorned. He then generously inscribed the character ‘Cui’ (meaning ‘green’ or ‘verdant’), his largest ever written character, as a gift to the rock. This generous gift took two years to be carved into the cliff wall. Under the contrast of the calligraphy, the surrounding scenery pales in comparison: the green leaves of the water lilies cannot match the green of ‘Cui’, the lotus flowers cannot compare to the beauty of ‘Cui’, the pond exists merely to reflect ‘Cui’, the pavilion is for sitting and savoring ‘Cui’, and people enjoy taking photos with the ethereal ‘Cui’. The pond is open all year round and accessible 24/7.
Di Cui Tan – A Scenic Pond with a Story
Di Cui Tan is an artificially excavated pond adorned with water lilies within and a Yucui Pavilion o[...]
