The spring source of Hupao Spring is now in the square pool well. The water is clear and can be used for making tea. There is a Hupao Pavilion for tourists to rest. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, Yuan Jizu rebuilt the square pool and renamed it ‘Evergreen Pool’. Therefore, the Hupao Pavilion is also called ‘Evergreen Pavilion’. On the stone wall beside the pool is embedded a stele inscription with the three characters ‘Hupao Spring’, written by Cheng Xun, the magistrate of Zhenjiang during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty.
According to legend, when the Crown Prince Zhaoming first came to Zhaoyin Mountain, it was very difficult to get drinking water. One day, the crown prince was strolling on the hillside. Suddenly, the wind rose. A colorful fierce tiger rushed out of the forest. The crown prince was greatly shocked and hurriedly dodged. In an instant, the tiger pounced and landed at the feet of the crown prince. Its front paws dug vigorously and left a deep pit, then roared and left. In an instant, clear spring water gushed out of the pit. The crown prince was very happy and named it ‘Hupao Spring’. Hupao Spring and Lupao Spring are sister springs. The spring water quality is ‘sweet, fragrant and moistening the lips’ and has always been highly praised. Zhaoyin Temple was even renamed ‘Luquan Temple’ for a time. Lupao Spring is on the east side of Tingli Mountain House on Zhaoyin Mountain (there are many birds on Zhaoyin Mountain, especially orioles are known). Beside the spring, there is a pavilion named Luquan Pavilion, also known as ‘Rusi Pavilion’. It was named by Lin Hua, the prefect in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, taking the meaning of ‘Time passes by like this, flowing day and night’ from The Analects of Confucius. In those days, the forests and valleys here were beautiful, wild deer appeared, hearing the chirping of deer and the gurgling sound of springs had a unique charm.Opening hours: Open all day all year round.
