Tianjing Spring, also known as Tianjing, is a historical well situated in Hangzhou City. To distinguish it from other wells in the area, such as the large well in Dajing Alley and the Tianjing in Heilongtan, it is commonly referred to as the Small Well.
According to local legend, the well’s origins date back to the Southern Song Dynasty, specifically the second year of the JiaTai era under Emperor Ningzong. On the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, a devastating fire erupted in Zhang Xun’s royal residence, engulfing over seven hundred surrounding homes. After the fire was extinguished, Hangzhou’s guardian, Ding Changren, stumbled upon the well amidst the debris of a small alley to the west of the Imperial Censor’s Office.
The well is an impressive structure, over fifty feet deep and more than ten feet wide. It features an inscription on the wellhead that reads ‘opened in the second year of the Qingtai era of the Later Tang Dynasty.’ This inscription suggests that the well was constructed during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in the Wu Yue Kingdom. Further evidence of the well’s age was discovered during a cleaning, when numerous Jianyan coins were found inside, indicating that the well was likely buried after the Jianyan period of the Southern Song Dynasty.
Today, the Tianjing Spring remains a significant historical site, and it is open to the public all year round with full-day access, allowing visitors to appreciate its rich history and architectural significance.
