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Eight Sights of Guangzhou (Chinese: 羊城八景; lit. 'Eight Sights of the Ram City'), or Eight Views of Guangzhou, is the name of various lists of the eight most famous tourist attractions in Guangzhou, China named in different historical eras. The earliest such list dates back to Song Dynasty. The Eight Sights slowly evolved over the course of several dynasties, with new sights introduced to replace older sights that had disappeared or declined in prominence. The changes reflected the geographical development of Guangzhou during the same period of time. Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China, government and media involvement has greatly accelerated the iteration of the Eight Sights, leading to four new lists published in the span of less than 50 years.

Song Dynasty

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The Eight Sights of Guangzhou in Song Dynasty were recorded in the Annals of Nanhai County (Chinese: 《南海县志》) of Kangxi era and the Annals of Guangzhou Prefecture (Chinese: 《广州府志》) of Qianlong era. Most of the sights were closely related to water bodies in the city, reflecting its tight cultural connection to water.[1]

Fuxu Yuri (扶胥浴日)
Fuxu Yuri referred to Yuri Pavilion in Fuxu Town, located in today's Miaotou Village, Nangang Town to the east of Nanhai Temple. Yuri Pavilion used to overlook the Pearl River. At dawn, the sun could be seen rising amidst the waves of the river. The pavilion has survived till the modern days, but the riverside has retreated by hundreds of metres. Trees and buildings standing on the allivial land now completely blocks the view of the river from the pavilion.
Shimen Fanzhao (石门返照, literally "reflections of Shimen")
Shimen Fanzhao was located at the intersection of a tributary of Bei River with Liuxi River in today's Shimen Village, Jianggao Town in Baiyun District. The surrounding mountains were reflected upon the river. The sun at dawn and dusk would add to the splendor of the sight. Occasionally, mirages could be seen above the water. Legend had it that the view of Shaozhou of hundreds of kilometres away had been seen in a mirage.
Haishan Xiaoji (海山晓霁, literally "Haishan Building after dawn shower")
Haishan Xiaoji referred to Haishan Building. Located at today's Beijing Lu, Haishan Building had an immediate view of the Pearl River thanks to the width of the river at its time. The sight disappeared in Yuan Dynasty after the building suffered a fire and collapsed.
Zhujiang Qiuse (珠江秋色, literally "autumn scenery of Pearl River")
Now buried underground near the intersection of today's Yanjiang Xilu and Xindi 1 Henglu, Haizhu Rock, an islet 100 metres long and 50 metres wide, lay in the middle of the Pearl River during Song Dynasty, being submerged and exposed by the tides every day. The ever-running river water gave the islet a well-polished surface, earning it the name "Haizhu", which literally means "river pearl". Standing on the islet at dusk in autumn, the scenery of the Pearl River was most enjoyable. The river has since narrowed over the course of time. Haizhu Rock was connected to the land and buried underground due to road construction in the 1930s. It was not rediscovered until 2004.
Juhu Yunying (菊湖云影, literally "clouds reflecting upon Juhu Lake")
Juhu Lake (菊湖, literally "chrysanthemum lake") had been a reservoir collecting water from Wenxi Creek for domestic user as well as irrigation since the Three Kingdoms period. Lu Gou, Prefectural Governor of Guangzhou and Military Commissioner of Lingnan constructed dykes at the lake, decorated it with pavilions and pagodas, and lined the banks with cotton trees and erythrinas, turning the lake into a popular scenic spot for spring-time excursions. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Southern Han established an imperial palace at this location. The lake silted and dried up in Yuan Dynasty. Today's Xiaobei Lu runs by the southeast of Yuexiu Mountain through the place where the lake was located.
Pujian Lianquan (蒲涧濂泉)
Pujian was a creek on Baiyun Mountain. The name "Pujian" came from the calami growing in the creek. Creek water fell off a tall cliff and was blown into countless droplets by the mountain breeze. Whenever it rained, the falling droplets would become a waterfall, then a spring would emerge and was called Lianquan Spring. Today's Pujian Creek has changed its course, and calami are no longer found in it. The remains of the waterfall of Lianquan Spring can be found at the north end of Lianquan Lu.
Guangxiao Puti (光孝菩提, literally "pipals of Guangxiao Temple")
Guangxiao Puti referred to Guangxiao Temple. Guangxiao Temple gained its fame for being the location where Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of Chán Buddhism received his tonsure. It was also known for its pipals. During Ming Dynasty, between 50 and 60 pipals could be found in the temple. At the time, pipal leaves were often used for producing lanterns, medicine and luxurious gifts. In 676, a revered monk named Zhiyao planted a pipal in the temple. The tree lived for over 1100 years until it was brought down by a typhoon in 1800. A new tree was planted in 1802 and was a descendant of the old tree, which can be found in the temple today.
Datong Yanyu (大通烟雨)
Datong Yanyu referred to Datong Temple and Yanyu Well in the temple. Yanyu Well was said to be capable of forecasting weather. When rain was about to fall, fog would rise from the well. The temple was were reduced to debris during the occupation of Guangzhou by Japanese forces. Located in a now densely-populated area in Fangcun by the mouth of Huadi River, only a few street names were left of the temple, and only one of those streets is still found today.

Yuan Dynasty

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The Eight Sights of Guangzhou in Yuan Dynasty retained four of those in Song Dyansty while adding four new ones. The four sights from Song Dynasty were all water-related; meanwhile, the four new ones were all mountain sights. All eight sights were found outside the city walls.[1]

Fuxu Yuri (扶胥浴日)
Shimen Fanzhao (石门返照)
Datong Yanyu (海山晓霁)
Pujian Lianquan (珠江秋色)
See "Song Dynasty".
Baiyun Wanwang (白云晚望, literally "Evening view from Baiyun Temple")
Baiyun Wanwang referred to the view of the city of Guangzhou at dusk from Baiyun Temple on Baiyun Mountain. Baiyun Temple was located on the south side of Baiyun Mountain. In Yuan Dynasty, the city boundaries were still quite far away from Baiyun Mountain. Therefore, at Baiyun Temple, the view of the entire city could be seen and was particularly splendid at dusk. Nowadays, the city has expanded to encompass Baiyun Mountain inside the urban area. The location of the sight remains a popular spot for moon appreciation on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Baiyun Wanwang (景泰僧归, literally "monks returning to Jingtai Temple")
During the Datong (大同) era of Liang Dynasty under the reign of Emperor Wu, a famous monk named Jingtai established Jingtai Temple on the north side of Baiyun Mountain. The temple had since gradually become a popular tourist attraction. The sight was destroyed in early Qing Dynasty when armies of Shang Kexi and Geng Zhongming logged trees in the area for building cannons during their invasion of Guangzhou.
Yuetai Qiuse (粤台秋色, literally "autumn scenery of Yuewang Platform")
Yuewang Platform (越王台, literally "King of Nanyue platform") at Yuejing Crest on Yuexiu Mountain was the earliest recreational spot in Guangzhou. Built in Western Han, only the pedestal was left to be found in Tang Dynasty. The sight was then known for its natural landscape. Now Sun Yat-sen Monument stands on the top of Yuejing Crest.
Lingzhou Aofu (灵洲鳌负, literally "Mount Lingzhou carried by a godly turtle")
Lingzhou Aofu referred to Mount Lingzhou located in today's Guanyao Town, Nanhai District, Foshan to the northwest of Guangzhou. In Yuan Dynasty, the nearby Xinan and Lubao Streams had not silted. The mount was surrounded by vast water in all directions. Passengers travelling by the mount would climb it for a sightseeing trip of the mount itself as well as Xi and Bei Rivers. The sight declined over the last 300 years as the surrounding water narrowed and transportation became inconvenient.

Ming Dynasty

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The Eight Sights of Guangzhou of Ming Dynasty were recorded in Transcripts of Ancient Manuscripts on Yangcheng (Chinese: 《羊城古钞》), which quoted Annals of Ming (Chinese: 《明志》) as well as Continued Annals of Nanhai County (Chinese: 《南海县续志》), compiled in 1910. The list of this era saw a radical departure from that of Song Dynasty. As the city boundaries expanded, only sights located in the urban areas were selected.[2]

Yuexiu Songtao (粤秀松涛, literally "pine waves of Yuexiu Mountain")
Yuexiu Songtao referred to Yuexiu Mountain.
Suishi Dongtian (穗石洞天, literally "scenery of Sui Rock")
Sui Rock was a red sandstone hillock. It had been an islet located in shallow seawater and developed numerous potholes due to corrosion. Two such potholes found on a big rock resembled the shape of a footprint and were believed to be trace left by an immortal. The rock was thus called "Xianren Muji" (Chinese: 仙人拇迹; lit. 'immortal's footprint'). The scene is now part of Wuxian Temple. What used to be by the seaside during Jin Dynasty is now a few kilometres inland from the north shore of the Pearl River.
Panshan Yunqi (番山云气, literally "mist on Mount Pan")
Mount Pan is now just an inconspicuous mound inside Sun Yat-sen Literature Library on Wende Lu. During its glorious days, the ancient Wenxi Creek flowed by its east. In the wet days, evaporated creek water would create a mist in the shade of pines and cotton trees. However, Wenxi Creek was rerouted away in 1467 to connect with Donghao Stream. With the loss of its water source, the sighy gradually disappeared in mid- and late Ming Dynasty.
Yaozhou Chunxiao (药洲春晓, literally "spring dawn at Yaozhou Islet")
Yaozhou was an artificial islet in Xihu Lake, a lake built from excavating a natural pool during Southern Han. "Yaozhou" literally means "medicine islet". It was the place where Southern Han emperor Liu Yan gathered alchemists to produce medicine. Medicine was dumped into the water, dying the water into a unique scenery. Xihu Lake was filled after Chenghua era of Ming Dynasty. Today, a garden on Jiaoyu Lu named Site of Yaozhou (Chinese: 药洲遗址) encloses the remains of the sight.
Qilin Sujing (琪林苏井, literally "jade trees and Su Well")
A Xuanmiao Temple used to stand on what is now Zhongshan 6 Lu. It was a famous temple garden in Guangzhou in Ming Dynasty. Trees in the temple were said to be planted by immortals in the legends. Combined with a well said to be drilled by Su Shi, they gave the sight the name as we know it today, the only thing that is left of the sight.
Zhujiang Qinglan (珠江晴澜, literally "Pearl River under clear sky")
Xiangshan Qiaoge (象山樵歌, literally "Mount Xianggang woodcutters' songs")
Liwan Yuchang (荔湾渔唱, literally "Lychee Bay fishermen's songs")

Qing Dynasty

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Eight Views of The Ram City were chosen through public appraisal twice in Qing Dynasty. The first election was in Qianlong years and the second was in middle and later periods of Qing Dynasty, namely years from Tongzhi Emperor to Guangxu Emperor.

Qianlong years

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Quoted from Yangcheng Guchao (Chinese: 《羊城古鈔》; pinyin: yángchéng gǔchāo; lit. 'Ram City Ancient Manuscripts').

Middle & Later Periods of Qing Dynasty

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Quoted from Yuedong Biji (Chinese: 《粤东笔记》; pinyin: yuèdōng bǐjì; lit. 'Miscellanea of East Guangdong').

1963

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1986

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2002

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The followings are those chosen through public appraisal in 2001 and brought out in 2002.

2011

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The followings are those chosen through public appraisal and brought out in 2011.

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Woodcuts of Qianlong-era Eight Sights from Transcripts of Ancient Manuscripts on Yangcheng
  • Yuexiu Lianfeng
    Yuexiu Lianfeng
  • Pazhou Dizhu
    Pazhou Dizhu
  • Wuxian Xiadong
    Wuxian Xiadong
  • Guwu Yushan
    Guwu Yushan
  • Zhenhai Cenglou
    Zhenhai Cenglou
  • Fuqiu Danjing
    Fuqiu Danjing
  • Xiqiao Yunpu
    Xiqiao Yunpu
  • Donghai Yuzhu
    Donghai Yuzhu

References

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  1. ^ a b "寻找历代羊城八景" (PDF). Guangzhou Daily (in Chinese). 2007-08-25. p. B5. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
  2. ^ "羊城八景穿越历史风云" (PDF). Guangzhou Daily (in Chinese). 2007-08-25. p. B6. Retrieved 2011-06-26.

Other references

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  1. "古今羊城八景" (in Chinese). Southcn.com. 2004-03-10. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
  2. "羊城八景". Yangcheng Evening News (in Chinese). 2010-12-18. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  3. "羊城八景寻迹". Yangcheng Evening News (in Chinese). 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
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