Qionglai Huojing Ancient Town: A tranquil and elegant ancient town under Tiantai Mountain near Chengdu

🌳This is Qionglai Huojing Ancient Town, located 100 kilometers southwest of Chengdu under Tiantai Mountain. As the saying goes, water and fire are incompatible, but more than two thousand years ago during the Qin and Han dynasties, one day after a thunderclap, a well here erupted with flames several meters high that continued to burn. The ancient town of Linqiong, situated in the southwestern valley plain, was already rich in brine. The local villagers used the fire to boil salt, believing it to be a divine gift, hence the name 'Huojing' (Fire Well). This is also the earliest recorded instance of human exploitation of natural gas, predating the 1668 record of natural gas use in Britain by a full 1600 years, earning it the title of 'The First Well in the World'. 🌳Huojing Ancient Town is tranquil and elegant. Although it is not well-known among the many ancient towns on the Sichuan Tea-Horse Road, it is associated with many famous historical figures. In 215 AD, Liu Bei's primary task upon taking control of Sichuan was to stabilize the economy and people's hearts. Since 'salt and iron' were both essential daily necessities and strategic materials, Zhuge Liang personally went to inspect Huojing Village, organized production, and improved gas transmission methods, providing strong support for the economy of Shu. 🌳In 616 AD, the twelfth year of the Sui Dynasty's Daye era, Huojing was established as a county, and Yuan Tiangang, the first legendary astrologer of the Sui and Tang dynasties, became the first county magistrate of Huojing. In 883 AD, during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang, Huang Chonggu was born in Huojing County. She was talented and well-educated from a young age, often dressing as a man. After being wrongfully imprisoned, she proved her innocence and returned to serve as an official with outstanding achievements, creating a rare legendary story of a woman in Chinese history. Her story was adapted into the Huangmei opera 'The Female Prince Consort', which became famous nationwide. 🌳'Occasionally leaving seclusion in Linqiong, steadfast and upright like a pine in the ravine. Why is the governance as clear as a water mirror, trapping the wild crane in a deep cage.' I am An Xiang Ying Xiu, sharing stories within the scenery with you.