Luchong is a little fishing village by the Fuxian Lake with a beautiful scenery. If someone has never been to Luchong, he cannot understand the glamor of the Fuxian Lake. Luchong was previously called Lvchong and was famous for abundant reeds. In the Qing Dynasty, it was a cultural center, and there were a lot of successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations and many members of the Imperial Academy--- Two imperial scholars within one family, double academicians by a hundred steps . The local people considered that the heavy cultural atmosphere was connected with the location of the village. Vast Mt. Qilin vagued by boundless water, while the ink-stone of the lake accompanied Mt. Golden Clock and Mt. Penholder . So the people changed Lvchong into Luchong.
The lake at Luchong is very clear and stirring. Big banyans growing on the bank provide cover from the sun. Fish caves and water wheels form the beautiful bank scenery. In the hot summer, the local fishermen make ditches with stones along the mountain springs. Then they put fish cages in the ditch. The fish cages are over one meter long. So big that two or three persons can just get their arms around. The fishermen use water wheels to draw water. Fish swim against the current to find a clean and warm spring to deposit their eggs. Then the fish become trapped in the cages. The fishing method is unique and ancient. In the past years, the villagers by the lake made a living by catching fish, so that the water wheels and bamboo cages could be seen everywhere. Tourists visiting Luchong Scenic Spot can not only see the fishermen catching fish in the fish caves, but also experience this unique way of catching fish in appropriate seasons.
There are 81 bays along the bank of the Fuxian Lake. The Wave Stoppage Bay is the most charming. Subject to strong winds and covered with heavy clouds, the inlet is silent and peaceful, thus the name Wave Stoppage Bay . The bay is surrounded by mountains with a beautiful scenery. Mt. Penholder, in the south of the bay, has three peaks and two valleys, just like a penholder in a scholar s reading-room, thus the name. Mt. Penholder is exquisite, straight, and graceful. Chu Tu nan, the famous calligraphist, wrote Lake Abode of Immortals .
There is an ancient temple named Kwan-yin Temple on Mt. Penholder. It was said that the fishermen in Luchong Village suffered from strong winds and huge waves when they were fishing. Their boats were tossed about and would nearly sink. At that moment, a colorful auspicious light appeared on the peak of Mt. Penholder, where a kind old woman was making straw sandals. She put grass into the lake and the lake became quiet, the fishermen were rescued. Then people built the Kwan-yin Temple on the peak of Mt. Penholder to pray that Kwan-yin would bless them out to sea. Looking from Kwan-yin Temple, the scenery of Fuxian Lake can be seen clearly. A poem in the temple says Pray is futile for the bad while blesses without pray are for the good . The poem is simple, but the philosophy of life is obvious.
Source: www.yuxi.gov.cn
