The mother river of Chengde

Author: Wang Lansheng

Chengde, outside the Great Wall, is surrounded by mountains and built next to the Wulie River. It flourished as a summer resort and enjoys the reputation of a famous historical and cultural city and a city of landscape and ecology. I live on the east bank of the Wu Lie River. Looking out of the window, I see a natural landscape painting that is refreshing and refreshing. There are majestic mountains, tall buildings, busy roads, and white and blue sky. The most eye-catching thing is the blue waves. The rippling and charming Wulie River.

Wulie River is the mother river of Chengde. Chengde's transformation from a small mountain village to a city began from 1703 to 1790, when the Qing Dynasty built a summer resort and surrounding temples on the west bank of the river. According to the "Rehe Chronicles": "The three sources merge to the southwest, passing through the Huangtukan Palace and the east of the Diaoyutai Palace. There are hot springs flowing out of the palace. It was first called Rehe. It flows south and turns to the east, then folds again and south to Xia. Yingzi enters the Luanhe River, which is the Guwu Lie River. The so-called "three sources" refer to the Gudurhu River in Inner Mongolia, the Maogou River in Longhua County, and the Yudai River in Chengde County. The Wulie River has a long origin. It originates from Weichang County Road Zhigou on the south side of the branch of Qilaotu Mountain in the Yanshan Mountains. It is a major tributary of the Luan River. The stream passes through canyons, sandstones, and wetlands and stretches for more than 100 kilometers. It leaves Chengde County from Laoxiying. Entering the urban area of ??Chengde, it goes all the way south and merges into the Luanhe River. Data show that the Wulie River flows through three counties and one district of Chengde, with a drainage area of ??2,580 square kilometers. It has always been the main source of domestic water for Chengde people and the main source of water for mountain villas and lakes.

Water is the source of life and the foundation of life. The river affects people's lives, and people's lives also change the river. Historically, the Wulie River used to be clear and abundant. However, due to deforestation, sand mining, mining, sewage discharge, etc., the water was once dirty and smelly, and even dried up... After the reform and opening up, through afforestation and comprehensive management, the Wulie River became more beautiful again. It has restored its former glory, with groups of mallards playing in the river, egrets and white swans visiting from time to time, and a variety of unknown water birds making their homes here. The "Diversion Project from Luanhe to Tianjin" completed in 1983 allowed the Wulie River water flowing into the Panjiakou Reservoir of the Luanhe River to flow into thousands of households in Tianjin, carrying the deep friendship of the Chengde people.

Wulie River is beautiful in all seasons. Here you can enjoy apricot blossoms in spring, green willows in summer, listen to the chirping of cicadas in autumn, and go ice skating in winter. Especially in summer and autumn, when there is thunder and lightning and heavy rain, the Wulie River splashes with joy. After the rain, the sky clears up, the weeping willows are like young girls, the lotus flowers are fragrant, the water plants are dancing in the wind, the blue sky and white clouds are reflected in it, the fish float on the water and swim happily... The Wulie River in the morning is quiet and full of vitality; in the evening Wulie River, kiss the sunset goodbye, the water surface is gilded. At night, the moonlight is like water, the stars are dotted, and the colorful rainbow bridge, street lights, building lights, and spotlights decorate the Wulie River beautifully at night.

Green waters and green mountains are invaluable assets. Entering a new era, Chengde has once again launched an upsurge in planting trees and grass to conserve water sources. It has also built a large-scale Shuangfengsi Reservoir in the upper reaches of the Wulie River, and jointly regulates the Wulie River in the Luan River. The establishment of a strict river chief system has not only conserved high-quality water resources for Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, but also helped rural areas get rid of poverty and become rich through the development of ecological economy along the river and the popularity of tourism in the region.

Wulie River, the picturesque Wulie River, you flow in front of my window, and you are also engraved in people’s hearts...

"Guangming Daily" (September 25, 2020 15th edition)