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Wudalianchi Scenic Area
 World-famous Springs
 The more interesting thing about the Wudalianchi Scenic
Area is that one can drink to his or her heart's content the natural mineral
water, which gushes from the mountain springs. The springs are generally known
as being heavily carbonated and the third coldest springs in the world. For over
200 years, people have been referring to the springs as "Yao Quan (Medical
Springs)," which is the reason for many names like Mount Yaoquan, Yaoquan River,
Yaoquan Town, and Yaoquan Lake.
Wudalianchi mineral springs consist of the North, South, New South, South
Bathing, and Fanhua (Seething Waves) springs, which are scattered in the
Mountain Yaoquan area. Among the many springs, the North, South, and New South
springs are drinkable while the South Bathing and Fanhua springs are only
suitable for bathing.
There are many folktales about the springs. One says
that more than a hundred years ago Galasangbaiyin, a young herder of the Daur
ethnic group, fell in love with a woman slave called Aqimeige. When the herd
owner  found this out, he thrashed Galasangbaiyin and threw him
in the stables.
Aqimeige stole a horse and, carrying her unconscious lover, rode away from
the herd owner's house. But as they were making their escape, the herd owner
shot a poisoned arrow that struck Aqimeige. She and Galasangbaiyin both fell
from the horse into a spring. The cool water revived them and cured their
wounds. To show their gratitude to the spring, Galasangbaiyin inscribed the
words "medical spring" on the rock beside it -- this spring is thought to be
what is known as South Spring today.
After learning about the spring's magic power, Daur herders swarmed to the
spring and erected tents around it so that they too could drink the water and
bathe in it.
Although it is a legend, Wudalianchi mineral water now really enjoys fame in
the world equal to Vichy mineral water from France and Caucasus mineral water
from Russia.
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