As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, visitors to Dunhuang, Gansu Province, are witnessing a remarkable transformation of one of China’s most famous moon-viewing spots – the Yueliang Pond in the Mingsha Shan area. Once known for its slender crescent shape, the Yueliang Pond has now become fuller and rounder, resembling the moon on the eighth or tenth day of the lunar calendar.
The Rise of the Yueliang Pond
The Yueliang Pond, surrounded by endless sand dunes, lies at the base of the Mingsha Shan. According to Li Ying, the director of the Yueliang Pond Scenic Area Service Center, the water level of the pond has been steadily rising in recent years. By 2021, the water level had exceeded 3 meters and has remained stable at around 3.2 meters in the past two years. Currently, the water area of the Yueliang Pond covers an area of 27.45 mu.
Li Ying explained that the recent increase in the water area of the Yueliang Pond is due to the rise in underground water levels in the surrounding area, without the need for direct water replenishment measures.
The Transformation of the Yueliang Pond
Locals have vividly described the change in the Yueliang Pond. In the past, it looked like a thin crescent moon, resembling the moon on the fourth or fifth day of the lunar calendar. Now, it has become rounder and fuller, resembling the moon on the eighth or tenth day.
The Threat to the Yueliang Pond
In the past, the ancient Yueliang Pond had been shrinking and faced the risk of disappearing due to human production and living activities, which caused a significant drop in water levels in the region. Since the 1970s, the water level of this clear spring lake has been declining year by year. By the late 1990s, the lake bottom had once been exposed, and the water area was as small as 2.56 mu at its lowest point.
The Rescue of the Yueliang Pond
In 1998, the relevant departments conducted an investigation into the formation and geological environment of the Yueliang Pond, aiming to rescue this unique desert wonder. To this end, a water replenishment project was implemented 5 kilometers away from the Yueliang Pond. By constructing low dams and infiltrating surface water, the project aimed to increase the infiltration and补给 of surface water, while restricting the exploitation of groundwater in the Yueliang Pond area and raising the groundwater level in the key areas upstream of the Yueliang Pond to alleviate the downward trend of groundwater levels in the surrounding area.
The Protection of the Yueliang Pond
To monitor the impact of wind-blown sand on the Yueliang Pond, researchers have used advanced technology to monitor the dynamic process of sand dune formation and development. By using computer digital analysis and processing, they have established a dynamic database and digital terrain model for the formation and evolution of sand dunes, protecting the Yueliang Pond day by day.
The Revival of the Yueliang Pond
The Yueliang Pond is formed by the groundwater of the Dunhuang oases, with the interaction of three groups of wind directions pushing the sand upwards from the slope below, creating the unique wonder of sand not covering the spring. Therefore, to restore the water area of the Yueliang Pond, not only water replenishment is needed but also the maintenance of the dynamic balance of wind under natural conditions.
The Cultural Significance of the Yueliang Pond
According to folklore, the Yueliang Pond was once the place where the Queen Mother of the West held the Peony Banquet. The local people in Dunhuang still retain the traditional custom of ascending a high place to look at the moon on the night of the full moon. This year, the scenic area will hold a series of activities, including the Million People Starry Sky Concert special session for the Mid-Autumn Festival, Fairy仙女 Tours, poetry recitation, and Singing to the Moon and Celebrating Reunion to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The resurgence of the Yueliang Pond in Dunhuang is a testament to the power of environmental protection and the importance of preserving our natural heritage. It serves as a reminder that we must continue to strive to protect our planet’s unique wonders for future generations to enjoy.
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