Did the Five Rams of Guangzhou truly bring rice to a starving city? Let’s explore this iconic Five-Ram Statue together, perched here atop Yuexiu Hill. This sculpture isn’t just a popular photo stop. It’s the very symbol of Guangzhou, an emblem woven into the city’s identity. Erected in 1960, the Five-Ram Statue isn’t ancient. Yet, it embodies a legend dating back to the Zhou Dynasty, a time long before the city even bore the name Guangzhou. The legend whispers of five immortals descending upon the then Chuting, each astride a ram. These weren’t ordinary rams. Each carried six stalks of millet, a gift of sustenance for the struggling populace. The immortals bestowed this gift, promising an end to famine, then vanished. The rams, however, remained, transforming into stone. This tale is why Guangzhou is nicknamed the “City of Rams”. Look closely at this impressive sculpture. It stands eleven meters tall, crafted from over 130 pieces of granite. The largest ram, a billy goat, stands proudly in the center, a stalk of millet still clutched in its mouth. Its gaze stretches towards the horizon, symbolizing the aspirations of the people of Guangzhou. Surrounding this central figure are four other rams, each engaged in a different activity. One grazes peacefully, another nurses its young, a third feeds its baby, and the last playfully frolics. This dynamic arrangement adds a touch of life and charm to the monument. The Five-Ram Statue became even more prominent during the 2010 Asian Games, held right here in Guangzhou. The games’ emblem incorporated the statue’s image, intertwining the spirit of the games with the city’s enduring symbol of prosperity and good fortune. The Five-Ram Statue stands as a testament to Guangzhou’s rich history and its people’s enduring hope for a bountiful future.
Jinxia Reservoir
“A shimmering expanse of blue amidst the green hills. That is Jinxia Reservoir today. But its story is more than