Shiyang

“Has anyone ever heard of a town named after a goat?” our guide asks, a playful glint in their eye. We stand at the edge of Shiyang Town, the name indeed a unique one. Shiyang, nestled near Dujiangyan City, boasts a history intertwined with the very lifeblood of the Chengdu Plain: the Dujiangyan Irrigation System. The town’s name, meaning “stone goat”, is a local curiosity, perhaps linked to the rocky terrain or maybe a whimsical tale we’ve yet to uncover. Shiyang, once known as Liujie Town until December 2019, absorbed its neighboring villages, their histories now woven into Shiyang’s own. As we venture further into Shiyang, the presence of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System is undeniable. This marvel of ancient engineering, built over 2,000 years ago by Li Bing and his son, nourishes the entire Chengdu Plain. The ingenuity of this system, diverting water without a dam, filtering sand while controlling flow, protected Chengdu and its surrounding areas from devastating floods and droughts. Shiyang, a beneficiary of this ancient wisdom, has flourished alongside the rest of the “Land of Abundance”. This proximity to Dujiangyan has shaped Shiyang’s identity, its fortunes tied to the ebb and flow of the life-giving waters. Shiyang also finds itself at the foot of Mount Qingcheng, a significant site for Taoism in China. The mountain, with its cool climate and lush greenery, emanates a sense of tranquility, a stark contrast to the bustling city of Chengdu just a short distance away. Perhaps the residents of Shiyang find solace and inspiration in the nearby mountain, connecting them to a spiritual heritage stretching back centuries. Shiyang, though small, offers a window into the rich tapestry of Chengdu’s history. From its intriguing name to its connection to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and its proximity to Mount Qingcheng, Shiyang is a reminder of the delicate balance between nature, human ingenuity, and cultural heritage. As we leave Shiyang, the question of the stone goat lingers, a charming riddle adding a touch of magic to our journey.