Gaodang Village Series 1: A Millennium-Old Village Found by a Goat

Gaodang Village, a traditional Bouyei village with a history of over 1,000 years, is located in Zhenning Bouyei and Miao Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. Gaodang Village is located between two national 5A-level scenic spots, Huangguoshu Waterfall and Longgong Cave. The main water source of Huangguoshu Waterfall, Baishui River, is located near Gaodang Village. Gaodang Village is built on a mountain and surrounded by water. There is an interesting legend about the origin of Gaodang Village. During the Ming Dynasty, the ancestors of the Wu family lived on the banks of the Suoluo River and often herded goats by the river. One day, a member of the Wu family went down to the river to catch fish, and when he came back, he found that the goats were gone. So, he followed the goats' footprints over the mountains and came to a flat area. He saw a spring gushing out of the ground, with clear, sweet, and cool water. The area was surrounded by mountains and was a good place to live. He believed that the goats had led him to this place. So, the Wu family moved here with their relatives, the Yang family, and have lived here ever since. This place, found by the goats, is now Gaodang Village. The main residents of Gaodang Village are the Wu and Yang families, and the spring has never dried up, providing the main water source for Gaodang Village. The well is located next to the central square of the ancient village and is called "Xunyang Well."