Xiaodong site in Laojunshan

Xiaodong site in Laojunshan

Xiaodong site of Laojunshan is located in Laojunshan area of zangwangzhai, Chonghua town, Jiangyou City, Sichuan Province. Laojun Mountain is named after the legend that Taishang Laojun once made alchemy in Laojun cave,

Laojun Mountain area is composed of yanjiayan, Daping mountain, konjac mountain, Tibetan Wangzhai mountain, Zhaizi mountain, Hejia mountain, lishuping peak and other peaks. The Mountains extend 21 kilometers from north to South and 14 kilometers from east to west, covering an area of more than 300 square kilometers, forming a large-scale ancient nitrate cave site group.

Laojunshan nitrate cave site has more than 20 nitrate cave sites, such as Daxing cave and Chaoyang cave. The depth of the cave varies from several hundred meters to several thousand meters. The nitrate residue and waste left by the smelting of nitrate are piled up like mountains, preserving the original appearance of the ancient nitrate production process. After investigation, it is identified as the ancient large-scale nitrate smelting site.

Laojunshan nitrate cave site is the largest ancient nitrate cave site found in China so far. It is of great significance in the history of Chinese gunpowder development and of great value for the study of mining and metallurgy in Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Jiangyou thus successfully registered as "hometown of gunpowder".

On May 25, 2006, the State Council of the people's Republic of China became the Sixth Batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

Historical evolution

In the early Ming Dynasty and the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, there were two large-scale mining of the Xiaodong group in Laojunshan. The reason for the large-scale mining in the early Ming Dynasty is not known, but the large-scale mining in the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty was related to the two important military operations carried out by the Qing government against the local chieftains in dajinchuan and xiaojinchuan. Since then, the outlet and entrance of the big nitrate cave have been sealed by rocks, and no mining has been carried out.

From the Qing Dynasty to the modern times, the Laojunshan in Chonghua town still produced a lot of nitrate.

Before the founding of the people's Republic of China, Chonghua town had a large number of merchants making and selling firecrackers, forming a "gun Street".

As of 2018, "gun Street" still exists, which is one of the few old streets in the town.

Site features

Geographical features

Laojunshan mountain, where the site of Laojunshan cave is located, is a high road

The altitude ranges from 700 to 2500 meters. Due to the high terrain, natural animal and plant resources are very rich

It has primitive and natural ecological resources.

Nitrate cavity structure

Tianyu Cave: the narrowest part of Tianyu cave only allows a single person to crawl through, and the spacious part is like a room of ten square meters. On both sides of the tunnel, we can see some natural or artificial holes from time to time. The stone ladder in the cave is chiseled according to the situation of the stone. The cliffs along the way in the tunnel are covered with white ice debris. It tastes cool when you lick it with your tongue.

Gaoguan Cave: Gaoguan cave is located on a cliff at an altitude of more than 1400 meters. People who lead to the cave can only walk on the uneven stones on the cliff, and if they don't pay attention, they will fall down. There are many nitrate ponds in Gaoguan cave, some of which have been built with stones, some of which are only semi-finished products.

Yanzi Cave: the altitude of Yanzi cave is 1600 meters, the width of the cave is more than 20 meters, and the depth of the cave is more than 1000 meters. The entrance of the cave is sealed by rocks, so people can only dig out the gap and get in. A group of 12 nitrate ponds with a diameter of 2-2.2m are of the same scale. The denitrification tank is connected with the fixed denitrification tank by pipes and has a separate water diversion system. Next to the work area, the stone wall simply separates the living area.

Chaoyang Cave: Chaoyang cave is located on a cliff 1800 meters above sea level. The width of the cave is 70-80 meters. The slope of the cave is 45 degrees downward. Nitrate ponds are built in groups of 4-5 with a drop of 300-400 meters. There are 57 groups of nitrate ponds along the road. In the innermost part of the cave, there is a similar roadway in a coal mine, and the top of the roadway is blocked by a strip of stone.

Cultural relics

Since 2003, archaeologists have found nearly 100 ancient nitrate cave sites in the mountains and six surrounding towns. All kinds of cooking utensils, filters and aqueducts are well preserved.

In Chaoyang cave, pieces of pottery and porcelain from the yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as wooden spoons, wooden shovels, clay hands and other utensils were found;

There are stoves, ponds and leftovers everywhere. Yanzi cave, Gaoguan cave and Tianyu cave can be seen everywhere.

Value significance

Laojunshan nitrate cave site is an ancient nitrate cave site with the largest production scale and the best preserved production facilities found in China. It provides a strong evidence for revealing the mystery of gunpowder invention in ancient literature, and is of great significance to further clarify the historical stages of gunpowder development.

Due to the large scale of production and well preserved production facilities, it is of great value to study the mining and metallurgical production in yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The fact that gunpowder is one of China's "four great inventions" has not been recognized in Europe. The Xiaodong site in Laojunshan provides strong support for the assertion that China is the inventor of gunpowder.

protective measures

In 2009, Jiangyou municipal establishment committee agreed to add the brand of "municipal Laojunshan nitrate cave site protection and management office" to Jiangyou municipal cultural relics protection and management office to undertake the protection work of Laojunshan nitrate cave site.

In July 2017, the government of Chonghua town paid close attention to the construction of the scenic spot and cooperated with the food and drug work agency to inspect the businesses in Laojunshan scenic spot one by one; improved the signs and signs, set up warning signs in dangerous sections and places with potential safety hazards in the scenic spot to avoid danger; reasonably planned the driving roads of vehicles, standardized the parking of vehicles, and ensured the smooth flow of roads in the scenic spot.

History and culture

The legend of Tibetan king Zhaishan

After Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, he pushed for a new deal and vigorously reduced the vassal power, which caused dissatisfaction among the kings. After Zhu Di, the king of Yan, attacked Nanjing, Emperor Jianwen's life and death were unknown, which eventually became a historical mystery. It is said that emperor Jianwen fled from the underground palace secretly with nine cronies near Laojun Mountain. After several twists and turns, he took refuge in Daye mountain of Longzhou along the ancient Yinping road. Because Laojunshan is rich in nitrate ore, which can be used as restoration resources. Jianwen emperor did not succeed in restoration after all, but the local people called it the Tibetan king village mountain.

The battle of big and small Jinchuan

Jinchuan area is located in Jinsha River Basin of Sichuan Province. In 1747, shaluoben, the pacifier of dajinchuan, sent troops to attack xiaojinchuan. Ji Shan, the governor of Sichuan Province, sent his troops to crush him, but they were defeated. Zhang Guangsi, the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, and Shi Naiqin, the scholar of University, went on to supervise the army's attack, but they were tired of the division for half a year. In the following year, Emperor Gaozong ordered Fu Heng to enter Jinchuan as an economic strategist, and sent Yue Zhongqi to the old camp of dajinchuan, lewuwei, to say that he would surrender shaluoben, so the matter was settled.

In the 36th year of Qianlong reign of Qing Dynasty (1771), suonomu, the nephew of shaluoben, the chieftain of dajinchuan, and Gesang, the monk of xiaojinchuan, rebelled again. Altai soldiers, governor of Sichuan Province, refused to enter the furnace and died. Wen Fu, a Bachelor of Arts, and the governor of Guilin, a secretary of state, entered the battle and won the pass in succession. The next year, they entered xiaojinchuan and attacked dajinchuan. In the 38th year of Qianlong (1773), xiaojinchuan was demobilized, and attacked the muguomu camp of the Qing army. Wen Fu died in the battle, and the whole division collapsed. The Qing court ordered Agui to be the general of Dingxi. He mobilized elite troops to conquer xiaojinchuan first, and then fought for blockhouses. It took one year before he approached the big Jinchuan. Sonomu killed Seng Gesang and refused to surrender. On the night of the Mid Autumn Festival in the 40th year of Qianlong (1775), the Qing army broke through the stronghold for a long time. Sonomu fled to guaer cliff, and came out the next year, calming down Jinchuan and xiaojinchuan.

Tourism information

Location: Laojunshan scenic spot, zangwangzhai, Wuma Road, Chonghua town, Jiangyou City, Sichuan Province

Opening hours: all day

Admission: Free

Traffic information: after the bus to Chonghua town, there is a tourist bus to pick up passengers

Address: Chonghua town, Jiangyou City, Sichuan Province

Longitude: 104.98239486622

Latitude: 31.956179037901

Chinese PinYin : Lao Jun1 Shan Xiao Dong Yi Zhi