Shunchang

Shaowu, Guangze, Shunchang, Nanping, Futun Creek, Nakou, Shaikou, Weimin, Yangkou, Dabugang, Longtou Rapids, Jishui Rapids, Guanyin Rapids, Sanjian Rapids Have you ever seen real rapids? Not the kind you find at a theme park. The kind that actually kills people. In 1780, at “Jishui Tan” alone, 12 boats capsized in a single year. Over 3,000 logs were lost. In 1890, a sudden rainstorm at “Guanyin Tan” sent four salt-laden boats crashing into hidden reefs. Over 200,000 jin of salt sank to the riverbed. ...

On the Min River, timber rafts floated like endless green dragons. In 1934, the Futun Stream alone had 32 navigation temples. They guarded the life-and-death voyages of over 4,500 rafts each year. This is the story of men and a river. When I cross-referenced the Shaowu Prefecture Annals and Shunchang County Annals, I discovered a truth: every drop of rooster blood spilled into the river was a contract written with lives. ...