Author: Shen Ziyou (heart to the distant mountains).
At 5 p.m. on March 11, I left Kunlun Pass, took the last bus to Binyang, took a long-distance bus to Guigang the next day, and then transferred to Guiping City, it was already more than 1 p.m. After settling down in the accommodation, take the county transportation car to Jintian Village, Jintian Town, and then take a motorcycle to reach the Rhino Ridge, 5 kilometers outside the village, which is the site of the Taiping Rebellion.
The peasant uprising of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was the largest and most far-reaching peasant uprising in the history of our country. From January 11, 1851, it erupted here and lasted for 14 years, affecting 18 provinces, greatly shaking the rule of the Manchu dynasty. At the same time, after the uprising subsided, the country's population plummeted by 40.
It was the most influential at the time, and later it was the most controversial. I thought that in the birthplace of this major event, there would be an exhibition hall rich in historical materials or something, so that we could understand this historical event more systematically.
But the result was a disappointment.
Approaching the scenic spot, looking from afar, I didn't see any decent buildings. The gate is also relatively simple, it is a simple plaque frame supported by imitation wood cement pillars, and the book "Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Jintian Uprising Address".
Entering the gate, it is a relatively flat highland, marked as the ancient camp, the training ground, there are several tall pine trees in the middle, below is a statue of Hong Xiuquan who holds a knife and waves, and there are stele corridors, ruins signs, cultural relics illustration boards and so on around it. Around the field, 750 meters long and 330 meters wide, this is the famous rhinoceros ridge, the original site of Hong Xiuquan's uprising.
[Ancient camp plate, training ground sign].
In the northwest corner of Rhino Ridge, there is a Rhino Pond, which is 190 meters long, 38 meters wide, and has a circumference of 430 meters. According to legend, it is the place where the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is secretly hidden. On the day of the Jintian Uprising, Hong Xiuquan deliberately led his members of the God Worship Society to catch fish in the water, and found a big sword and spear hidden in the pond in advance, and took the opportunity to agitate and say, "This is God gave us to kill demons"! Thus the faith of the congregation of the Worship of God was strengthened. In response, the uprising that shocked the world was launched.
[Rhino Pond].
In the southwest corner of Rhino Ridge, there is a small ground building, which is being closed for repair.
During the tour, no other tourists were seen. I only met a young man from other places, who introduced himself as surnamed Xiao and went to university in Qingdao. The two discussed while walking, and he said that after the Taiping Rebellion subsided, the national population decreased by more than 100 million, and I don't know if it's true or not.
After the tour, he took me to the town in a car.
2017.3.11 excursions.
2024.1.8 Organized in Provence, France.
About author:Shen Ziyou (heart to the distant mountains), a native of Juxian County, Shandong, enlisted in the army in November 1970, transferred to the army in January 1984, and retired from the 14th Bureau of China Railway.
Editor: Li Xunxiu, Zhu Gang, Editorial Department of Qingyanwei Literature.
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