New Top Ten Scenes of the West Lake-Inquiring about Tea at Dragon Well
This scenic spot is located at the Fenghuang Ridge Mountain at the southwest of the West Lake. At the time of Five Dynasties, the Dragon Well Temple was built in this place. According to the legend, the Dragon Well is communicated with the sea, because that there is dragon in the sea, the name Dragon Well is obtained. What’s more, the water in the Dragon Well is very peculiar. When you stir it, a water parting line will appear on the surface of water, as if gossamer swings, and then gradually disappear. In Dragon Well, there are not only famous springs and famous scenes, but also famous tea. The Dragon Well Tea, one of the ten famous kinds of tea in China, possesses four features of “green in color, fragrant in scent, beautiful in shape and sweet in flavor” and is the top in tea.
Tasting tea in Dragon Well has been a fashion in North Song Dynasty. In Yuan and Ming Dynasty, most people took pleasure in touring the Dragon Well and tasting tea there. In Qing Dynasty, the Dragon Well Tea was listed as a tribute and its reputation gradually became higher. The Emperor Qianlong in Qing Dynasty also came here to pick and plant tea. There are still “eighteen imperial tea trees” left in the ancient Dragon Well. Besides, Emperor Qianlong also determined the Guoxi Pavilion, Dixin Pool, A Piece of Cloud, Fenghuang Ridge, Fangyuan Hut, Longhong Ravine, Shenyun Stone and Cui Mountain as “Top Eight Scenes in Dragon Well”.