Zuo Gongliu, Jinchang

It is said that the old willow outside dema of Jiayuguan was planted by Zuo Zongtang when he was passing by Jiayuguan in Xinjiang in the 1880s. At that time, Zuo Zongtang planted willows along the Hexi Corridor for three thousand li, which attracted the spring breeze to Yuguan.

Zuo Gongliu, Jinchang

On the way out of Qiaowan ancient city and southeast to Jiayuguan City, in the area of pengjiaqiao and Yumen town in Anxi, a few towering willows are called Zuogong willows, which stand beside the road. It's a little gratifying that the predecessors carefully protected them and can benefit the future generations. Zuo Zongtang's exploits in Northwest China have long been successful.

Zuo Zongtang (1812 1885) was born in Xiangyin, Hunan Province. He was a famous Confucian general in the late Qing Dynasty. Zuo Gong grew up on the Bank of Xiangjiang River and had a special preference for green trees. When he led Xiang soldiers to the northwest desert, he felt that the climate was dry, lifeless and acclimatized. So Zuo Gong ordered the army to build roads and plant poplar, willow and Elaeagnus angustifolia trees along the road, in the area suitable for forest and near the city road. The purpose is to consolidate the roadbed, prevent wind and sand, limit troops and horses, and provide shelter for pedestrians. Wherever he goes, he should mobilize the army and the people to plant trees, and formulate measures to protect the forest. According to Zuo Gong's own records, there are 264000 living trees planted from Changwu county to Huining County in Gansu Province. Since ancient times, planting trees on the west side of the river has been the most difficult task. However, under Zuo Gong's advocacy and supervision, the west side of Jingzhou has formed a marvelous sight beyond the Great Wall with willows stretching for thousands of miles and green as a curtain. Zuo Gong's contribution to the development of the northwest is not limited to this. He came to the northwest desert where land is scarce and people's livelihood is poor. In order to solve the problem of military supplies, he followed the method of Han Dynasty and Zhao Dynasty, opened canals and dug wells to cultivate farmland, and revitalized agriculture, animal husbandry and sericulture. 806000 mulberry trees were planted in Xinjiang alone. From Jingzhou to Dunhuang, people were taught to plant rice; sand was spread to conserve soil moisture, cotton was planted widely, and the Western soil was banned by the policy of drawing money from the bottom of the pot. He founded the Gansu manufacturing Bureau and Gansu Textile Bureau, created the earliest modern industry in Northwest China, and taught people to spin and weave. Zuo Gong also actively set up cultural and educational undertakings, established Lanshan academy, and ordered all localities to set up free schools, which played a positive role in improving the cultural quality of the people in the northwest at that time.

Address: Yumen Town, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province

Longitude: 97.040805915344

Latitude: 40.27492288604