Tianshan.com reporter Zhang Zhili
A river can carry the history of a city, nurture the civilization of a city, and give birth to the development of a city. This is the case with the Manas River originating from the glacier at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. It flows through many cities. Among them, Manas County, which has the same name as the river, still retains a full sense of history.
The galloping Manas River is known as the "Golden Jade Bottom". Photo by Yang Zhongnian
"Two rivers traverse Chen, Tibetan gold and jade to present treasures, and a city stands proudly to receive Funari's majesty." The "two rivers" mentioned in this couplet in Manas County are the Manas River and the Taxi River that flow through the area. On September 21, Yang Zhongnian, director of the Shi Zhi Office of the Manas County Party Committee, told reporters that recently, when they repaired the Jingyuan Building and the Eighth Assembly Hall, which were built in the ten years of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, they wrote a total of 32 articles based on the humanities and history of Manas County. Couplets, and selected 6 pairs to be placed on the ancient city buildings, so that more people can understand the Manas River and the "Phoenix City" with a long history on the river.
The Jingyuan Building under construction on the banks of the Manas River. Photo by Yang Zhongnian
Manas County got its name from the river, but as everyone knows, there have been many names in the local history. In 762 AD (the first year of Tang Baoying), Xihai County was established here. In 1778 (43 years of Qianlong), Emperor Qianlong wrote a personal inscription and renamed Manas County as Suilai County. In 1954, Suilai County was restored to the old name of Manas County. Because the ancient city resembles a Phoenix, it has the reputation of "Phoenix City". The clear water flows northward, giving birth to the Mahe Culture, Jasper Culture and Phoenix Culture for Manas County. "Tianshan Golden Phoenix, Jasper Manas" has become the shining publicity card of Manas County.
From Ma Yunqi in Tang Dynasty, Qiu Chuji in Yuan Dynasty, Lin Zexu , Hong Liangji , Qi Yunshi and other 25 literati in the Qing Dynasty, to the word of mouth of ordinary people , Manas River has been a rich and magical river since ancient times. It is the largest inland river at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, with a total drainage area of nearly 20,000 square kilometers and a total length of more than 500 kilometers, of which 90 kilometers are in Manas County. Speaking of the Manas River, Yang Zhongnian said proudly: "The banks of the Manas River produce gold and the bottom of the river hides jade, which makes Manas County known as the 'Golden Jade Bottom' and the 'Hometown of Gold and Jade'. Lin Zexu praised it. Suilai County called it 'no less prosperous than Lanzhou', and more than 80% of the jasper in the Palace Museum collection came from Manas, all thanks to the Manas River."
The beautiful scenery of the Manas River . Photo courtesy of the Propaganda Department of Manas County Party Committee
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Manas County has vigorously implemented landscape improvement, park expansion, road reconstruction, square construction and other projects that benefit the people to build an ecologically livable city. At the same time, relying on abundant water resources to introduce rivers into the city, six major parks and squares, including Xihai Park, Wine Park, Fengming Lake Park, Suilai Park, and Phoenix Botanical Garden, and a flood control ecological landscape belt around the city have been built, so that people of all ethnic groups can share the fruits of green development.
At the same time of water control, it is also necessary to manage water. The reporter learned from the Propaganda Department of the Manas County Party Committee that in recent years, Manas County has been dominated by the river chief system, and has always focused on protecting water resources, preventing water pollution, improving the water environment, and restoring the water ecology. Prioritize and green development, firmly establish the concept of respecting nature, conform to nature, and protect nature, and properly handle the relationship between river management, protection, development and utilization, and achieve smooth rivers, clear water, green banks, and beautiful scenery, making it more and more livable.
Along the Manas River, there are Manas National Wetland Park , Kenswat Reservoir Water Conservancy Scenic Area and other tourist attractions, along the river bank there is the very popular S101 Internet celebrity road in the past two years, known as the third in Xinjiang A tourist road that must be checked in when coming to Xinjiang. This newly upgraded Internet celebrity road connects most of the topography, landforms and landscape attractions of Xinjiang in the upper reaches of the Manas River. With the improvement of the ecological environment of the Manas River, tourism is in the ascendant.
