Yuliang Dam, a comparatively big water control project of the ancient Shexian County, is situated 1km south of the town. Built of granite, the dam is over 100m long, its inclined plane 50m wide. In the Qing and Ming dynasties, local Huizhou people went out to do business just from this ancient port. To a large extend, those business people dominated the country's economy for as long as 400 years. Yuliang Street, one of the three Ming streets extant in Shexian, stretches just along the river, and situated nearby are such scenic spots as the Ancient Pass, the spot where Li Bai made his very popular poems of Inquiries and Expecting-Fairy Bridge.

In ancient Huizhou area, Xinan River was the only way connecting local people with the outside world. Therefore the river became extremely important for their daily life. Just take a look at Yuliang dam on the river built in Song Dynasty, still standing strong after weathering through 1000 years.

Being washed over by water for thousand years, the shape of these stones defines the weight of history, or shall we say the wave of history. And it's right from here, the ancient Yuliang dock, that over millions of teenage boys bid farewell to their hometown. They didn't have time to be sentimental, because for them, this was the starting point for a bright promising future career. And without their efforts, there probably wouldn't be so many old streets, old towns.

China tours inclusive of visiting Yuliang Dam, Shexian County