Línyí

Linyi stands by the Yi River in southern Shandong, the historic seat of Yizhou. It is associated with the calligrapher Wang Xizhi, whose family came from the ancient commandery of Langya. A pond in the old town was remembered as the place where he washed his inkstone; an account of 1144 described an old terrace and neglected pool there. In 1668 a great earthquake devastated Yizhou and neighbouring counties, bringing down buildings and killing thousands.