Tóngbǎi

Tongbai lies at the northern foot of the mountains from which the Huai River begins its long eastward course. A temple dedicated to the river stood at its source, and imperial officials came to offer sacrifice to the water. A surviving account records funds raised locally to repair the shrine in 1590. A century later the magistrate Gao Shiduo restored it again and had the words “Source of the Huai” cut on the reverse of an older stone, sparing the expense of a new stele.