There is nothing fresher than swimming in clear mountain water to cool off during the summer. Kuliang has wonderful streams and waterfalls with small pools below where the more adventurous swimmers could paddle around, but for families, having a swimming pool where the water was still and children could splash and swim safely was a real delight on hot summer days.
The old swimming pool at Kuliang
The main swimming pool on Kuliang was built by two individuals, but was soon sold to a group of families who all owned a share. The water for the pool was diverted from one of the small streams on the mountain, and was refreshingly cool.
The villagers were surprised by the swimming pool in the beginning, and were especially shocked to see foreign women swimming in their bathing suits, since Chinese women wore long clothing that covered them out of modesty. Their shock prompted the summer population to create a special pool for the women at the back of the hill behind the main pool, which was called “The Half Moon Pool.”
The women’s pool at the back of the mountain