Preface: West Lake, also known as Qiantang Lake, located in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, is one of the three famous lakes in south China. Many interesting stories have been passed down here, such as “The Legend of the White Snake”, “Liang Shan Bo and Zhu Ying Tai” and so on. Today’s story is also related to West Lake.
Long ago, there was a lake called Jinniu Lake.
It wasn’t as famous as it is now.
The lake was vast, with white waters connecting to the sky.
Fertile farmland surrounded the lake.
People farmed here, hoping for a good harvest.
The lake water was their good helper.
The crops grew well, with heavy rice ears like pearls.
During harvest time, everyone smiled happily.
When not busy, people would go fishing and shrimping on the lake.
The lake surface sparkled, and people shared tips, having a great time.
There were no arguments here; people lived in harmony, enjoying simple and happy lives.
A golden ox lived at the bottom of the lake.
When it was sunny for too long, it would appear, glittering like a golden mountain.
It spat out clear water, filling the lake.
One summer, it hadn’t rained for a long time.
The earth was cracked and dry, the crops were withered, and people were thirsty and weak.
They hoped the golden ox would appear.
One morning, the golden ox really appeared.
Everyone clapped and cheered with joy.
After spitting out water, the golden ox slowly returned to the lake.
Leaving everyone with hope and happiness.
The news spread.
A county magistrate wanted to catch the golden ox to rise in rank and become wealthy.
He sent people to look for it, but they couldn’t find it.
The magistrate got angry and forced the people to drain the lake.
People had no choice but to go pumping, exhausted.
The lake dried up, and the golden ox appeared, glittering.
The magistrate tried to seize the golden ox but couldn’t move it.
He offered a reward of 300 taels of silver, but the villagers ignored him.
The magistrate flew into a rage and threatened to execute them.
At that moment, the golden ox roared loudly, shaking the heavens and the earth.
The golden ox stood up and roared again.
It spat out a surge of water, sweeping away the magistrate and his officers.
The lake filled up again, and the golden ox never appeared again.
People never forgot the golden ox.
To commemorate it, they built a tower near the lake.
Everyone went to look out from the tower every day.
This tower was called “Yongjin Gate.”
It became a local landmark and a symbol of people’s longing for a better life.
通过阅读中国神话、民间故事、历史典故、人物传记学汉语，简单易学，中英对照，适合初学者！
Learning Chinese through reading Chinese mythology, folk stories, historical allusions, and biographies is easy to learn and bilingual, suitable for beginners!