We use water all the time – to brush our teeth, wash our dishes, keep our plants alive and to quench thirst. But how often do we think about where it comes from?  

The Pearl River is the second longest river in China and the third largest by volume. One of its three main tributaries is the Dongjiang – the eastern tributary – which supplies the industrial, domestic and ecological water used by 40 million people in the region. 

Believe it or not, however, all this H₂O begins with a miniscule trickle in the southeasternmost part of Jiangxi Province. About 1,000 meters above sea level, drips start their trip down the forested slopes of Yajibo Mountain, Xunwu County. And if you’re willing to lace up your hiking boots, you can locate where it all begins. 

Of course, there’s a lot more riparian-related stuff you can do in Xunwu. Take, for example, Qinglongyan Scenic Area. There, if you follow the trail with the river to your left and domineering red Danxia landforms to your right, you’ll discover a 10m tall rock Goddess of Mercy watching over you, and above it, grottoes carved into the cliff face by Mother Nature herself that you can climb up and in to. Why not take a leisurely boat ride afterwards? 

On the topic of rocks, Xunwu is home to a burgeoning boulder trade. Head to the Stone Ornaments Market to find rocks that will shock with their unique unprocessed beauty, or magnificent hand-sculpted masterpieces. What’s popular right now are amulets, pendants, bangles and beaded jewelry made from a black igneous stone, plucked from the cool shallow waters of the Dongjiang.

Well, there you have it. Rock temples and rock shopping, plus, the very source of the Pearl River’s eastern tributary, deceivingly small for something with such an immense impact. You cannot deny that Xunwu totally rocks.