The Origin of the Name 'Dabie Mountains': A Journey Through Ancient Chinese Geography

The Dabie Mountains are well-known in our country, and anyone who hears this name for the first time feels that it's quite unique. Where does the name 'Dabie' come from? Its origin can be traced back to the first geography book in China, 'Shangshu Yu Gong'. The book mentions the Dabie Mountains twice, for example: 'From Juzong Mountain, pass through Jing Mountain; from Neifang Mountain, reach Dabie Mountain' ... 'Juzong Mountain guides the Yangtze River, flowing east to become the Han River, then east again to become the Canglang River, passing through Sanxi to reach the Dabie Mountains, and finally flowing south into the Yangtze River.' In addition, the Dabie Mountains have unique geographical and cultural backgrounds. The mountain range stretches for hundreds of miles and is the watershed between the Yangtze River and the Huai River in China. The water on the southern foothills flows into the Yangtze River, while that on the northern foothills flows into the Huai River. Therefore, the climate and vegetation on the north and south sides of the Dabie Mountains are markedly different.