Baisha Well, Ancient water well in Changsha, China

The Baisha Well (Baisha Gujing) in Changsha consists of four rectangular spring mouths cut into granite, each about 67 cm long, 33 cm wide and 70 cm deep. A stone stele inscribed "白沙古井" stands east of the openings, with water channels and stone railings around the site.

The well was first dug during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods as a single spring. By the late Ming dynasty it had been divided into two springs, and later expanded to four. It was listed as a municipal cultural relic in 1964, restored with government funds in 1983, and upgraded to a provincial cultural relic in 2006.

The well represents a traditional water source deeply rooted in local history and daily life. Visitors can observe how the simple, functional design reflects the practical needs of past communities.

The four spring mouths sit low in the ground, each about 67 cm long, 33 cm wide and 70 cm deep, so visitors look down into them rather than standing at a raised wellhead. Stone steps on either side and a stone railing on the higher ground give access, and a stele inscribed "Baisha Ancient Well" stands east of the openings. Water channels run around the springs.

The well's water level stays the same in every season, neither overflowing nor drying up, and the temperature runs warm in winter and cold in summer. In 1999, when a housing project was planned on Baisha Ridge behind the well, residents petitioned the city government until construction stopped.