The Confucius Spring Ancient Well at Wenmiao Square in the city of Quanzhou, East China's Fujian province, was built during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and has a history spanning more than 850 years.

The Confucius Spring Ancient Well in Wenmiao Square has a history going back nearly a millennium. [Photo/qzwb.com]

The base of the well forms a square stone ridge and the well plate is square outside and round inside. For safety reasons, the wellhead is sealed with iron chains, as there is still water at the bottom of the well.

Originally, there was a stone pavilion and a 1.5-meter-high stone stele -- an upright slab or pillar, bearing an inscription -- above the well.

The stone stele was erected during the Jiajing reign period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).