The water hammer was originally a mechanical device that uses hydraulic power to remove grain husks. This type of machinery has been mentioned in some literature as early as the Western Han Dynasty. In the mouths of villagers around Tongyuan Gorge, water mills are known as "mute pups" in the play. It has been continuously creating wealth for the local people since ancient times.
According to historical records, from the late Yuan Dynasty to the early Ming Dynasty, the ancestors here used the principle of using water carts to pound rice and erected countless water mills on the Tongyuan Gorge. With the power of water, they utilized the advantages of local wood materials to crush and grind the wood into powder to make temple incense. Nowadays, these water powered houses left over from history still continue their ancient functions.
Due to the abundant water source in Tongyuan Gorge, with a drop of nearly 600 meters and a maximum drop of over 100 meters, local people have been building water mills here for thousands of years, working day and night as a profession and reproducing for generations. At present, there are more than 100 existing water mills in Tongyuan Gorge, making it the largest group of water mills in China.