Well has a close relationship with ancient people. It is a sign that the primitive life of human hunting and gathering has entered a slash-and-burn agricultural society. "Do it at sunrise, rest at sunset, dig wells and drink, plow and eat." The old proverb illustrates this point. According to legend, the art of sinking wells was invented by Fu, the master of all civilizations.

Before the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty, the ancient city of Longli in Jinping County was densely covered with hanging wells, which could be seen everywhere on both sides of the street, in the depths of alleys, in residential houses and in the yamen courtyard. According to the local "Dragon Brand" records, "The seventy-two surname of Longli Ancient City is seventy-two wells, and all food needs are inconvenient." It is said that in the old dragon, one surname had a well, and the surnames did not interfere with each other's use, with 72 mouths. Traces of grinding rope can be seen in every well. These wells vary in depth, from a dozen meters deep to four or five meters shallow. The wellhead is about 50 cm to 1 m from the ground, and the shaft wall is riverbed stone, which is owned by private companies. Wellheads are round and square, but most of them are round. These wells are unique. They are the soul, blood and milk of the ancient city. For thousands of years, they have nurtured people of all ethnic groups who have lived here for generations. With them, the ancient city is full of vitality. Without it, the ancient city would cease to exist. It is the Longxi River that gave birth to the ancient and splendid history and culture of the ancient city. Longxi river water seeps into these hanging wells from the ancient city and is sent to thousands of households through streets and alleys.

In fact, the ancient wells in Longli are not only simple wells, but also wells born of people. Because there are 72 wells, not because there are 72 wells with 72 surnames. This starts with the 72-year-old family coming to Longlitun Army. Longli set up a long lawsuit against barbarians in Longli as early as the second year of Yuan Dynasty (1322). In the 11th year of Hongwu in Ming Dynasty (1378), the Dongmiao peasant uprising led by Wu Mian of Liping (now Liping) in Huguang captured Liping, Jinping and Hunan passages in one fell swoop. Zhu Yuanzhang, the sixth son of Ming Taizu, led 300,000 troops to suppress and defeated the rebels in 18 (1385). The imperial court continued to station troops in Longli and implemented military camps. The establishment of "keeping thousands of households in Longli" laid the population base in Longli, and it was also the beginning of many surnames' life in the city. When did Longli's seventy-two surnames begin? According to the Yellow Book (Hukou Book) compiled by Cao Langzhong, Minister of the Ministry of Life of the Central Government in the third year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1405), the surname of Longli at that time was 72, and the thirteen official households were "Tao, Bao, 700, Jiasuo Wang, 3,000, Jiang Liyang, Hu and Dusizhuang".

By the middle and late Qing Dynasty, Longli's economy was flourishing and its population surged. At that time, there was a saying that there were "3,700 in the city, 7,300 outside the city, 72 surnames and 72 wells". This clearly shows that the "seventy-two surnames" in Longli include 7,300 people outside the city, and so do the seventy-two wells. Wells exist for people, while others have wells. Well has become a part of the culture of the ancient city, and it is also a big landscape and window to watch the folk customs of the ancient city. The concept of 72 wells in Longli is not only for drinking water, but also closely related to military defense. Soldiers usually need to bathe and wash clothes with water, and close the city gate in wartime. No matter how long, they are not afraid of the enemy's siege of water, and the residents in the city are not threatened by siege. Water is inseparable from people's lives. Historically, drinking water has been the primary factor in building cities. When thousands of households were built in Longli, in a sense, the "72-eye well" was actually the product of military defense function due to the consideration of defense factors in the war.

After the establishment of Qianhu in Longli, during the 459 years from the 30th year of Hongwu (1397) to the 6th year of Xianfeng in Qing Dynasty (1856), there were seven major wars. Especially in the first year of Shunzhi (1649) and the sixth year of Xianfeng (1856), the two wars were the most intense. The third official surnamed Bao was killed. At that time, the city was full of swords and shadows, and the ancient city was full of blood. More than half the residents were killed or injured, and many people fled. For example, Dong and Qian both fled to live in villages in counties near Rongjiang and Liping. The so-called "seventy-two surname" no longer exists. Although there are more than 800 households and more than 3,800 people in Longli, there are only 22 different surnames, only one third of the "72 surnames"! In the war, cities were destroyed and people died. Naturally, the "72-eye well" is also doomed.

With the development of history and the increase of population, the role of military castles has disappeared, and the role of hanging wells has been relatively weakened. Hanging wells have been abandoned and some have been filled in. Since 1980s, most people have installed manual suction pumps. In 2004, with the support of the county water conservancy department, tap water was introduced from outside the city. So far, the residents of Longli ancient city generally do not drink hanging wells, but only use them for washing. There are still 15 ancient wells in the ancient city, such as Yuanquan Well, Dongjiajing Well, Damiao Well (that is, in the offices of thousands of households), Zhang Suo Street Well, Baosuo Street Well, Guihua Street Well and Beimen Shuang Yan Well. In addition, there are more than 60 mountain springs and wells around the ancient city.