From the beginning of being sensible, I really often think about this problem and have consulted many knowledgeable people, but I have not got an ideal explanation. I remember my father once said that "Ulan" is a Mongolian word, but what it means, my father can't say. I have read several local chronicles and know that this place used to be a seesaw for ethnic minorities in the west, and the Mongolian army in the Yuan Dynasty occupied it for the longest time. In this way, nine times out of ten, it was the Mongols who gave the mountain the name of "Wulan". In Laojingyuan County, there are many places with Mongolian flavor like this, such as "Haas Mountain", "Dalachi" and "Maobula". But what do they all mean?
By chance, I chatted with an old gentleman who once served as the mine manager of Jingyuan Ciyao Coal Mine and retired from the post of director of Pingchuan Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. His explanation is more convincing to me. Mr. Zhang from his hometown of Xiaoshui said that he heard from his elders that their ancestors were Mongolians. They lost in the Yuan and Ming Wars more than 600 years ago, so they remained anonymous in the local area. This coincides with the historical data of "Black Fox Zhao" in Huining when we compiled "Ancient and Modern Silver". Mr. Zhang said: The word "Ulan" has two interpretations, one is "steed" and the other is "red flag". He can't tell which explanation is more accurate because he doesn't know Mongolian either.
Although Mr. Zhang did not make a definite judgment, his explanation is the most satisfactory one I have ever heard. Say "horse" first. On the vast Mongolian grassland, riders worship horses the most. Without horses, can they jump over the Great Wall and win the Central Plains? In Inner Mongolia, Wulan Qi Mu is very famous, and her free translation is Riding a Horse's Literary Propaganda Team. The brave Genghis Khan's fighters occupied this place, so it is completely reasonable to name a mountain they like for a mountain they occupied. Accordingly, "horse" is omnipotent; In addition, I understand that "red flag" may be a pictographic statement. Look at the mountain carefully. The front of the mountain is neat, like a knife chopping an axe. The whole Shandong is high in the west and low in the west, and the top of the mountain is a beautiful wave curve, especially in the evening during the Spring Festival every year. The red lantern runs from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain like a burning torch, and the beautiful picture is just a flower fluttering in the wind.
I think the theories of "steed" and "red flag" can be established. Before there is a more detailed, accurate and authoritative explanation, Du Shi's opinion is that it should be explained like this. We were joking, not trying to cram it into any formal place. There is a saying that after we retire in a few years, we will take our grandchildren to travel around the mountains. In case a troublemaker asks, "Grandpa, why is this mountain called Wulan Mountain?" We don't just touch those sparse beards and give the dolls balls in their mouths. Here, in the name of a descendant of Wulan Mountain, I sincerely wish my hometown elders, under the guidance of Socialism with Chinese characteristics's great banner, rapid development in the process of building a harmonious society and a beautiful home, such as galloping horses!