Sights in Lishui

The East and West Rocks Scenic Area, located along Huji Creek, a tributary of the Oujiang River, is located in Laozhu She Ethnic Town, 28 kilometers northwest of Lishui City. The scenic area covers 2.5 square kilometers. A provincial-level scenic spot, the entire area features a typical Danxia landform, named for the two massive rocks facing each other. East and West Rocks are characterized by majestic cliffs, canyon scenery, numerous ancient caves and stone chambers, and ethnic customs.

Nanming Mountain faces the urban area across the Oujiang River. Temples and pavilions nestle in the jungle, and ancient monuments loom among the crimson cliffs, earning it the reputation of "the best of Kuancang." The scenic area is characterized by its unique rock formations, picturesque waters, tranquil mountains and forests, cliff carvings, and She ethnic customs. Nanming Mountain boasts numerous grotesquely shaped rocks, stone bridges, and waterfalls, with its unique stone formations making it a renowned mountain in southern Zhejiang.

Halfway up the mountain, a steep cliff rises, and slightly above it stands the Shuangqi Pavilion, commonly known as the Half-Mountain Pavilion. A massive rock, over ten feet long, stretches across the rock face, known as the Stone Beam. The Stone Beam, along with the Yinyue Pond beneath it, Gaoyang Cave slightly above it, and the Yunge House on the summit, contain numerous inscriptions by ancient artists, primarily from the Song Dynasty. To the west of Yinyue Pond stands the Renshou Temple, built during the Song Dynasty.

The cliff carvings on Nanming Mountain are particularly famous, among which the handwritings of Ge Hong, Shen Kuo and Mi Fu are the most precious.

The core area of ​​the Guyan Painting Village scenic area encompasses Dagangtou, Yantou, Pingdi, and the Baoding area. It is a renowned Chinese art sketching base and a major photography creation center known as the "Hometown of Chinese Photography." It is dotted with historical and cultural relics such as a thousand-year-old camphor tree cluster, a thousand-year-old town, a thousand-year-old village, a thousand-year-old celadon kiln site, a thousand-year-old ancient stele, and a thousand-year-old Song Dynasty tomb complex. The thousand-year-old town of Dagangtou, a major shipping hub in ancient Zhejiang, is a landmark of Guyan Painting Village. The town's ancient streets are built along the river, and a row of "beauty chairs" still stand, offering a breathtaking view of the river. Beginning in the 1980s, a group of painters and photographers, drawing on the techniques of the French Barbizon School, flocked to Bihu, Dagangtou, and other areas for sketching and creation, gradually establishing the Lishui Barbizon School.

The winding Nine-bend Lianxi River and the ten-mile-long picture gallery offer elegant mountains and rivers, shrouded in mist, and a pastoral landscape filled with wild charm, combining the beauty of Guilin, the wonders of Huangshan, and the dangers of Huashan. Dinghu Peak, rising steeply from the ground and piercing the clouds, is known as "the highest peak in the world" and "the best bamboo shoot in the world." Legend has it that Huangdi, the ancestor of the Chinese nation, once refined elixir here and ascended to heaven. The Huangdi Temple is a prominent site for worship and veneration of Huangdi in southern China, echoing the Huangdi Mausoleum in Shaanxi, forming a "northern mausoleum, southern temple" pattern.

The Xiandu Scenic Area encompasses four major scenic areas: Xiandu, Huanglong, Yanmen, and Dayangshan, as well as over 300 sub-attractions, including Dinghu Peak, Niweng Cave, Xiao Chibi, Furong Gorge, Zhutan Mountain, and the Zhaohou Temple. The Nine-Bend Lianxi River and the Ten-Mile Art Gallery offer elegant scenery, shrouded in mist, and a vibrant pastoral landscape filled with wild charm, combining the beauty of Guilin, the wonders of Huangshan, and the dangers of Mount Hua. Dinghu Peak, in particular, is known as the "World's No. 1 Bamboo Shoot." Since the 1950s, Xiandu's stunning scenery and captivating cultural offerings have captivated film and television directors. Nearly 100 film and television productions have filmed locations there, earning it the nickname "Natural Studio."

Dinghu Peak is the core of the Xiandu Scenic Area and the symbol of Xiandu. Its shape resembles a bamboo shoot piercing the sky, earning it the nickname "The First Peak in the World" and "The First Bamboo Shoot in the World."

At the summit, amidst the verdant pines and cypresses, a pool of water forms, never drying up. Legend has it that this is where the Yellow Emperor, the ancestor of the Chinese nation, forged a cauldron and refined elixir before ascending to heaven on a red dragon.

Shimen Cave National Forest Park encompasses the Shimen Waterfall, Bowen Ancient Village, Chen Cheng's former residence, the Kaiyun Spiritual Valley, the Prince's Scenic Spot, and the Shigu Grass Sea. Combining lush mountains and forests, a wealth of cultural relics, spectacular waterfalls, and a pleasant climate, it is a "fairyland" characterized by tranquility, seclusion, spirituality, antiquity, uniqueness, danger, wildness, and charm. The Ming Dynasty poet Li Qian's description of "high for gazing, clear for washing, deep for seclusion, quiet for comfort, fragrant for gathering, and wondrous for reciting" perfectly captures Shimen's scenery. Shimen Cave has earned the reputation of being "a paradise on earth, like the ingenious Liu Bowen."

Here, you'll find breathtaking cascades of waterfalls, each with its own unique characteristics. The lowest cascade cascades down from a 1,125-meter cliff, resembling a hanging silk thread, splashing like dancing pearls and dispersing like silver mist. Xie Lingyun, the prefect of Yongjia during the Southern Dynasties, called this the "most scenic spot in the southeast." By the Tang Dynasty, Shimen Cave had become the 12th of the 36 famous Taoist caves in my country.

From the tower structure to the wooden eaves, there are no traces of later repairs on the Yanqing Temple Pagoda. It is the most complete original Northern Song Dynasty pagoda preserved among the towers in Jiangnan.

Entering the pagoda courtyard, a cobblestone avenue stretches to the tower's base, flanked by lush trees and blooming flowers. Ahead stands the leaning, six-sided, seven-story brick and wood tower, each hollowed out with a terraced corridor. Its brackets and tiles are adorned with double-curved heads, and the eaves are gently splayed, evoking a Tang Dynasty style. The iron pagoda's crown features a sleek, curving iron pattern. Having weathered over a thousand years, the Yanqing Temple Pagoda is now tilted. During renovations in the 1980s, it had tilted 2° 12", with an eccentricity of over a meter. It's been dubbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa of the East. This, in turn, adds another layer of charm to the ancient tower.

Xiangong Lake Scenic Area is the second largest artificial lake in Zhejiang Province, formed after the construction of the Jinshuitan and Shitang hydropower stations. Stretching along the main stream of the Oujiang River, it features forests and lakes, and integrates caves, waterfalls, ethnic customs, and historical sites.

Xiangong Lake, encompassing over 200,000 mu (approximately 100,000 mu) of mountains and forests, stretches nearly 100 kilometers around. Following the original course of the Oujiang River, the lake's surface follows its winding course, creating numerous bays and creek forks, creating numerous tranquil "harbours." Boats sail the lake, skirting mountain after mountain, and bay after bay.

Suichang Qianfo Mountain boasts captivating waterscapes and pristine broadleaf forests, earning it the nickname "Jiuzhaigou of Jiangnan." A breathtaking sight is the 300-meter-tall natural mountain Maitreya Buddha, draped in a green robe and with arms outstretched, protecting all living beings. He gazes directly at the Buddha enshrined in the Yan'en Hall of the Future Temple. Behind the hall, eight peaks resemble the Eight Immortals, guarding the Dharma day and night – a truly miraculous gift from nature.

Shenlong Feipu, formerly known as Sanpu, was named after its resemblance to a white dragon cascading down the Shenlong Valley stream. It is a majestic waterfall located in the Shenlong Valley section of Suichang National Forest Park.

The Shenlong Valley Tourist Resort consists of eight sub-scenic areas: Suichang Nostalgia, Garden Dream, Fox Tracks in the Deep Forest, Forest Bathing, Tang Gong's Dream Search, Hidden Dragons and Crouching Tigers, General Breaking Through the Wall, and Shenlong Emerging from the Mountain.

Nanjianyan is located in southwest Suichang, 50 kilometers from the county seat. Its main peak stands at 1,626 meters above sea level. Nanjianyan Scenic Area is an international photography destination, and its combination of terraced fields, seas of clouds, bamboo forests, and mountain villages is considered the best in Jiangnan. The scenic area boasts unique astronomical phenomena such as seas of clouds, sunsets, rainbows, snow scenes, rime, and icicles.

The main landscapes include: the landforms composed of many strange peaks and rocks such as Tianzhu Peak, Shentan Peak, Qianzhang Rock, Small Stone Forest, and Divine Turtle Exploring the Sea; the water landscapes composed of Xiagui Yaochi, Nine-Level Waterfall, and Longmen Feipu Waterfall; and the flora and fauna mainly including bamboo sea, forest sea, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest, and ancient pines.

Dushan Village is an ancient village in Suichang, Lishui. Around the time of Emperor Xiaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty (1163-1190), Ye Luan, the great-grandson of Ye Mengde, the Minister of the Left, moved from Maoshan, an ancient city in Songyang, to Dushan, where the village was founded. During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the Zhu, Ye, Zhou, and Shao clans coexisted there. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, Ye Luan, one of the nineteenth Jinshi (a scholar) who passed the imperial examination, was appointed Deputy Director of the Ministry of Works' Construction Department. At that time, the village flourished with outstanding literary talent, producing numerous notable figures, and with the rapid development of scenic spots and the flourishing of the village.

The Longquan Mountain Tourist Resort is located within the Fengyang Mountain Baishanzu National Nature Reserve in Longquan City, Zhejiang Province. Its main peak, Huangmaojian, stands at 1,929 meters, making it the highest peak in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Similar to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the area boasts numerous unique plateau natural wonders, including plateau lakes, alpine meadows, and seas of clouds and rime. Currently, six scenic areas are open to the public: Longquan Grand Canyon, Fengyang Lake, Strange Pines on the Cliffs, Qixingtan, Huangmaojian, and the Oujiang River Source. The unique pines and rocks, deep pools and waterfalls, the Buddha's halo on the cloud-tops, and the thousand-meter-tall, naturally formed Longquan Giant Buddha are all breathtaking. The breathtaking scenery of grotesque pines, waterfalls, rapids, and deep valleys is truly breathtaking!

The scenic area uses She ethnic customs as its carrier, integrates natural landscapes and cultural relics, relies on Dajun Ancient Village and Oujiang River, and takes She ethnic customs as its core. It is the best window to enter the She village and experience the She ethnic customs.

Dajun Ancient Street is a famous She ethnic street, with a richer She ethnic heritage than Jingning County. Founded in the late Tang Dynasty and early Five Dynasties, Dajun Ancient Village has served as a water and land transportation hub in the Xiaoxi River basin, a tributary of the Oujiang River, for over a thousand years. Its commercial economy flourished, and its emphasis on farming and studying led to the local people's emphasis on the "three poles": the pen pole, the scale pole, and the bamboo pole (paddle). They earned their livings by writing deeds and documents, conducting business, and rowing boats. The architecture, with its quaint, front-of-house, back-of-house style and stone-paved streets, reflects the Ming and Qing dynasties' style. The village is known as the "Pearl of the Creek," "Jingning's Highest Institution of Learning," and "Hibiscus Town of Southern Zhejiang."

Daliang is located in a small alpine basin at an altitude of 1,600 meters, surrounded by mountains on all sides. The area boasts a diverse landscape of rolling hills and picturesque rural villages. Steep peaks rise like a ladder to the sky, creating a sense of wonder beyond the heavens, earning it the nickname "Three Through the Sky." The area boasts numerous historical buildings, ancient trees, and scenic spots. Examples include the Shisi Temple, the Mei Clan Ancestral Hall, the Huguan Bridge, and the Bang Bridge.

Spanning three geological landscape zones—mountains, hills, and valleys—and boasting over 700 terraces, the Yunhe Rice Terraces are the largest in East China and are known as "China's Most Beautiful Terraces." Like a chain or ribbon, they wind upward from the foot of the mountain, layer upon layer, varying in height. Their lines flow like flowing clouds and water, flowing gracefully and elegantly. The scale and grandeur of the terraces blend harmoniously with the delicate, crisp lines and dots, creating a world of charming and elegant curves.

Covered bridges hold a significant place in the history of bridge architecture worldwide. Also known as roof bridges or wind and rain bridges, these special bridges are constructed with a covered roof atop the bridge deck. They can be categorized as wooden arch, flat beam, or stone arch. Among these, wooden arch covered bridges represent the most technologically advanced type of traditional Chinese wooden bridges, and are unique in global bridge history, earning them the nickname "living fossils" of covered bridges.

Shuangmiaojian is famous for its alpine meadows, alpine rocks and alpine wetlands.

The slopes between the two peaks of Shuangmiaojian and the surrounding area are all grassland, with patches of sand and gravel exposed in places. Standing at the summit, one can overlook four counties in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, a panorama of mountains, and the vast expanse of Ruokeng Xianyan Mountain in Tongjianggen Township. Shuangmiaojian is renowned for its unique rock formations, dotted across dozens of square kilometers of gentle slopes. Some resemble giant turtles, others resemble birds and beasts, some stacked and precariously teeter on the brink of collapse, some clustered into a maze, some isolated among flowers resemble graceful fairies, and some soar through the air to form skybridges. Mysterious legends abound, such as the "apparition of a divine turtle" and the "splitting of rocks with a divine sword." The alpine meadows are a key attraction at Shuangmiaojian. The vast, flat meadows atop the mountaintop resemble the distant Mongolian steppes. Against a backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, a vibrant green expanse stretches to the distant mountainside, creating a "happy paradise" for hundreds of cattle from nearby villages. Farmers at the foot of the mountain have the custom of "letting cattle graze in the mountains after spring plowing and not returning for several months", which adds a bit of frontier scenery to the Jiangnan scenery.

Known as the "ancestor of a hundred mountains," this area boasts the second highest peak in Zhejiang Province. The area boasts a series of peaks and ridges, creating breathtaking scenery and a variety of landscapes. As the source of the Oujiang, Minjiang, and Fu'an Rivers, it's often called the "source of three rivers." The scenic area boasts over ten major attractions, including the Baishanzu fir trees, a low-carbon experience zone, the mysterious Hundred Waterfalls Valley, and the ancient Rhododendron Valley.

Among them, the "Baishanzu Fir" is a relict plant from the Quaternary Ice Age. There are only three of them left in the world, located at an altitude of 1,760 meters on the southern slope of Baishanzu.