Taoyuan Xiangu Scenic Area

Taoyuan Xiangu (peach-garden paradise) Scenic Area is a national class-AAA scenic zone and an ecological tourist and scenery area. It is located 90 kilometers from downtown Beijing, is eight kilometers long from the western bank of the Miyun Reservoir in the east and to the top of the Guanfengtai Peak in the west.

The total area of the scenic zone is 16 square kilometers. In the valleys of the scenic zone, the forests are thick, the mountain peaks are high and imposing, there are numerous ponds and waterfalls, and the most well-known ones are the one lake, six waterfalls and 13 ponds. In winter, it becomes a wonderland of snow and ice, with more than 80 tourist attractions dotted in this wonderland. All natural sceneries together form a natural landscape corridor, like a paradise out of the bustling world.

In the scenic zone, there is a water recreation area: the Taoyuan Lake, where visitors could go fishing, boating or diving and ride a boat to have a panoramic sightseeing of the lake. There is also the “land of paradise”, which is surrounded by water in three directions—west, south and east, and is encircled by mountains in the four directions. Here on this land of paradise, flowers give off fragrance, birds are singing, and everything is thriving, giving visitors an unforgettable experience.

The Qinglong Pond is 80 meters long, 10 meters wide and 2-6 meters deep, covering an area of about 800 square meters, and visitors would find they are absorbed by its beauty and reluctant to return home. Climbing up the skywards ladder from the pond area, visitors would find a stunning view—the Taoyuan Waterfalls. Climbing northwards, visitors would find the rock slot with a gleam of the sky and get a view of the “golden tortoise shadow” on the northeast slope of the mountain. A legend goes like this: once upon a time, a severe drought hit the area. Many locals went to the Qinglong Pond to pray for rains. An old tortoise in the pond was moved by the sincerity of the locals and brought rains with its supernatural power. The locals were saved, but the tortoise's action of bringing rains to the locals without authorization violated the rules of the heaven. One day, amid thunders and lightning, a column of water shot up from the pond and the old tortoise disappeared. The locals tried to find the tortoise and finally found the image of the tortoise on the rock cliff of a cave opposite to the Qinglong Pond. Since then, the locals would go there to burn incense and offer sacrifices on festivals, wishing the golden tortoise would stay forever to bring harvest, peace and happiness to the locals.

Taoyuan Xiangu is known for its dense forests, wild flowers, murmuring brooks and rushing waterfalls, integrating ponds, rocks, caves, peaks, valleys and fruits. With convenient transport, favorable climate and convenient accommodation facilities, Taoyuan Xiangu is a paradise for tourists.

Publishes at : 07-09-23 22:01

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