South Heavenly Gate Forest Park

South Heavenly Gate Forest Park is situated in the forested area in the southeast of Horinger County, just 7 kilometres from the county seat. Covering a total area of 75,000 mu with an altitude exceeding 2,300 metres, it is an ideal tourist destination perfect for mountain climbing, summer retreats and immersive nature experiences. Supporting facilities within the scenic zone include parking lots, sightseeing trails and pavilions for visitors to rest.

The park features precipitous valleys, surging mountain streams, rolling layered mountain ridges and abundant vegetation. It boasts rich reserves of mineral deposits, medicinal herbs, wild mountain vegetables and other natural resources. Serving as a natural botanical garden, it records more than 500 plant species. The lush forests and grasses grow in distinct vertical layers, presenting unique scenery in every season: wild mountain flowers carpet the hills in spring; dense green canopies offer cool shade in summer; autumn leaves blaze like fire across the slopes; and winter transforms the woods into a wonderland of snow-laden jade-like branches.

South Heavenly Gate is also a natural wildlife sanctuary. Thousands of birds sing in chorus, roe deer and red deer inhabit the woods, and wild boars dart across the wilderness. Over 50 species of wild animals have been documented here, including more than ten species under National Class I and Class II Key State Protection.

Marshal He Long once marched through this area by night during his military campaigns across the country and left a poem here, making the park a celebrated red tourism site.