Taihang Mountain Scenic Tour

Rolling mountain ridges surround Jingniang Lake, crisscrossed by deep valleys with distinctive views. Some landscapes are man-made with magnificent momentum and exquisite craftsmanship beyond natural works. Others take on vivid and varied shapes formed by natural forces. Many sights are blended with myths and historical tales, infusing scenery with emotion and stirring visitors’ feelings.

Historical records tell legendary stories about Emperor Zhao Kuangyin. The well-known tale of Zhao Kuangyin escorting Jingniang a thousand miles took place right here.

The scenic area features 18 famous spots: the lake nestled between lofty gorges, Fairy Spirit Gorge, Emperor Song Gorge, Jingniang Gorge, the Furious Lion Raising Its Head, Divine Tortoise Peeking Out, Eagle Overlooking the Valley, Grain Storage Mountain, Goddess Sowing Grain, Stacked Bridges Playing with the Moon, Camel Peaks Contending in Beauty, Cold Pool with Lingering Regret, Cloud Cliff Bearing Aspirations, Ancient Rock Veils, Green Peacock Peak, and Precious Scriptures Hidden on Perilous Cliffs.

The dam stands across the entrance of Mendao Valley and Changshe Valley. It is a masonry gravity dam, 81 metres high, 185 metres long and 10.5 metres wide on the top. The reservoir holds 32 million cubic metres of water, and a traffic bridge is built above the spillway. The towering dam looks like a silver cliff, creating a spectacular view.

The highest peak of Motian Ridge reaches an altitude of 1,747.5 metres. The area is covered with layered peaks and secluded valleys. The mountain boasts abundant natural resources. The thick primeval secondary forest is densely covered with dozens of precious tree varieties including Chinese pine, Scotch pine, lacquer tree and Chinese chestnut. There are thousands of mu of wild forsythia forests, together with more than 200 kinds of Chinese herbal medicines such as codonopsis, salvia miltiorrhiza, astragalus, bupleurum and fleece-flower root.

Thanks to luxuriant vegetation, humid climate and abundant rainfall, rainwater seeps underground after being filtered by the roots of various medicinal plants, forming sweet and refreshing mountain springs. Forsythia can clear the lungs and reduce inflammation. Local villagers pick its young leaves and steam them into tea with traditional methods. Brewed with mountain spring water, this drink brings health benefits for long-term consumption, so it is known as "Longevity Tea"