"Paradise on Earth" Wangshimen Scenic Area

Opening Hours: All day long Ticket Price: 15 RMB Contact: 0634-6549020 Address: Wangshimen Village, Dawangzhuang Town, Laiwu City Best Visiting Seasons: Spring, Summer and Autumn Complaint Hotline: 0634-6221271

Take a direct public bus from Laiwu Bus Station to Dawangzhuang Town.

This is a precious primitive land on the Qilu landmass.

Boasting elegant mountain peaks, deep and secluded valleys, shimmering waters and simple folk customs, after thousands of years of natural accumulation, this hidden wonderland named "Paradise on Earth" has finally unveiled its charm to the world.

Nestled in the northwest of Laiwu City at an altitude of 851 meters, Wangshimen Village is the highest village in Shandong Province. Surrounded by rolling mist-shrouded mountains that often wrap visitors in soft cloud layers, it earns its poetic moniker "Paradise on Earth". The tourist zone consists of six distinctive scenic sections: Three Valleys, Two Lakes and One Heavenly Village, all renowned far and wide. Centered on ecological and folk tourism, it is an ideal retreat for visitors to return to simplicity, calm their minds and nourish their spirits.

Winding mountain roads spiral upward. As vehicles twist along the mountainsides, the scenery shifts constantly. The half-hour drive from Stone House Hamlet to Wangshimen Village is short yet breathtaking. Just as you marvel at the steep, fantastic mountain ridges receding behind you, neat rows of village houses come into view — you have arrived at Paradise on Earth. Built against the slopes, the houses feature blue walls and red tiles, scattered unevenly amid lush greenery. Occasional rooster crowing highlights the profound tranquility of the mountain hamlet. Fronted by Nine Heavens Lake and Nine Dragons Lake, the area is adorned with reflective water and mountain vistas, shaded by green pines and cypresses, dotted with exotic wild blossoms. Mountain breezes brush gently while birds chirp softly. Home to merely over 200 villagers, Wangshimen Village seems stripped of mortal hustle and superficial vanity, radiating peace and serenity like a weathered elder or a quiet, contemplative sage.

When you knock on a farmhouse door, the housewife’s warm greeting "You’re here!" instantly makes you feel like a family member returning home, filling your heart with gentle ease and sweeping away all awkwardness, tension and shyness. Feel free to step inside and sit down casually. Sip a cup of local roasted tea, taste tender free-range eggs and sample wild chive blossoms unique to the mountains. If weariness overtakes you, lie down for a short nap. Kind elderly folks will repeatedly remind you "It’s chilly in the mountains, don’t catch a cold" and tuck your quilt neatly around you. This unexpected familial warmth melts away all worldly desires and worries, lulling you into a peaceful sleep.

After waking refreshed, you can ask any villager to accompany you on a stroll through Chinese Pagoda Tree Valley — locals will gladly agree if they have spare time. Walk roughly five li north of the village, and the rich fragrance of 3,000 mu of pagoda trees washes over you, soothing your whole body. The valley floor overgrown with wild grass is spotlessly clean, perfect for sitting or lying down anywhere. Tall pagoda trees stretch endlessly along mountain contours, while narrow winding footpaths stretch far into the distance, stirring boundless imagination. Free-range farm chickens wander leisurely out of the woods, unafraid of strangers and utterly at peace. An ancient saying goes: True delight lies not in grandeur; even small ponds and miniature rocks carry the beauty of mist and sunset. Resting quietly beside woodland stones, watching chickens forage amid subtle floral fragrance and rustling mountain winds, you will want to cast aside all thoughts, detached from the mortal world and oblivious to the divide between self and nature.

"Go explore the Nine Heavens Grand Canyon!" Chicken herders will kindly remind and invite you as you leave Pagoda Tree Valley. Retrace your steps and head about two li south of the village to reach the grand canyon. Nine interconnected valleys — Yan Tian Canyon, Yang Tian Canyon, Zhu Tian Canyon, You Tian Canyon and more — feature linked waters, profound remoteness and successive stunning vistas, each holding its own unique charm. Climb to the uppermost section of the Nine Heavens Grand Canyon, Jun Tian Canyon, and behold the spectacular "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl" landscape where the Nine Heavens Canyon converges with the Nine Dragons Canyon. The unbroken mountain ridges stretch afar like giant dragons roaring skyward, poised to soar, presenting an overwhelmingly magnificent sight. Standing atop the peak, fierce mountain winds billow your clothes amid swirling mist, as if you tread among floating clouds. Descend west from the parking lot to the south, where the canyon narrows gradually. Gazing down, the gorge plunges deep with sheer precipices half-hidden by pines and grass. The stone steps descend as if suspended in midair, sending a chill of awe through visitors. Less than a hundred meters downhill, a massive boulder slants precariously atop scattered gravel, seemingly on the verge of collapse — a breathtaking natural wonder. Turning further south, the view suddenly opens up, revealing gurgling pools connected by a continuous stream. Exotic oddly-shaped rocks fill the water, standing or reclining as splashing waves crash against them with echoing sounds.

Winding around boulders, threading through woods, brushing past weeds and hopping over stones, walk roughly five li to reach the Hundred-Step Bridge at the heart of the grand canyon, where the scenery reaches its peak. Fantastic rocks, perilous peaks, trickling springs and dense forests blend into one, accompanied by harmonious birdsong that deepens the mysterious, colorful charm of the valley. A suspension bridge spans halfway up the canyon wall, stretching horizontally across the cliffs. Walking across the swaying bridge in the wind brings endless delight. Clear water tinkles beneath, with shrimps darting visibly on the pool bed. Every step forward unfolds a more marvelous view. Twelve li away from Jun Tian Canyon stands a naturally sculpted famous landmark: Heavenly Ape, locally known as Mother and Baby Monkeys. Looking upward, you see a stone figure of a mother monkey sitting gazing afar, with her baby snuggled closely in her arms. The lifelike, affectionate pose brims with poetic appeal.

Wandering through this living landscape, you lose track of time. Before you know it, you have traversed the full 6,000-meter-long grand canyon. Retracing your steps back downhill, the towering boulders and dense forest canopy overhead create an entirely different, imposing scene. Climbing back onto the cliff, a spring breeze carrying the sweet scent of pagoda tree blossoms drifts over, soft as a lover’s breath, stirring faint joy amid gentle weariness. Though breathless and sweating profusely from the hike, the intoxicating floral fragrance stimulates your appetite, leaving you convinced the journey was utterly worthwhile