Opening Hours: Open all day
Ticket Price: Primary entrance ticket: 30 RMB per person
Contact Information: Jiangshui Town, Xingtai County, south of Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Best Visiting Season: Autumn
Complaint Hotline: 0319-5212007
Transportation Guide
The region enjoys highly developed transportation and convenient communications. The Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, Beijing-Kowloon Railway and Beijing-Shenzhen Expressway run north and south across the area. East-west traffic is served by highways including Xingtai-Jinan, Xingtai-Heshun and Xingtai-Changzhi. A crisscross network of railways and highways connects Xingtai with all parts of China.
Scenic Introduction
Nine-Dragon Gorge Natural Scenic Area is located in Jiangshui Town, Xingtai County on the middle foot of the Taihang Mountains, south of Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. It stretches across the border of four counties: Xingtai, Shahe, Heshun and Neiqiu. It is 62 kilometres east of downtown Xingtai, and also 62 kilometres from National Highway 107 and the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway. The Yisha National Defense Highway and the Hebei-Shanxi provincial high-grade highway pass directly through the resort.
The total developed area reaches 64 square kilometres. Seen from the main peak, nine winding gorges converge towards a spherical mountain peak, forming a natural landscape known as "Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl", hence the name Nine-Dragon Gorge.
There are hundreds of scenic spots here, which can be summed up in ten highlights: rare secluded gorges, enchanting alpine scenery, sheer cliff faces chiselled like axe work, varied rock formations, silken cascading waterfalls, emerald deep pools, boundless green forests, profound cultural heritage, rich folk customs and fascinating legends. Praised as "The Top Scenery of Yan and Zhao", it is hailed as a fairyland on earth.
1. The largest cluster of red sandstone quartz gorges in North China
Nine-Dragon Gorge is famous for rolling green peaks and magnificent steep valleys. It is dotted with varied ridges, gorges, waterfalls, deep pools, springs and brooks, boasting extraordinarily beautiful and rare natural landscapes.
The perfectly preserved primitive scenery owes much to local beliefs and traditions. Villagers regard every plant, mountain and stream here as sacred and have protected them carefully.
The gorges were originally formed in the ancient glacial epoch. Combined with long-term weathering and cold flowing water, nature created this magnificent masterpiece.
Including all branch valleys, there are more than 60 gorges ranging from 1 to 4 kilometres long. The widest section measures less than 20 metres, while the narrowest point is only around 1.5 metres. The valleys twist and turn with multiple natural "skywells" forming huge stone urn landforms, together with rows of long cliff table mountains. Such peculiar valley topography is rarely seen elsewhere.
2. The densest group of waterfalls with the largest vertical drop in North China
The area has abundant rainfall and steady spring runoff that never dries up. Streams gurgle along the valley floor, bringing coolness and beautiful views.
The mountain forms stepped terraces, creating numerous waterfalls with large drops and elegant shapes. There are four waterfalls falling more than 100 metres, plus over thirty waterfalls with a drop of 30 to 50 metres clustered together. This makes it the most concentrated waterfall group with the biggest vertical drop ever discovered in North China.
3. The greenest and most scenic stretch of the Taihang Mountains
Spectacular views of peak forests, alpine meadows, sea of clouds, sunrise and rainbows unfold here. Lush vegetation and primeval secondary forests blanket the whole mountain, covering hundreds of tree species and wild flowers. The fantastic natural landscapes, diverse woodland ecosystems, quiet valleys and rare wildlife create irresistible charm.
The sunrise over the gorge is breathtaking and refreshing. Unique local weather conditions often create drifting mist wandering among thousands of peaks. The fog surges into boundless sea of clouds, or mingles with morning glow and sunset into gorgeous colourful vistas.
With spring water murmuring and birds singing, the whole scenic area looks like a three-dimensional grand landscape painting.
- In spring: Peach blossoms and hundreds of wild mountain flowers bloom all over the hills, bringing vivid alpine spring scenery.
- In summer: Clear springs flow quietly in the cool secluded valleys. High mountain waterfalls and winding gorges offer a new view around every bend.
- In autumn: Branches bend under heavy fruits. Smoke trees and maple leaves dye the mountains bright colours, filling visitors with the joy of harvest.
- In winter: Heavy snow covers everything in white. Icicles hanging on hundred-foot cliffs create stunning icy wonders.
4. Profound historical heritage and Buddhist culture
The Zhiguoling Great Wall was built in the 21st year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1542 AD), stretching southeast to northwest. Ruins of the tower still remain on the beacon platform, with broken foundations on both sides inside the pass. The steep mountain pass was a strategic military stronghold leading into Shanxi, fiercely contested in ancient wars.
More than 2,000 metres of the ancient Yiyi Plank Road are well preserved. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, this place housed the Counter-Japanese Military and Political University, designated a national patriotic education demonstration base by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.
Nine-Dragon Gorge lies within the territory of the ancient Xiang Kingdom. The eminent Indian monk Fotucheng once lived here. Biographies of Eminent Monks records a well-known tale: during a severe drought in Xiang Kingdom, all city wells dried up. Fotucheng, who came from the Western Regions to assist Shi Le, summoned rain by casting a spell to call out dragons. He could foresee events thousands of miles away. When facing enemy troops, he retreated his army to the ancient mountain stronghold at Shifuzhai. He chanted mantras to make nine dragons from the Dragon Palace pour floodwater to submerge the invaders. The fortress rose along with the water level, helping Shi Le establish the Later Zhao State in Xiang Kingdom. Shi Le respectfully called him "Great Monk".
Many beautiful folk tales are passed down locally: Guanyin Saving the Nine Dragons, The White Dragon and the Dragon Maiden, Butterfly Lovers, Dragon Maiden Paying Homage to Guanyin, and the Legend of Chestnuts.
5. Abundant local farm produce and rich folk culture
Blessed with clear mountains, clean rivers and a pleasant cool climate with a daily temperature difference of 6–10℃, the unique geographical environment produces high-quality green fresh and dried fruits.
Premium apples, chestnuts, walnuts, persimmons and various grains sell well across domestic and overseas markets.
Wild edible greens such as wild chives, chive blossoms, mushrooms, daylilies and wild mint taste delicious.
More than a thousand varieties of Chinese medicinal herbs grow here, including ganoderma lucidum, fleece-flower root, salvia miltiorrhiza, honeysuckle, bupleurum and polygala tenuifolia.
The county was designated a Taihang Mountain development demonstration zone by the provincial science commission. Its "economic valley" project is famous nationwide, and the area is known as "the greenest part of the Taihang Mountains".
Jiangshui Town has built two ten-thousand-mu bases for high-quality apples and chestnuts. The green agricultural dried and fresh fruits were specially selected as dedicated produce for the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
Local villagers who have lived in the mountains for generations maintain simple and honest folk customs, with unique traditions concerning daily life, weddings, funerals, rituals and festivals.
Visitors can stay in tidy farm courtyards, taste authentic home-cooked rural dishes, experience genuine mountain village customs and buy high-quality local specialties.
Nine-Dragon Gorge integrates sightseeing, leisure vacation, entertainment, shopping and scientific investigation into one comprehensive tourist resort.
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