Natural Forest of Ershisigang in Xisha Township

Xisha Township is located in the northern part of Yongshan County, 38 kilometres away from the county seat. It borders Yanjin County to the east, Daguan County to the south, Huixi Town of the same county to the west, and Suijiang County to the north. Surrounded by mountains on three sides with rolling green hills, it features a mountainous terrain, with the highest altitude reaching 2,730 metres and the lowest 554 metres above sea level.

Ershisigang lies in northern Xisha Township and forms the boundary between Yongshan and Suijiang Counties. The village now has access to running water, electricity and paved roads.

Most of the Ershisigang Forest Area consists of well-preserved primeval forests. Covering an area of 32,400 mu, the forest is home to 22 rare plant species listed under national first-class, second-class and third-class protection. Among them are thousands of Chinese yew trees, and countless ginkgo trees spread all over the woodland. These ancient rare trees are not only large in quantity but also advanced in age; most are over a hundred years old, and some have lived for more than a thousand years.

The forest also shelters nearly dozens of wild animals under national first and second-class protection, including tigers, leopards, black bears and river deer. It abounds with precious medicinal herbs such as gastrodia elata, angelica, cordyceps and polyporus umbellatus, earning it the reputation of a kingdom of flora and fauna.

Xisha Township also boasts abundant tea plants such as white tea and bitter tea, among which Gang Tea enjoys the highest fame. Gang Tea gets its name because it grows in Ershisigang of Datong Village, Xisha Township. Tens of thousands of tea trees still survive here. Gang Tea boasts fine quality and a distinctive flavour. In particular, the tender tea shoots picked around the Qingming Festival are processed into spiral-shaped tea covered with fine silvery fuzz mixed with emerald green. It gives off a subtle delicate fragrance. Once brewed, the tea leaves unfold like sparrow tongues, presenting a fresh bright green liquor with a pure, mellow and pleasant taste.

Flowers bloom in full splendour all year round across Ershisigang Forest. Stepping into the woods in hot summer, visitors cannot help but marvel at the miraculous craftsmanship of nature. It is an ideal resort for summer retreats, health preservation, beauty care and fatigue relief. Plans are underway to develop this area into a forest park.