Where are the best summer retreats in Anshan to escape the heat?

Located on the eastern side of downtown Anshan, the park covers a total area of 975 hectares, including 946 hectares of woodland and 22 hectares of water areas. It is a well-known urban forest park in Northeast China.

Lush green mountains set off clear waters, pagodas and pavilions stand against one another, and winding mountain paths reveal brand-new scenery at every turn. Standing on the mountain top, visitors can gaze far at the imposing silhouette of Qianshan Mountain and overlook the entire Steel City, experiencing the enchanting poetic conception: Mountains nestle within the city, waters lie amid mountains, dwellings hide among woods, and people wander surrounded by greenery.

The line "Ten li of green mountains half stretch into the city" perfectly depicts Dongshan Urban Forest Park. Dongshan is like a piece of jade embedded in downtown Anshan, endowing the city with boundless natural beauty. Spanning 975 hectares in total with 946 hectares of forest and 22 hectares of water, the whole scenic area boasts green hills, clear streams, interspersed pavilions and pagodas, winding trails and dense tree canopies, making it a stunning urban forest park.

A spur of the Qianshan Mountain Range extending into the urban area, Dongshan features hilly terrain with 23 small peaks of varying elevations. Though the mountains are not tall, crisscross gullies and trees arranged in dense and sparse clusters create scenery that shifts with the four seasons, brimming with poetic charm.

The forest park boasts abundant plant resources with a vegetation coverage rate exceeding 93%. It is home to more than 6 million woody plants of 52 species, including apricot trees, Chinese pine and black locust, as well as small wild animals such as squirrels and pheasants.

Playing a vital role in improving Anshan’s urban air quality and regulating temperatures, Dongshan is hailed as the "city’s green lung". Its thick woods efficiently absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, trap airborne dust and transpire moisture, lowering local temperatures by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius during sweltering summers. Meanwhile, the forest performs multiple ecological functions including soil and water conservation, wind erosion control and soil improvement. Furthermore, the green plants absorb large amounts of toxic gases like sulfides in the air and release bactericides to greatly reduce airborne bacteria.

At the highest point of Dongshan Urban Forest Park stands a tower named Liaomei Tower, which literally means "Tower for Overlooking Beautiful Scenery". From here, visitors can take in all of Anshan’s charming vistas. To the east rise the graceful peaks of Qianshan Scenic Area; to the west sprawl downtown Anshan and the full Anshan Iron and Steel industrial zone; the grand buildings at the mountain foot are the renowned Jade Buddha Garden. Standing here, guests can fully appreciate the wonderful ambiance: Mountains lie within the city, waters nestle in mountains, buildings hide among woods, and people stay embraced by lush greenery.