Liaoyang Tanghe Scenic Area

Liaoyang Tanghe Scenic Area

Liaoyang Tanghe Scenic Area is a national wetland park.

Introduction to Liaoyang Tanghe Scenic Area

The Liaoyang Tanghe Scenic Area is located in Tanghe Township, Gongchangling District, southeast of Liaoyang City, 39 kilometers from the urban area. In 1983, it was designated as a provincial-level scenic spot by Liaoning Province.

The scenic area is a comprehensive tourist destination centered around the Tanghe Reservoir, comprising over ten natural and man-made attractions. It covers a total area of 60.5 square kilometers. Notable peaks include Longshan (Dragon Mountain), Fenghuangshan (Phoenix Mountain), and Chengxiangshan (Auspicious Mountain), with the main peak of Longshan reaching an elevation of over 390 meters. The area enjoys a pleasant climate, with an average annual temperature of 8.2°C. Transportation is well-developed, with three asphalt roads leading directly to the scenic area.

Construction of the Tanghe Reservoir began in 1958, was halted in December 1959, resumed in 1968, and completed in 1969 for flood control. In 1975, due to an earthquake causing a partial landslide in the dam, reinforcement work was carried out to secure the dam, which was completed in October 1981. The reservoir has a total storage capacity of 598 million cubic meters, a dam height of 48.50 meters, and a maximum flood discharge capacity of 2,173 cubic meters per second. A power station has been built on the left side of the water inlet tunnel. The Tanghe Reservoir is a major hydraulic engineering project that reduces the water flow in the Taizi River, safeguarding the safety of cities such as Liaoyang and Anshan. It irrigates 430,000 mu of farmland, supplies 100 million cubic meters of industrial water annually to Ansteel, Liaoyang Chemicals, and Gongchangling Iron Mine, supports fish farming of 8 million fish, and yields an annual catch of 200,000 jin.

The Tanghe Scenic Area consists of three parts: the Tanghe Reservoir, the Hot Spring Resort, and the Longshan Scenic Area. The Tanghe Reservoir is 15 kilometers from the Tanghe River estuary, built at the foot of Baishishan (White Stone Mountain) and Duntai Mountain, and named after the river. It covers a total area of 60.5 square kilometers. The scenic area features ten attractions, including unique mountain views, watercolors, caves, rare birds, peculiar pines, the reservoir dam, and the power station. The Tiger Peak of Baishishan extends into the reservoir, with steep cliffs reflected in the water, presenting a serene natural mountain-forest landscape.

The area surrounding the reservoir boasts beautiful scenery, with steep cliffs and water blending seamlessly with the sky, forming the colorful Longshan Scenic Area. Key attractions include the “Dragon Gate Gorge” and “Deer Calling in the Emerald Valley.” The Hot Spring Resort is located on a plateau 1.5 kilometers from the Tanghe Reservoir. Originally known as Liuhe Hot Spring, it is a renowned hot spring leisure destination in Liaoning Province with a long history. The site still features the Eight-Treasure Colored Glaze Well. Within an area of 500 meters east-west and approximately 250 meters north-south, there are seven hot springs with wells about 7 meters deep, a natural water temperature of 72°C, and year-round flow—making it a rare radon spring in the world. The Tanghe Cold Spring, located northwest of the reservoir, has crystal-clear water that gushes year-round, creating a delightful contrast with the hot springs.