Gallery Valley of the Mysterious Eastern Gorge

Gallery Valley of the Mysterious Eastern Gorge

Gallery Valley of the Mysterious Eastern Gorge is located in Datun Town in the southeastern part of Jianchang County, within the Panling branch range of the Yanshan Mountain system. It consists of one main canyon and five branch canyons, with Mount Xumi and Mount Five Fingers at the canyon’s end, the Sacred Water River running through the entire valley, and Dragon-Turtle Lake nestled like a piece of jade just outside the valley. This is a pristine natural scenic area and religious landscape zone that integrates green mountains and clear waters, steep peaks and peculiar rocks, streams and waterfalls, steep cliffs, historical ruins, and religious legends.

"Gallery Valley" is a mysterious sanctuary that has remained “hidden away from the world for millennia.” The water here is “clear” — so clear you can count the pebbles on the riverbed; the mountains here are “peculiar” — each one is like a classic, unique landscape painting, and every rock seems to be a finely carved sculpture; the mountains here are “green” — walking through the canyon lets you truly appreciate the comfort of being shaded by dense foliage; the mountains here are “lofty” — only when you reach the mountaintop will you experience the feeling of standing above all else. Walking through Gallery Valley, you’ll admire a series of unique and classic landscape paintings; walking through Gallery Valley, you’ll view grand groups of sculptures; walking through Gallery Valley, you’ll realize that the colorful neon lights of the city cannot rival the natural beauty of this place, and that man-made craftsmanship cannot compare to nature’s miraculous artistry.

Gallery Valley boasts the beauty of Huangshan, the majesty of Mount Tai, and the precipitousness of Mount Hua — it can truly be said that “the mountains gather the essence of China’s Five Great Mountains, and the waters possess the charm of Jiuzhaigou.” This is precisely what is meant by “seven sections of mystic valleys, each with its own stunning scenery that captivates visitors; a thousand-foot-deep gorge, where every step brings thrilling surprises.” The bizarre rocks of Gallery Valley win acclaim for their peculiarity and abundance — resembling humans, objects, birds, or beasts, with diverse expressions and lifelike forms. Scattered across peaks, valleys, ridges, and slopes, they stand alone atop summits, playfully hug the edges of slopes, or accompany pine trees, forming a series of natural rock paintings. The peculiarity of Gallery Valley lies in its stone egg landform made up of rock formations resembling humans, beasts, and myths, like immortals, Buddhas, or even Christ. Carved as if by knife or axe, or sculpted as if by hand, the valley also features ancient trees that tower into the sky, century-old pear trees everywhere, and thousand-year-old oak trees with uniquely majestic forms — these magical landscapes are truly a wonder of the eastern region. The valley is perilous, with towering peaks, strange rocks, and steep cliffs that shine like blades and spears thrusting toward the southern sky. It is graceful, with ever-changing seasonal views, each step presenting a new scene, too beautiful to take in all at once, leaving visitors enchanted and intoxicated. It is serene, with rolling green waves, murmuring streams, a mysterious and majestic canyon exuding grandeur. It is dreamlike, whether it's the Buddhist realm in the north or the sacred realm of Mount Xumi, both offering a poetic, picturesque, and dreamy sensation.

The scenery of Gallery Valley is like poetry and painting, with green mountains and clear waters complementing each other beautifully. In spring, tender buds emerge, apricot blossoms blaze like rosy clouds, pear blossoms are as white as snow, refreshing the heart and soul, filling the valley with fragrance; in summer, the mountains are covered in lush green, emerald ribbons encircle the hills, stone streams and waterfalls flow, pine waves rustle, and birds chirp cheerfully; in autumn, the mountains are dyed red, forests turn multicolored, with red apricot and maple leaves, yellow pear leaves, spreading like brocades across the hills; in winter, auspicious snow greets the sunlight, cold pines stand tall, cool fragrances waft through the air, and climbing high to look into the distance reveals the spectacular sight of a snowy plateau. The beauty of Gallery Valley is an indescribable aesthetic of mood, carrying a humanistic beauty that stirs endless associations. Whether it’s the rugged, iron-like masculine beauty revealed under bright sunshine, the subtle, enchanting beauty that appears and disappears amid clouds and mist, or the romantic beauty exuded by the flowers blooming all over the mountains in the warmth of early spring, or even the sacred purity of a world draped in silver during the snowy depths of winter. Stepping into Gallery Valley allows you to set your spirit free, converse with the mountains, chat with the waters, connect with the rocks, sing with the birds, dance with the mountain winds, soar with the white clouds, and enjoy this magical sanctuary, far from the noise of the mundane world — a rare moment of tranquility and serenity. As the poem goes: “Mount Five Fingers runs through Gallery Valley, Dragon-Turtle Lake accompanies the Cloud Mountain Cave. The Jade Emperor Temple guards the Li Martial Scholar, the Tang King Valley keeps the Dragon and Phoenix Pool. Below Mount Xumi, sea of clouds surge, the Sacred Water River reflects the red sunset. Natural Buddhas deliver beings, Christian Mountain reveals the living Jesus. Under Mount Wuxing, the Monkey King harbors hatred, in Laojun Valley, the Taoist source thrives.”