Xianweng Mountain Forest Park

Xianweng Mountain Forest Park

Xianweng Mountain Forest Park is located in Nancha District, downstream of the Tangwang River in the southeastern part of the Lesser Khingan Mountains. Surrounded by mountains and embraced by water, the area features lush forests and stunning scenery. The park is characterized by undulating mountain ranges, majestic peaks, and spectacular views. In various geological heritage zones, stone forests rise proudly, lush vegetation thrives, the forest is beautiful and the peaks are graceful. Mountain springs are crystal clear, streams meander gently, misty seas stretch endlessly, and the landscape is filled with breathtaking beauty. Every peak at Xianweng Mountain is uniquely striking, every rock formation is distinctive, every pine tree is oddly shaped, every forest is exquisitely beautiful, and every cave is mysteriously serene. It is hailed as a marvelous wonder of the Greater Khingan Mountains, a shining emerald jewel on the Lesser Khingan range, and is praised as the “Yellow Mountains of the North.” The park boasts precious forest and wildlife resources typical of the Lesser Khingan Mountains. The primeval forest is a mixed coniferous and broad-leaved woodland. Major tree species include Korean pine, larch, spruce, Scots pine, Manchurian ash, Amur corktree, Manchurian walnut, birch, oak, colorful trees, linden, and poplar, among more than ten types. Protected animals at the national second level include black bears, brown bears, lynxes, and sika deer, while those under provincial protection include raccoon dogs, wolves, wild boars, squirrels, and common hedgehogs, along with over ten other non-protected animal species. Wild plants fall into five categories: edible plants such as wild vegetables; aromatic plants like pine needles; medicinal plants including schisandra berries and globeflowers; beverage plants such as Manchurian kiwi, mountain pear, and mountain grape; and forage plants like littleleaf sweetgale and wild vetch. There are also dense plantations of artificial forests distributed across mid-to-lower slopes at elevations of 150–300 meters, mainly consisting of larch, Korean pine, Scots pine, and spruce. In 1985, the Nancha Forestry Bureau was the first in China to achieve a plantation area of one million mu. The vast expanse of artificial forests offers fresh air rich in oxygen, negative ions, and various bactericidal organic substances emitted by trees, which are beneficial to the health of the nervous and respiratory systems.

Additionally, the park’s geological heritage mainly includes well-defined geological structures of Indosinian granite, typical tectonic peaks and stone forests, neotectonic collapse landforms, collapsed caves, Quaternary periglacial landforms, as well as mountain valley wetlands and typical biogenic weathering landform systems formed by seepage springs. The granite in the park formed during the Triassic period of the Mesozoic era, primarily composed of medium- to coarse-grained granite. Its massive plutons, shaped by the Indosinian, Yanshan, and Himalayan movements, developed numerous faults and joints, which became key factors controlling the development patterns and morphologies of the granite peak forests. Through structural erosion, exogenic erosion, and transportation processes, the main body of the granite peak forest landform was formed. Controlled by faults and major joints, typical micro-landscapes such as granite peaks, stone forests, stone pillars, and cliffs tens of meters high were created. The primary manifestation of the neotectonic movement in the park is fault activity, which has led to the formation of collapsed caves and landforms on steep cliffs. The main expression of Quaternary periglacial action is the formation of stone seas and associated periglacial landforms. At the summits of the peak forests, on collapsed rock walls, shattered boulders, and the surfaces of stone seas, where vegetation is relatively well-developed, typical biogenic weathering landforms have also emerged. Xianweng Mountain’s Indosinian granite geological and geomorphological heritage is comprehensive in type, typical in development, complex in origin, and unique in landscape. The heritage resources and ecological landscape resources are abundant, and the area still retains its pristine geological landforms, ecological communities, and species diversity, making it a precious natural heritage with significant value for conservation, science education, and research.

Xianweng Mountain Forest Park is divided into two major scenic areas based on mountain terrain: the front scenic area and the rear scenic area. The front scenic area consists of four scenic clusters: “Xianweng’s Delight,” “Climbing the Cliff to Forget Worries,” “Azaleas Singing of Love,” and “The Divine Turtle Crossing the Ravine.” The rear scenic area includes three clusters: “The Sacred Stone Palace,” “The Echoes of the Secluded Valley,” and the yet-to-be-opened “Southern Heavenly Pillar.” The “Xianweng’s Delight” cluster features attractions such as Xianweng Peak, Wild Wolf Valley, Jade Brush Peak, Buddha’s Palm Rock, Worship Platform, Heavenly Stele, Heavenly Channel, and Broken Rock Pine. The “Climbing the Cliff to Forget Worries” cluster includes Monkey Spirit, Forget-Worry Cliff, Tiger Leap Peak, and Coiling Dragon Rock. The “Azaleas Singing of Love” cluster comprises Lover’s Peak, Azalea Ridge, Azure Dragon’s Back, and Flying Rock. The “The Divine Turtle Crossing the Ravine” cluster features Divine Turtle Peak, Tiger Leap Gorge, General Rock, Camel Peak, Spirit Snake Cave, Sky-Supporting Pillar, Double Stone Gate, Buddha Embracing Bear, and Bear King Hall. The “The Sacred Stone Palace” cluster contains Sorrow Cliff, Azure Dragon Hall, Immortal’s Abode, Sacred Path, Divine Eagle, Arhat Rock, Divine Gateway, Immortals’ Pavilion, and Beauty-Viewing Peak. The “Echoes of the Secluded Valley” cluster has Echo Corridor, Red Cliff, Longevity Pavilion, Longevity Star Rock, and Pagoda Forest. The “Southern Heavenly Pillar” cluster includes Linked Caves, Corridor Gate, Ghost Peak, and Southern Heavenly Palace. Standing atop Lover’s Peak and looking east, visitors can enjoy the “One Path, Two Rivers” view: the straight-flowing Tangwang River from the north and the incoming Yongcui River from the west. The contrast between the large and small bodies of water is harmonious and picturesque. The sea of mist at Xianweng Mountain is also a major spectacle. Every autumn, as the Yongcui and Tangwang rivers emit moisture, the resulting misty sea is spectacular, with clouds and fog enveloping the peaks and cliffs, creating an almost ethereal scene reminiscent of—but even more stunning than—the Yellow Mountains, earning it the title “Yellow Mountains of the North.” The park enjoys a beautiful natural environment, with dense forests, stable ecosystems, and well-preserved geological heritage and natural landscapes that largely maintain their original charm and uniqueness. As such, Xianweng Mountain Forest Park is the only massive natural museum in Yichun that encompasses rocks, trees, cliffs, walls, caves, rocks, flowers, grass, vines, fruits, medicine, and water. With its concentrated landscapes and rich cultural significance, it has been designated by Yichun as a key mountain tourism development zone. Here, no peak is without wonder, no rock is without distinction, and no pine is without peculiarity. Some peaks resemble divine turtles, some look like loving couples, and others take the form of wise immortals. The rocks look like wolves, bears, or monkeys, while the pines stand upright, twist gracefully, or display delicate beauty. Each season paints the park in vivid colors, offering visitors a heavenly escape back to nature. In spring, streams babble and azaleas bloom everywhere. In summer, the shaded woods are lush and boundless. In autumn, the mountains are ablaze with color, forests are painted layer by layer, and misty hues create a dreamlike, mystical atmosphere. In winter, everything is blanketed in ice and snow, glistening like jade under a pristine white coat—magnificent and breathtaking.