Yew Scenic Area

Yew Scenic Area

The Yew Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Yew Scenic Area of Weihe Forestry Bureau is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. Established in 1950, the Weihe Forestry Bureau of Heilongjiang Province is located on the western foothills of the Zhangguangcai Range of the Changbai Mountain range. It is a large state-owned Class 2 forestry enterprise under the Heilongjiang Provincial Forest Industry Administration.

The Yew Scenic Area houses a breeding base for the precious tree species—Northeast Yew—covering more than 2,000 acres, demonstrating to visitors the entire production process of artificially cloning the Northeast Yew. In autumn, the branches are laden with red yew arils, sure to evoke boundless emotions among visitors. There is also a science education center open to the public, including the Forest Resources Museum, Insect Museum, Ecology Museum, and Science & Technology Museum. These facilities not only offer exhibitions and promote forestry science knowledge but also educate people on protecting the human living environment. It is also an excellent base for youth science education activities.

While enjoying their vacation, visitors can appreciate traditional northeastern performances such as yangge dance and Errenzhuan. Guests can dine and stay here, experiencing the unique charm of northern farmhouse life, while also taking in the distinctive scenery of the resort. This is home to the world’s first artificially cultivated yew forest, as well as a variety of delicious dishes made from yew products. There are over 100 rooms (suites) of different standards, along with a bar, restaurant, dance hall, conference room, business center, sauna, beauty salon, medical care room, and fishing lake, all supported by comprehensive service facilities. The resort is shaded by green lawns, adorned with small bridges and flowing streams, with lawns complementing each other beautifully. The guest rooms, with scenic views right from the windows, offer comfort and warmth that further enhance the charm of the travel experience.

Yew, also known as purple yew or red cypress pine, is a shallow-rooted plant. Its taproot is not prominent, but the lateral roots are well developed. It is recognized worldwide as an endangered, naturally rare anti-cancer plant. As an ancient species left over from the Quaternary Ice Age, it has a history of 2.5 million years on Earth. Due to its slow growth rate and poor regenerative capacity under natural conditions, a large-scale yew raw material forest base has not been established globally for a long time.

The extract of yew (TAXOL, also known as PACLI TAXEL or paclitaxel) has a unique anti-cancer mechanism. Dr. Broder, director of the U.S. National Cancer Institute, called paclitaxel a new type of anti-cancer drug that has shown good efficacy and minimal side effects for various cancers in the fifteen years following the discovery of doxorubicin and cisplatin. Starting in the 1980s, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, South Korea, and China successively conducted in-depth research. The United States was the first to apply the research findings in clinical medicine, achieving significant clinical results in treating various cancers. Since then, humanity has made a new breakthrough in the field of cancer treatment. Therefore, up to now and for a considerable time to come, the most powerful weapon in humanity’s fight against cancer remains paclitaxel.