Lüliang Mountain Scenic Area

Lüliang Mountain Scenic Area

Verdant mountains, crystal-clear waters, peculiar rocks, and ancient towns—Lüliang Mountain Scenic Area, the backyard garden of Xuzhou, is located over 20 kilometers southeast of Xuzhou’s urban center. Spanning approximately 40 kilometers from east to west and 10 kilometers from north to south, it covers an area of 186.22 square kilometers, encompassing parts of four towns: Xuzhuang, Yizhuang, Zhangji, and Fangcun. The area features a multitude of peaks, with a total of 173 low mountains and hills, abundant forest resources, diverse vegetation types, and a forest coverage rate of 89.5%, offering fresh air. There are numerous lakes in the area, including Lüliang Lake, Xuanshui Lake, Shengrenwo Reservoir, Xiashong Reservoir, Shuikou Reservoir, Baiqiao Reservoir, and Yangwa Reservoir, among others. Seven large and small reservoirs are distributed along both banks of the ancient Yellow River. The area boasts rich flora and fauna resources. According to preliminary surveys, there are nearly 250 species of animals across more than 20 categories and nearly 500 species of plants across over 100 categories. The region also has a long history and cultural heritage, with numerous historical sites such as ancient temples, ruins, and inscribed stone tablets. In addition, the area is rich in “Lüliang peculiar stones,” which are highly sought after by collectors for their bold, vigorous, and majestic forms.

The Song Dynasty scholar Wang Yinglin wrote in his work "Tongjian Dili Tongshi": “The Si River reaches Lü County, where piled-up stones form a bridge, hence the name Lüliang.” This location is now Lüliang Village in Yizhuang Town, Tongshan District. Historically, when the Yellow River changed its course through Xuzhou, the famous treacherous shoal Lüliang Hong was situated at the foot of Lüliang Mountain. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius once stopped by Lüliang Hong and witnessed the spectacular sight of “thirty zhang of cascading water and foam flowing forty li,” leaving behind the timeless quote: “Thus flows what once was—ceaselessly day and night.”

The area boasts multiple tourist attractions, particularly renowned for its top ten scenic spots: Mangmang-, Ancient Temple Ruins, Natural Karst Cave, Turtle Resting on Sandy Dune, Fengshan View of the Flood, Lüliang Mountain Martyrs’ Pavilion, Fengguan Mountain Ancient Stone Inscriptions, Lüliang Peculiar Stones, Sailing on Tranquil Lakes, and South Mountain Peach Orchard.

1. Mangmang-: The area features undulating peaks and well-aligned forests, with a mix of Chinese arborvitae woods, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, plus numerous native tree species and wild shrubs and flowers forming a natural garden. From a high vantage point, the vast, endless greenery and the roaring pine waves create an extremely spectacular view.

2. Ancient Temple Ruins: During the Southern Song Dynasty, temples in this area formed an independent system and were bustling with activity, centered around Dongshan Baiyun Pavilion. In front of the mountain was Nantianmen, behind the mountain was Houshan Temple, and there were auxiliary structures on both sides. The legend “Horses die from running to see the mountain, and a sack of rice is finished in three days” attests to the grandeur of the temples and the large number of monks. To this day, the ruins of the ancient temples, mountain paths, and remnants of cliffside stone tablets still remain.

3. Natural Karst Cave: This cave gave its name to Dongshan. It was developed during the Tang Dynasty. By the late Qing Dynasty, many visitors still came here. Due to years of neglect, the cave entrance has been sealed. The cave is divided into upper, middle, and lower levels. The lower level contains an underground river that flows year-round. In the 1970s, soldiers from a certain unit of the People’s Liberation Army dug into it while constructing an air-raid shelter, allowing the surrounding residents to witness the cave’s wonders once again.

4. Turtle Resting on Sandy Dune: In the heart of Shengrenwo, there is a Monk’s Spring that flows year-round, forming a small stream. Beside the stream, atop a soil mound, lies a massive turtle-shaped rock that strikingly resembles a sea turtle. This place is also called Turtle Cover. Legend has it that a golden turtle from the East Sea came to worship at Baiyun Temple but, enchanted by the magnificent scenery, willingly turned into a stone.

5. Fengshan View of the Flood: During the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius once stopped by Lüliang Hong and witnessed the spectacular sight of “thirty zhang of cascading water and foam flowing forty li,” leaving behind the timeless quote: “The Master standing by the river said: Thus flows what once was—ceaselessly day and night.” Standing atop the mountain and looking into the distance, the view is overwhelmingly beautiful.

6. Lüliang Mountain Martyrs’ Pavilion: During the world-famous Huaihai Campaign, this area was an important battlefield where the military and civilians fought together to annihilate the enemy forces. After liberation, the Tongshan County People’s Government built the Lüliang Mountain Martyrs’ Pavilion here to commemorate this moving history. Located atop Lüliang Mountain, with its back against the mountains and facing the ancient Yellow River, the pavilion enjoys beautiful scenery and attracts a continuous stream of visitors.

7. Fengguan Mountain Ancient Stone Inscriptions: The mountain still houses the famous calligrapher Wen Zhengming’s inscribed stone tablet “Record of the Excavation of Lüliang Hong” and Yue Fei’s poetic tablet “Farewell to Master Zhang of Zizhai on His Expedition.”

8. Lüliang Peculiar Stones: Primarily produced in the mountainous areas around Bailou Village in Yizhuang Town, records of Xuzhou tributing “Sibin Floating Aromatic Stones” date back to the “Yu Gong.” Additionally, according to “Gouyuan Bian,” “the banks of the Si River are abundant in beautiful stones.” Due to natural weathering, these stones form irregular yet orderly vertical cavities, ranging from one or two layers to as many as seven or eight. Their colors resemble incense-burnt yellow earth, and varieties include pictographic forms, Sibin Floating Aromatic Stones, calcite, crimson-red, and white-striped patterns. Lüliang stones are highly sought after by collectors for their bold, vigorous, and majestic forms. They have now entered the international market and become treasured pieces for some collectors.

9. Sailing on Tranquil Lakes: Lüliang Lake is an artificial lake covering an area of 11,000 mu, embraced by mountains on both sides and connected to the ancient Yellow River on one side. It is a pearl on the ancient Yellow River. The lake’s green waters mirror the surrounding mountains, and drifting on a small boat across the lake brings a sense of peace and joy.

10. South Mountain Peach Orchard: The area is rich in wild fruit trees, and in recent years, watermelon orchards, apricot orchards, and plum orchards have been planted. In spring, peach blossoms bloom vibrantly among the green woods, adding lively and bright hues to the vast greenery.

Xuzhou is located at the northern gateway of the Yangtze River Delta and is the central city of the Huaihai Economic Zone. It is a nationally important comprehensive transportation hub. In 2008, Xuzhou’s regional GDP reached 200.736 billion yuan, with general budget fiscal revenue of 12.585 billion yuan, and a three-industry structure ratio of 10.5:52.9:36.6.

Lüliang Mountain Scenic Tourism Area is located in the southeastern part of Xuzhou’s urban center, under the jurisdiction of Tongshan District, with a planned area of approximately 186.22 square kilometers. The scenic area’s rocks are mainly limestone, along with hard sandy limestone layers and Quaternary cover layers. The soil consists of limestone soil, eluvial brown soil, and red limestone soil. The area has an average annual temperature of 13.9°C, a frost-free period of about 287 days, an average annual precipitation of 869 millimeters, an average annual sunshine duration of 2,366 hours, and a prevailing wind direction from the east. The area has numerous lakes, including Lüliang Lake (Lüliang Lake), Xuanshui Lake, Shengrenwo Reservoir, Yangwa Reservoir, Baita Reservoir, and Shuikou Reservoir, among ten reservoirs in total. Seven large and small reservoirs are distributed along both banks of the ancient Yellow River, making it a precious water source for Xuzhou. The area features numerous peaks and diverse forest vegetation types, with nearly 500 species of plants across over 100 categories. The area has rich biodiversity, with nearly 250 species of animals across more than 20 categories, including 3–4 species of egrets visible on the water, over 50 species of insects, and nearly 70 species of birds.

Lüliang Mountain Scenic Tourism Area is a typical mountain-water combined resource, rich in forest resources with a forest coverage rate of 89.5%. The area also features historical and cultural sites such as the ruins of Confucius, the ruins of Lü City, and poetic legends, as well as abundant Lüliang stones. With over 170 mountain peaks and ten reservoirs represented by Lüliang Lake, the area boasts rich ecological resources. The developed Lüliang Mountain is not only a tourist scenic area but also a natural ecological reserve. Its abundant ecological resources and unique geographical location clearly position Lüliang Mountain Scenic Tourism Area as the “backyard garden” of Xuzhou.

Lüliang stones are renowned nationwide for their “leakage, transparency, and peculiarity,” with many famous collector stones originating from here. Farmers often take pleasure in trading peculiar stones during their leisure time, while literati and merchants frequently visit rural courtyards in search of their favorite stones, forming a unique and vibrant peculiar stone culture. This area is located west of sightseeing agriculture zones and offers premium Lüliang stones and trading opportunities.

Lüliang Mountain Scenic Tourism Area is located in the southeastern part of Xuzhou’s urban center, near the new urban district. It serves as a key landscape node for entering and exiting Xuzhou and is the top choice for leisure, relaxation, and weekend tourism for residents of the new urban district.

The Lüliang Mountain area enjoys convenient transportation. The triangle formed by the Huolian and Xusuining expressways and Provincial Highway 251 encircles the Lüliang Mountain Scenic Tourism Area. The area is also close to National Highway 104 and a planned expressway that will pass through the tourism zone. Additionally, in the southeast of the tourism area lies the largest civil airport in the Huaihai Economic Zone—Xuzhou Guanyin International Airport—which currently operates over 20 domestic and international routes, including direct flights to Hong Kong and Macau. The convenient transportation and excellent accessibility are key advantages attracting residents of Xuzhou and surrounding areas to the scenic area.

The tourism area is part of Xuzhou’s water environment quality control zone, with good water quality. The Zhangji Water Source Area, located within Zhangji and Fangcun towns in Tongshan District, serves as a reserved drinking water source for regional development. The water is protected under relevant regulations for water source conservation areas, ensuring high environmental quality and superior water quality compared to other regions. Moreover, the reservoir-type water bodies are highly developable and have high utilization rates.

Lüliang Mountain Scenic Tourism Area is rich in water resources, with numerous natural and artificial water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and springs. Particularly notable are the abundant reservoir-type water resources. The area hosts eight large and small reservoirs, including Lüliang Lake, Xuanshui Lake, Shengwo Reservoir, Baiqiao Reservoir, Shuikou Reservoir, Baita Reservoir, Xiashong Reservoir, and Yangwa Reservoir. These reservoirs are interconnected by the ancient Yellow River’s water system, serving as important carriers for developing the ancient Yellow River tourism scenic belt.

Lüliang Mountain Scenic Tourism Area is a typical mountain-water combined resource. The area features numerous peaks, including Zhongshan, Dahei Mountain, Nanbeima Mountain, and 173 low mountains and hills, rich in forest resources, diverse vegetation types, and a forest coverage rate of 89.5%. It also includes the historically rich water body—the ancient Yellow River—and eight large and small reservoirs represented by Lüliang Lake and Xuanshui Lake. The area also features historical and cultural sites such as the ruins of Confucius, the ruins of Lü City, and poetic legends, as well as Lüliang stones.

Lüliang Mountain Scenic Tourism Area includes four towns: Zhangji, Yizhuang, Fangcun, and Xuzhuang, encompassing 27 administrative villages with a population of 59,015. The village density in the area is only 317 people per square kilometer, the lowest in Xuzhou, making village relocation easier, less costly, and more feasible during tourism development. The low village density, large amount of land available for construction use, and reliance on market forces make development highly implementable.

Lüliang Mountain has a long history, beautiful mountain shapes, and lush vegetation. Together with the numerous water bodies scattered throughout, it forms an ecologically rich area with diverse natural landscapes. The developed Lüliang Mountain is not only a tourist scenic area but also an ecological nature reserve—a “green lung” on the outskirts of a major city. This functional positioning helps protect Lüliang Mountain’s ecological environment. Compared to Xuzhou’s urban center, the area has a lower population density, fewer vehicles, less noise, and a tranquil environment, making it suitable for leisure and vacation tourism.