Gaozi Beauty Valley

Gaozi Beauty Valley

Gaozi Beauty Valley “Beauty Valley” is located on the side of National Highway 312 in Gaozi Town, Dantu District, Zhenjiang. It consists of Chaohuang Mountain, Xiangshan Mountain, Longshan Mountain, Fenghuang Tumor, Beauty Lake, Xiangshan Lake, and hundreds of large and small canyons, covering a total area of about 12,000 mu. The Beauty Valley Forest Park, situated to the west of the town, is based on the natural landscape of Chaohuang Mountain, featuring bamboo forests, pine waves, and scattered flowers and seedlings. Tea gardens and chestnut woods ripple in the wind. There is a lake within the valley, no larger than 10 mu. Beauty Valley lies among the mountains at the border of Chao Feng Village (in Gaozi Town, Dantu District) and Jurong, with peaks about 70 meters high. The mountains are densely forested, tightly wrapping around the summits with no visible paths. The vegetation mainly consists of evergreen and deciduous broadleaf trees, including Masson pine, black pine, Chinese fir, pine, bamboo, tea plants, mulberry trees, and various shrubs. It is said that most of these trees were planted after the liberation, and the local residents have never cut them down, preserving them in excellent condition to this day.

According to local historical records, this exceptional scenic spot was documented as early as the Song Dynasty. Emperor Qianlong visited here during his incognito tour of southern China. For centuries, a strict “iron rule” has been upheld locally: outsiders are not allowed to enter the mountains. Even local farmers are only permitted access for two or three months each year, with the rest of the time being completely closed off, guarded voluntarily by villagers. Due to the continuous bamboo forests and valleys leading to mountain lakes, outsiders who venture in often find it difficult to get out. In “Beauty Valley,” visitors are not only amazed by the colorful lakes, mountains, flowers, and plants but are also deeply captivated by the countless legendary and natural attractions, including the majestic General Stone standing half-way up the mountain, said to be the incarnation of a Taiping Rebellion general; the Turtle Stone, with its 1.5-square-meter back and a 4-meter-tall stone pagoda built atop it, named for its orientation toward Chaohuang Mountain; and the “Swan Stone,” a solitary rock standing on the ridge, one-quarter buried and three-quarters exposed, with a diameter of about 6 meters, suspected to be a meteorite.

Activities: Fishing, bamboo shoot harvesting (spring), bamboo forest tours, chestnut picking (autumn), water caltrop and lotus seed gathering

Route One:

1. Take Bus 23 all the way to the terminal stop, Gaozi Town

2. After getting off the bus, transfer to a local Mazda (motor tricycle), asking the driver to take you to the entrance of Chaohuang Mountain (10 RMB, about 10 minutes);

3. Follow the mountain path and climb up Chaohuang Mountain from the north side (about 40 minutes);

4. Descend from the southern slope of Chaohuang Mountain, and follow the downhill path all the way to Chao Feng Village (the dense residential houses can be seen from the mountaintop; the descent takes about 35 minutes);

5. Walk straight south, passing through the rapeseed fields and tea plantations of Chao Feng Village (on the relatively distinct hilly slopes), to reach Beauty Valley (about 20 minutes);

6. Explore Beauty Valley (duration varies based on personal preference);

7. Return by walking along the cement road of Chao Feng Village toward National Highway 312. If you see a Mazda along the way, you can ask the driver to take you to the 23 Bus stop near Highway 312 (10–15 RMB), then take the bus back to the train station. Alternatively, you can ask to be taken to Shimashi Village (8–10 RMB), then take Bus 22 from the Shimashi bus stop back to the train station (2 RMB/person, about 45 minutes for safety). This route offers the best scenery. Chaohuang Mountain has steep terrain and lush forests, especially at the summit where the view is expansive—you can gaze at the layered mountains, the beautiful green hills of the south, and the reservoirs nestled among them, emerald in color. Nearby, you’ll cross flat plains, pass through vegetable fields and tea plantations to reach Beauty Valley, experiencing the feeling of discovering a hidden paradise. Especially when crossing the tea plantation and catching a glimpse of the small lake in Beauty Valley—that moment—the lake spans just a few zhang, with willows leaning over the bank, people, bamboo, and trees all immersed in the clear light, it feels like a fairyland, instantly making you forget the fatigue of the walk.

This route offers the best views. Chaohuang Mountain has steep terrain and lush forests, especially at the summit where the view is expansive—you can gaze at the layered mountains, the beautiful green hills of the south, and the reservoirs nestled among them, emerald in color. Nearby, you’ll cross flat plains, pass through vegetable fields and tea plantations to reach Beauty Valley, experiencing the feeling of discovering a hidden paradise. Especially when crossing the tea plantation and catching a glimpse of the small lake in Beauty Valley—that moment—the lake spans just a few zhang, with willows leaning over the bank, people, bamboo, and trees all immersed in the clear light, it feels like a fairyland, instantly making you forget the fatigue of the walk.

Route Two: Gaozi Beauty Valley

1. Take Bus 22 to Shimashi Station (2 RMB/person, about 45 minutes);

2. Transfer to a local Mazda, asking the driver to take you directly to the western end of the cement road in Chao Feng Village (8–12 RMB, about 30 minutes);

3. Cross the vegetable fields and tea plantations in the southern part of the residential area of Chao Feng Village to reach Beauty Valley (about 20 minutes);

4. Explore Beauty Valley.

Dantu Economic Development Zone (Gaozi Subdistrict): Gaozi Town is located at the southern edge of the Ningzhen Mountain Range downstream of the Yangtze River. It borders mountains to the south and the Yangtze River to the north. It is a famous hometown of overseas Chinese in Jiangsu Province and a national key town. The town covers a total area of 101.3 square kilometers, with a population of 42,000. It governs 12 village committees and 1 neighborhood committee, with 2,003 hectares of arable land and 2,400 hectares of mountainous land. The built-up area of the town spans 6.4 square kilometers, with a population of 13,000.

Gaozi is a place rich in talent and spirit. It has outstanding geographical advantages. Located in the beautiful and fertile Yangtze River Delta, it is 5 kilometers east of Zhenjiang and … Detailed information about Dantu Economic Development Zone (Gaozi Subdistrict) ++