Dragon Back Mountain

Longbeishan

Longbeishan is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Longbeishan Forest Park is a large-scale comprehensive ecological sightseeing, cultural exploration, and leisure-themed tourist park, covering an area of 5.5 square kilometers. The park includes attractions such as Wenfeng Pagoda, water landscape waterfalls, Historical Figures Museum, Science & Education Figures Museum, Art Figures Museum, flower garden, orchard, tea garden, amusement park, and fishing center. The park is filled with blooming flowers, birdsong, and fragrant air, with a green coverage rate of over 95%. Standing atop the 108-meter-high Wenfeng Pagoda, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Yixing.

Best Time to Visit

From March to April, azaleas, peach blossoms, and pear blossoms bloom; in May, you can pick nectarines and apricots; from April to December, roses are in bloom; in June, you can harvest bayberries; and from July to August, pears are ready to be picked.

Longbeishan Forest Park

Map: Longbeishan Forest Park is located south of Yixing’s urban area, covering 550 hectares. The park features undulating hills and lush vegetation. Construction began in 2000 with an investment of 300 million yuan, and all basic infrastructure is now in place. Major attractions such as Wenfeng Pagoda, Historical Figures Museum, Science & Education Figures Museum, and Art Figures Museum have been completed and opened to the public. The park boasts over 10,000 square meters of vibrant lawns; osmanthus gardens, azalea gardens, and rose gardens are nestled among green pines and bamboo, while cascading rock waterfalls, clear Inkstone Pond waters, and dense forests often leave visitors lingering. Longbeishan Forest Park is the largest urban ecological park in the Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou region, receiving over 500,000 domestic and international visitors annually.

Attraction Introduction

Longbeishan Forest Park has a total investment of over 300 million RMB and is divided into four major scenic zones: historical culture, botanical garden, amusement park, and leisure & entertainment. It is the largest urban forest park in East China. Passing through the majestic archway of Longbeishan Forest Park and following a colorful hundred-meter floral corridor, the first sight to greet visitors is a grand and impressive artificial waterfall complex. This group of waterfalls consists of four sections, each 5 meters high and 178 meters long. Standing before the waterfall, visitors are captivated by the ceaseless roar of cascading water and the breathtaking sight of the gushing streams forming crystal-clear beads, creating a truly magnificent spectacle — a rare treasure amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.

Taking an eco-friendly battery car to explore the park’s natural environment is also a delightful experience. The park covers a total area of 5.5 square kilometers with a forest coverage rate of 95%, making it a mountainous natural scenic area. The park features undulating terrain, dense vegetation, towering ancient trees, swaying bamboo groves, layered peaks, beautiful valleys, lush pines and bamboos that shade the sunlight, crystal-clear ponds and streams, and unique geographical features that have created overlapping emerald mountains. With first-class ecological resources, it forms picturesque landscapes; its long history and favorable location have fostered rich cultural heritage. Dozens of ponds, such as Inkstone Pond, Twin Dragons Pond, Plum Shadow Pond, Mirror Pond, Phoenix Pond, and Starry Pond, are scattered throughout the park. Year-round springs feed into these crystal-clear pools nestled in the valleys. The entire Longbeishan Forest Park offers a harmonious blend of lake and mountain views, pavilions and towers, dense natural vegetation, and a superior ecological environment, brimming with color and fragrance all year round.

Attraction Features

The park’s osmanthus garden is planted with various famous varieties such as Golden Osmanthus, Silver Osmanthus, Red Osmanthus, and Four Seasons Osmanthus; the azalea garden cultivates dozens of species including Chinese Azaleas, Western Azaleas, Taiwan Azaleas, and Japanese Azaleas; the rose garden also boasts a rich variety of captivating blooms. These specialty flower gardens each cover around 100 acres, offering flowers in all seasons, blooming in succession, and filling the air with fragrance. Bees buzz and butterflies flutter amid birdsong and floral scents. In addition, the park also has peach orchards, pear orchards, chestnut orchards, and tea gardens planted in large contiguous areas. Visitors can pick fruits in the orchards, or even try their hand at tea picking, processing, and tasting, experiencing the joy of rural life. Strolling through the park, one can feel the fragrance of flowers and plants lingering in the air.

The Science & Education Figures Museum, Historical Figures Museum, and Art Figures Museum — collectively known as the “Three Museums” — showcase notable figures from Yixing throughout history. They are not only cultural highlights within Longbeishan Forest Park but also a historical microcosm reflecting the talent and cultural richness of Yixing, the Pottery Capital. Yixing has long been a land of exceptional people and abundant resources, producing countless distinguished officials, scholars, and talents throughout the dynasties. They demonstrated their wisdom and ambition on the colorful stage of history, contributing to the stability and prosperity of the nation. Yixing has a long tradition of academic excellence, with 385 successful imperial examination candidates and 920 provincial degree holders, including 4 top-ranking Zhuangyuan (number one scholars), 5 Bangyan (number two), and 1 Tanhua (number three). The people of Yixing are intelligent and capable, having produced 10 prime ministers and 7 generals. The Zhuangyuan Hall, General Hall, Imperial Examination Hall, Gathering of Sages Hall, and Overseas Chinese Hall feature countless remarkable stories and legends about these figures. Many distinguished individuals have left enduring legacies, shining brightly in Chinese history and culture.

Longbeishan Forest Park features beautiful valleys, dense pines and bamboos that provide ample shade, and crystal-clear ponds, pools, streams, and creeks. The area has profound cultural heritage. In ancient times, Zhou Xiaohou of the Jin Dynasty hunted tigers on the southern mountain here, leaving behind the Tiger Shooting Pavilion and Flowing Cup Bridge. Lu Xisheng, a prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, once visited Stone Pavilion to admire plum blossoms, composing poems that expressed his emotions. During the Song Dynasty, Mu resisted the Jin army and built Yue Dyke and Xie Bridge here. Wu Bing, a dramatist and prime minister of the late Ming Dynasty, wrote at his studio here, leaving behind the literary work “Can Hua Wu Zhong.”

Longbeishan also has numerous folk tales such as those of the Loyal Ox, Divine Tiger, and White Snail, as well as historic sites like Autumn Listening Pavilion and Floating Emerald Pavilion. Over the centuries, many high-ranking officials, scholars, and literati have chosen this land as their eternal resting place, staying forever with the green mountains and clear waters. The park has been restoring some of these historic scenes as part of its planned development.

The amusement park is located on the eastern side of the park, covering over 70,000 square meters. Its main attractions include a roller coaster, large sightseeing Ferris wheel, Apollo spacecraft, rock climbing, dry ski slope, and 19 other major rides. It caters to different age groups — children, teens, adults, and seniors — combining thrills, wonder, and adventure with educational and entertaining elements, serving both fitness and recreational purposes. The amusement facilities are among the best in China, ensuring safety and reliability. The leisure area is situated deep in the park, by the water and against the mountain, surrounded by dense bamboo forests. Covering a reception area of 2,500 square meters, it houses a coffee shop, teahouse, and more. The facilities are top-notch, meeting various consumer needs. The most charming spot is the teahouse hidden within the bamboo forest — perfect for sipping tea, reflecting quietly, or chatting with friends, offering a uniquely delightful experience. With its excellent ecological environment, rich cultural ambiance, and distinctive landscapes, Longbeishan Forest Park has become a comprehensive urban park integrating sightseeing, education, vacation, leisure, entertainment, and fitness.

Name Origin

Longbeishan Forest Park is located at the southern end of Renmin Road in Yixing, Wuxi. It is a comprehensive ecological leisure park that blends the enchanting landscapes and cultural attractions of Yangxian. There are two theories about the origin of the name “Longbeishan” (Dragon Back Mountain). One says the mountain was originally called Hongdangshan (Red Pond Mountain), and is part of the undulating range of hills including Xiaoling Mountain, Longtan Mountain, Cangpu Mountain, and Meiling Mountain that extend eastward from Tongguan Mountain. When viewed from a distance, it resembles the arched back of a coiled dragon. Another theory says that in ancient times, when Emperor Taizong of Tang passed through, he was so moved by the scenery that he named it “Dragon Back.” On another occasion, he was struck by a sudden rainstorm while traveling and took shelter under a huge rock. After the rain cleared, he saw a magnificent rainbow arching across the sky, and was so impressed that he named the place “Rainbow Arch.” There was also a time when a fierce flood swept through, and after praying to the Dragon King for protection, the flood subsided. To show gratitude, the people built a memorial archway and named the mountain “Dragon Back.” Later, a massive flood occurred again, and after the flood receded, two large rocks were found, which people believed were sent by the Dragon King. Hence, they were called “Dragon Gifts,” and the name “Dragon Back” stuck. Later, a violent flood struck once more, and after it passed, two large rocks were found, which people believed were sent by the Dragon King. Hence, they were called “Dragon Gifts,” and the name “Dragon Back” became widely used. Later, a violent flood occurred again, and after it receded, two large rocks were found, which people believed were sent by the Dragon King. Hence, they were called “Dragon Gifts,” and the name “Dragon Back” was given, which remains in use today.

Address: Southern End of Renmin South Road, Yixing City, Wuxi

Type: Urban Park / Forest

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visiting Time: 3 hours

Phone: 0510-87965909

Official Website: http://www.lbsslgy.cn

Opening Hours:

8:00-17:00