Huaxi Scenic Area

Huaxi Scenic Area

Huaxi is a provincial-level scenic spot, located 8 kilometers from Anwen Town, the county seat of Pan’an, and 27 kilometers from Hengdian World Studios. The scenic area’s tourist highway connects to the provincial Dongxian Highway, making it easily accessible. Huaxi Scenic Area is famed for “viewing hundred-million-year-old volcanic wonders and walking across a kilometer-long flat stream.” Major attractions include the Echoes of the Corridor Bridge, Village Cooking Smoke, Jinshi Pool, Flat Stream, Huaxi Seclusion, Twin Falls Competing for the Pool, Stone Monkey Rock, Wisteria King, and Volcanic Lake. The beauty of Huaxi lies in its natural splendor—just seeing the flat stream alone will leave you in awe. The flat stream stretches over 3,000 meters in total, with more than 1,000 meters of exposed section. The entire stream bed is smooth as if planed, devoid of pebbles, silt, or sand. You can ice-skate or bike on it, and walking across it feels like treading on polished stone slabs. The water is crystal clear and refreshingly invigorating—an indescribable wonder. The famous Song Dynasty painter Mi Fu once remarked:

“No scenery in the land of the Three Wu regions compares to this; its flat, clear waters are truly unique in the world!”

[Three Dams and Nine Waterfalls]

To the east of the Jinshi Waterfall lies Saiwu, stretching 1,000 meters with steep cliffs on both sides. There are three strategically perilous fortresses, each featuring three tiers of waterfalls connected up and down. The first tier of the upper fortress has a drop of 30 meters, with the second and third tiers each at 15 meters. The middle and lower fortresses each have tiers of about 10 meters.

[Jinshi Pool]

Located north of Huaxi Village, a waterfall cascades from a 10-meter-high cliff into the pool, sending up a spray of glittering droplets. Legend says the pool got its name because a one-jin (500g) silk thread could be dangled into its depths without touching the bottom, and its waters never dry up year-round. A rock within the pool divides it into two sections—the outer pool, fan-shaped and relatively shallow, allows visitors to step onto the dividing rock and view the inner pool in its entirety. The inner pool is oval, with dark, mysterious waters of unfathomable depth. Most peculiarly, the water level sometimes rises suddenly even without rain, and at other times the pool’s waters churn unexpectedly for unknown reasons. The pool water is emerald green, and in the peak of summer, putting a hand in sends a sudden chill. There are curious tales of “pool washing,” and legends like Sun Wukong battling demons and kicking an endless hole in the creek.

[Flat Stream]

The flat stream appears in two locations: one in Shixia Village, approximately 100 meters long, and the other south of Huaxi Village, stretching a total of 3,000 meters with a width of 10 to 15 meters. The stream bed consists of flat, smooth rocks, with crystal-clear, transparent flowing water. Under the sunlight, the water sparkles brilliantly. Looking down at the stream bed from the bank, it glows golden as if paved with granite. Experts have confirmed that this flat riverbed is composed of nearly horizontal, layered rhyolite formed by volcanic eruptions during the Mesozoic era a hundred million years ago. It holds high ornamental and scientific research value, and is a rare natural wonder seldom seen in the world.

[Twin Falls Competing for the Pool]

Deep within the flat stream, trickling streams tumble down playfully, flanked by steep cliffs and shaded by dense forests, creating a tranquil environment. The Huaxi Stream and Chestnut Tree Stream converge here, pouring into a deep pool and forming two intersecting waterfalls, each with a drop of over 10 meters. In seasons with abundant water, the two falls merge into one, thundering down with a rushing sound and an impressive momentum. The area around the stream is home to many nationally protected, rare, and endangered plants, such as Zhejiang Seven-Son Flower and Sweet Gum, both boasting beautiful blossoms and fruits.

[Stone Monkey Rock]

On the side of Twin Falls Competing for the Pool stands Stone Monkey Rock, about 800 meters above sea level, named for the troops of monkeys that inhabit the area. The towering rock rises approximately 150 meters high, steep and precipitous. Within the rock is a crevice that widens at the bottom, forming a cave. Though the rock face is treacherous, many adventurous tourists and local villagers climb it barehanded each year to explore the cave. It is said the cavern inside is spacious enough to accommodate dozens of people. Viewed from the southeast, the rock resembles a white horse galloping westward, with a rock formation on its back that looks like a monk—complete with a Buddhist crown and kasaya—riding backward on a white dragon horse.

[Echoes of the Corridor Bridge]

At the entrance of Shixia Village stands the Jiyang Bridge, an 18-meter-long, 6-meter-wide covered bridge built in 1848 during the Qing Dynasty, spanning the Huaxi Stream. Its wooden structure offers shelter from wind and rain. At the center of the bridge is an altar dedicated to the Bridge God, believed to protect the locals with peace and safety, and guard against disasters. In 2001, the dilapidated wooden structure was restored to its original design. Today, the bridge stands proud, retaining its unique historic charm.

[Mandarin Duck Bamboo Grove]

Upon entering the scenic area, you’ll find a well-grown bamboo grove that casts a thick shade. Interestingly, in this grove, many bamboo stalks grow in pairs, tightly clustered and rising shoulder to shoulder, resembling couples in loving embrace—hence the name.