Xianyan Scenic Area

Xianyan Scenic Area

Xianyan Scenic Area is one of the first batch of provincial-level scenic spots announced by the People's Government of Zhejiang Province on August 19, 1985. It is located in Xianyan Town, Ouhai District, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, on the western foothills of Daluo Mountain, situated between Wenzhou and Ruian cities. It is 19 kilometers from downtown Wenzhou and 17 kilometers from downtown Ruian, and lies to the east of National Highway 104 and the under-construction Yong-Tai-Wen Expressway. Both the No. 18 bus from downtown Wenzhou and the special line from Ruian can take you directly to Xianyan, making transportation extremely convenient.

Known for its wonder of “Nine Lions and One Elephant” and the beauty of “Five Pools and Two Wells,” Xianyan Scenic Area boasts not only unique and picturesque natural scenery such as peculiar mountains and rocks, cascading springs and waterfalls, crystal-clear pools and green wells, natural caves and grottoes, as well as ancient trees and camellias, but also captivating legends and long-standing cultural heritage that reflect the rich connotations of this scenic destination. In 1994, it was designated as a patriotic education base by the Ruian Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, and in April 2000, it was further recognized as a Wenzhou Municipal Patriotic Education Base by the Wenzhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government.

The Xianyan Scenic Area covers a total area of 30.5 square kilometers and is divided into three major scenic zones based on terrain and resources: the first zone, centered around pools and waterfalls and characterized by cultural sites, is the Xianyan Scenic Zone; the second zone, known for its serene caves, with Huacheng Cave and Luoyin Cave as its highlights, is the Huacheng Cave Scenic Zone; the third zone, famous for its vast water landscapes, featuring Tianhe and Xiushui reservoirs, is the Tianhe Scenic Zone.

The three major scenic zones currently comprise twelve main attractions and 108 individual sites, among which rock formations resembling various shapes are the most numerous, especially the Shengxian Rock by the Meiyu Pool in the Xianyan Scenic Zone. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor once cultivated himself here, attained immortality, and then rode a dragon to ascend to heaven. Looking up at its form, the rock rises abruptly from the ground, towering and majestic, as if ready to take flight. Ancient people used phrases like “steep cliffs scraping the sky” and “soaring as if growing wings in the wind” to describe its graceful and awe-inspiring presence. Other formations, such as the Liumi Rock (Flowing Rice Rock), Qipan Rock (Chessboard Rock), Jiangjun Rock (General Rock), and Shengui Rock (Divine Turtle Rock), each have their own wonderful and thought-provoking legends.

Among the natural landscapes of Xianyan Scenic Area, there is also an ancient golden-hearted camellia tree in Huacheng Cave. Standing 12 meters tall with a trunk diameter of 33 centimeters, it has been confirmed by botanists from both China and Japan to be over 1,200 years old, making it the “King of Camellias” in the world. As early as May 1981, it was featured in the American Camellia Journal, where the renowned Chinese horticulturist Mr. Wang Yiping wrote a special article introducing this ancient camellia. At Baijiajian in the Tianhe Scenic Zone, on the mornings of the first day of the seventh and eighth lunar months each year, you can witness the rare phenomenon of the sun and moon rising simultaneously.