Xianju Scenic Area

Xianju Scenic Area

Xianju Scenic Area is a national-level scenic spot.

Xianju Scenic Area is situated in the central-southern part of Xianju County, covering a total area of 187.8 square kilometers and consisting of 139 scenic spots. The natural scenery here is spectacular, distinctive, and diverse, combining the "wonderful, perilous, pristine, and serene," along with "peaks, waterfalls, streams, and forests."

　What makes Xianju Scenic Area so fascinating is that every mountain, stream, cliff, cave, rock, and peak has its own unique character—unlike any other, extraordinary, surprising, and beyond imagination. In a single word: "wondrous." The peaks, mountains, rocks, and cliffs are all remarkable. Starting from the county town and traveling westward, whether it’s the great Dallei Mountain stretching across the northern region or the Kuocang Mountain range to the south, they all extend continuously, undulating like ocean waves. Yet, in the southern part of Baita Town, surrounding Shenxianju, the clustered mountains stand tall, precipitous, and isolated—sharply distinct from others, uniquely shaped, majestic and peerless. This scenic area is a national key scenic spot, spanning 187.8 square kilometers, encompassing five major zones: Shenxianju, Jinxing, Shisandu, Gongyu, and Danzhu. It combines wonder, danger, clarity, and serenity, as well as peaks, waterfalls, streams, and forests.

Shenxianju Scenic Area

Shenxianju Scenic Area: Integrating perilous peaks, serene valleys, lush forests, and spectacular waterfalls, this area covers a total of 15.8 square kilometers. It has been designated as a fourth-batch national-level scenic spot. The area features over 60 attractions, including General Rock, Sleeping Beauty, and Flying Waterfall. In the 1997 evaluation of scenic areas organized by the Zhejiang Provincial Tourism Bureau, it was named one of the “Most Favorite Scenic Paradises among Tourists” in the province. In 1999, it was ranked as one of Zhejiang’s Top Five Premium Scenic Tourism Destinations. In 2000, it was established as a Zhejiang Provincial Writers’ Creation Base, and in 2002, it was awarded the title of “Zhejiang Provincial Photography Creation Base” by the Zhejiang Photographers Association. The upstream section of the scenic area boasts numerous waterfalls and pools, including an exceptionally rare stretch where eleven continuous levels of cascading waterfalls and uniquely shaped deep pools are found within just 500 meters.

Yong’anxi Rafting

Yong’anxi Rafting: The rafting route on the Yong’anxi River spans a total of 7.68 kilometers, using specially made bamboo rafts produced locally in Xianju. “A small bamboo raft drifting on the stream, while grand green mountains walk along both banks.” Yong’anxi Rafting is the first in China to feature singer-guides, earning media praise as the “Liu Sanjie of Bamboo Rafts.”

Botan Ancient Town

Botan Ancient Town: Having weathered a thousand years of history, Botan still preserves a three-li-long ancient “dragon”-shaped cobblestone street. Along the street are many well-preserved residential houses and ancient buildings from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republican periods, as well as the grand and exquisitely laid-out “Three-Courtyard Nine-Gate Hall,” and the Tongjiang Academy where Zhu Xi sent his son to study. Botan has a profound cultural heritage, including the Needle-Pierced Boneless Lantern—hailed as “China’s No. 1 Lantern”—which won the Gold Award at the China Art Exhibition and the Fourth International Expo. Known as the “Number One Lantern of China,” this lantern was once selected as a palace lantern during the Tang Dynasty. As a result, Xianju was designated as the “Hometown of Chinese Folk Art (Lanterns)” by the Ministry of Culture in 2000.

Xianju Primeval Forest

Xianju Primeval Forest: Also known as the Yu坑 Nature Reserve in Danzhu, Danzhu, Xianju. The Yu坑 Evergreen Broadleaf Forest Nature Reserve currently spans 5,000 mu, with a forest coverage rate of 94.5%. The area contains 1,440 species of vascular plants from 649 genera and 160 families, including seven nationally protected wild tree species—seven under national protection, with the Southern Yew being under first-class protection, and the Longleaf Torreya, Fragrant Fruit Tree, and Redtooth Oak under second-class protection. Rare plants include Podophyllum, Short-Sepaled Yellow Lotus, Magnolia officinalis, Quercus spinosa, Cyclocarya paliurus, and Phoebe chekiangensis. The area is home to 260 species of vertebrates from 64 families and 25 orders, including four species under first-class national protection, and 26 bird species and nine mammal species under second-class protection. The broadleaf forest here is the most intact evergreen broadleaf forest in the Kuocang Mountain range and has been praised by experts as a rare natural “gene bank” and “museum” of plants in Zhejiang Province.

Eight Scenic Spots of Xianju

Eight Scenic Spots of Xianju: Dongling Xiaochun (Bell), Nanfeng Tiaoting, Shilong Linyu, Jinxing Wangyue, Shuilian Waterfall, Magu Jixue, Jinfeng Chongxiao, and Cangling Danfeng are collectively known as the Eight Scenic Spots of Xianju. Dongling Xiaochun (Bell) is a morning scene, Jinxing Wangyue is a night scene; Magu Jixue depicts a winter scene, while Cangling Danfeng and Jinxing Wangyue represent autumn. Shilong Linyu and Shuilian Waterfall belong to summer scenes, and Dongling Xiaochun represents spring. Each time of day and season displays its own charm. The “Eight Scenic Spots of Xianju” are truly a marvelous arrangement bestowed upon the land by nature.

Spring Festival

Spring Festival: The first day of the first lunar month. When the night watch strikes midnight and fireworks explode in the sky—commonly called the “Door-Opening Firecrackers”—it heralds the start of the New Year. On this day, breakfast typically includes leftovers or rolled pancakes, along with “New Year’s Eve Rice” and “Longevity Noodles.” On the night of the Lantern Festival, households light candles in their rooms and at gravesites—known as “Lighting Every Room” and “Illuminating the Tomb Mounds.” Legend says this tradition began when people lit lights to assist Qi’s Army in searching for pirates, later becoming a custom. Other folk performances include the Rolling Dragon, Longboard Dragon, Jumping Horse, Stacked Acrobatics, and various folk songs and ditties.

Taizhou is also one of China’s major fruit-producing regions, renowned for its famous fruits such as Huangyan Honey Oranges and Yuhuan Wenzhou Mandarins. Other local specialties include: Xianju Honey Pears, Xianju Bayberries, Xianju Chestnuts, Xianju Sanhuang Chickens, Camellia Oil, Daylily, and Bamboo Fungus.

The Xianju County Bus Station offers direct minibuses to the scenic area, with a fare of 6 yuan and a travel time of 40 minutes.

Transportation

Public Transit:

Local Transport: Take a taxi (around 10 yuan) from Xianju Bus Station to reach the scenic area. You can use public buses or taxis to travel between scenic spots.

Self-Drive:

1. Travelers departing from Shanghai or Hangzhou can take the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway, switch to the Zhuji-Yongkang Expressway at Zhuji, and then directly enter Xianju. There are three exits within Xianju: Buzhou, Baita, and Xianju County Town. Determine which scenic spot you want to visit first and exit accordingly.

2. Another expressway passing through Xianju (Taizhou-Jinhua Expressway) has exits at Xianju County Town, Baita, and Hengxi. Travelers coming from Taizhou or Jinhua can take the Taizhou-Jinhua Expressway.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of National Key Scenic Areas