Xiaren Scenic Area

Xiaren Scenic Area

Xiaren Scenic Area, located among the eastern mountain ranges of Ningguo County in Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, lies at the convergence of the Huangshan Mountain Range and the Tianmu Mountain Range. To the west, it faces the spectacular scenery of Huangshan; to the south, it overlooks the picturesque West Lake. The area boasts countless towering peaks and secluded caves, sheer cliffs and isolated rock faces; steep valleys and gorges abound, with numerous waterfalls and springs scattered throughout; wild vines and ancient trees reach skyward, while bamboo forests and pine waves create a harmonious symphony. Xiaren is renowned for its unique landscape features—waterfalls, mystical pools, deep ravines, peculiar rocks, and perilous gorges—and is hailed as the “Spectacular Five Wonders of Nature.” It is also celebrated as the “Foremost Waterfall Cluster in Southeast China” for its numerous waterfalls, each with its own distinctive charm.

Here you can find remnants of the Red Army’s presence and the resonant bells of ancient temples. Local legends highlight the area’s profound cultural heritage. Immersed in this pristine and magical landscape, visitors are filled with joy and find it hard to tear themselves away.

Xiaren Shimen is an area within the scenic zone where attractions are relatively concentrated. Two steep cliffs, over a hundred meters high, stand vertically opposite each other like giant walls. Standing within the Shimen (Stone Gate), one’s imagination runs wild—Is it a hint? A refusal? A symbol? Or a turning point? Interpretations are left to the imagination of every visitor. Outside the stone gate, as you climb the steps, you’ll encounter the remarkably lifelike Stone Turtle Probing the Buddha, which never fails to amaze and inspire awe. Crossing a small wooden bridge, you’ll find an exquisitely charming cluster of wooden houses built along the hillside and by the water. The sound of flowing water and the shade of green trees create a serene atmosphere. Passing through the stone gate, you enter a suddenly open and expansive space. Just a few steps ahead lies the affectionate Four-Tiered Spring. Water reigns supreme in Xiaren, and within the graceful, silky-smooth Four-Tiered Spring, you’ll find ribbons of water, pools, or patches of green aquatic plants and unnamed wildflowers along the edges and shores.

Along the paths and streams of Xiaren, there grows a plant called the orchid tree. They grow in small clusters, large and small, beside the roads and streams. Their rich green leaves cradle countless newly sprouted leaf buds, clustered together, bud-like yet not flowers. Breathing in Xiaren’s moist air and growing elegantly to the music of the streams and the company of peculiar rocks, these trees may owe their existence to the unique humidity of Xiaren, making them a distinctive biological symbol of the area.

Xiaren bamboo tube rice is an essential and delightful meal during your visit to the scenic area. Deep within the endless bamboo forests, the ingenious locals of Xiaren saw fresh bamboo into sections, then fill them with glutinous rice and minced cured meat mixed with water, packing them tightly. These are then placed in specially made large iron boxes and heated from below with charcoal—a cooking method entirely different from traditional boiling or modern culinary techniques. The moment the baked bamboo tube rice is split open with a bamboo knife, an aromatic fragrance bursts forth, offering an authentic taste that instantly stirs one’s appetite.