Putang

Putang

The Putang Scenic Area is situated on the banks of the Yangtze River, in the eastern suburbs of Ma'anshan, a key city in southern China. With its unspoiled, naturally-formed, ancient, and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, it forms a striking contrast with the Taibai Tower at Caishi Rock in the western suburbs of Ma'anshan. Together, they create the city’s distinctive cultural and natural scenery, drawing scholars, artists, and visitors from near and far, across ages, who come here to relax, explore history, seek novelty, and enjoy the wonders of nature.

The scenic area borders the ancient capital of Nanjing, a city with a history spanning six dynasties, and lies close to the international metropolis of Shanghai. It is just 19 kilometers from Lukou International Airport and serves as one of the main routes connecting Anhui Province to Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Covering an area of 24.2 square kilometers, the area features rolling mountains, crisscrossing valleys, lush pine and bamboo forests, murmuring springs, and a strong sense of wild charm that is truly breathtaking. It is hailed as the “Pearl of the East” of Ma'anshan. In 1998, it was designated as a provincial scenic area in Anhui, and in 2002, it was rated as a AA-level scenic spot. Built around its mountainous terrain and forest vegetation, the area integrates eco-tourism and leisure vacation tourism, offering broad prospects for development. In line with the municipal Party committee and government’s strategic plan to vigorously develop the tourism economy, our district provides preferential policies in terms of land use and investment attraction on the existing foundation. This creates a favorable environment for the development of the scenic area, offering economic, transportation, communication, energy infrastructure, as well as substantial potential in tourist capacity and duration. These factors provide a stable and relatively high-spending tourist market for the future development of our district.

The Putang Natural Scenic Area is located in the Putang Mountainous Region in the eastern part of Ma'anshan, covering an area of about 20 square kilometers. Here, peaks overlap and valleys crisscross, with concentrated landscapes. The mountains are covered by dense forests that stretch as far as the eye can see, while numerous winding trails weave through the hills. The area has 49 major and minor peaks, 53 valleys, 8 reservoirs, and 290 ponds and dams. The mountains host 18,000 mu of forests, 5,000 mu of bamboo groves, 350 mu of tea plantations, and over 300 species of plants. The entire woodland features a mix of tall trees and shrubs, hanging vines, ancient towering trees, and bamboo forests that resemble oceans. Among them, there is an ancient ginkgo tree over 800 years old that still bears fruit every year; a giant evergreen holly with a canopy spanning 200 square meters, resembling a huge umbrella; as well as ancient osmanthus, camellia, crape myrtle, juniper, and beech trees, all richly fragrant and vibrantly colorful. The area also boasts springs that flow year-round, such as the Jade Milk Spring, Dragon Spring, Tiger Spring, Clear Spring, and Crab Spring, among which the Dragon Spring and Jade Milk Spring are the largest. The Dragon Spring is located at the head of Dragon Valley, where the water flows as if it were dripping from a dragon’s mouth, forming a gentle stream that babbles down, with the sound of the flowing water particularly crisp and pleasant in the deep valley. The Jade Milk Spring is situated in the secluded Valley Hermitage at the foot of Tianma Mountain, named for its milky-white water. The spring water is cool and refreshing, and it has been flowing for over 500 years since its discovery. Due to the dense forests, the area is an ideal habitat for birds, especially the broad-leaved mixed forests that shelter the richest birdlife, including over 20 species such as thrushes, orioles, cuckoos, larks, tits, doves, Chinese bulbuls, and grey magpies. Historically, this was also a prime location for Buddhist and Taoist temples and hermitages. In the past, there were as many as 27 temples, monasteries, nunneries, and shrines, such as Valley Hermitage, Kao Mountain Hermitage, and Qingyun Temple, which enjoyed great popularity for a time.

The Putang Natural Scenic Area is now divided into three scenic zones: Huangzhuang, Jianhu, and Lingxuan. The Huangzhuang zone is located in the northeastern part of Putang. This area features high mountains, deep valleys, dense bamboo and forests, enclosed spaces, and an elegant environment. Its main highlights are secluded valleys and clear springs, with attractions such as the Bamboo Grove Ancient Path, Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl, Secluded Valley Ancient Hermitage, Dragon Spring Longevity Tree, and Star Lake Mountain Village. The Jianhu zone is situated in the southwestern part of Putang. This area offers open spaces, interconnected landscapes of mountains and water, and unique scenery. Its main features are lake views, mountain scenery, and birdsong, with attractions such as Jianhu Painted Boat, Embroidered Curtain Birdsongs, Bell and Drum Wonder, and Dragon Peak Viewpoint. The Lingyuan zone serves as the gateway to the Huangzhuang zone. This area mainly includes monuments for people to pay respects and mourn, such as the Martyrs’ Tower, Martyrs’ Tomb, and exhibition hall. In 1989, the Ma'anshan Municipal People's Government gathered relevant experts to survey the scenic area’s resources, deciding to designate it as the city’s natural scenic reserve. They also formulated an overall development plan for the scenic area and began implementing the first phase of the project. Currently, the scenic area’s tourism route expansion project has been completed. The newly built Valley Hermitage Tourism Reception Service Center and the “Valley Zheng House” attraction cover an area of 1,272 square meters and can accommodate 2,000 visitors per day.

The scenic area features overlapping mountains, crisscrossing valleys, verdant forests, murmuring springs, and a serene, wild atmosphere, making it an ideal destination for leisure and vacation. The bamboo sea, ancient trees, clear springs, and bell-and-drum sounds are known as the “Four Wonders” of Putang. Here, the vast bamboo sea stretches as far as the eye can see, with emerald green hues. When the mountain breeze blows, the swaying bamboo shadows and rustling leaves create a heavenly melody. Strolling through it, one forgets all worldly concerns and feels a profound sense of peace and joy. The ancient ginkgo tree, having survived a thousand years of change, still stands with twisted branches and thick, leafy shade. At the Bell-and-Drum Ground, one can actually hear the sound of bells and drums beneath their feet—an extraordinary and mysterious experience.