Taohuayuan Corridor in Yi County

Taohuayuan Corridor in Yi County

The Taohuayuan Corridor scenic area is situated along a 10-kilometer section of the Zhang River in Yi County, stretching from Shishan to Yuting. It is named after the renowned "Peach Blossom Spring" (Taohuayuan Ji) written by the Eastern Jin Dynasty poet Tao Yuanming, which describes a beautiful and serene hidden paradise.

The rafting starting point is located at the foot of the scenic Shishan Dai Peak. The endpoint is at Shimen Yuanyang Bay, upstream of Yuting Town. The rafting route spans six kilometers in total and takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete.

The Zhang River, the largest tributary of the Xin’an River, flows from west to south through Yuting Town. Its main course is over 50 kilometers long. The rafting section of the Taohuayuan Corridor features dramatic cliffs and exquisite rock formations along both banks, presenting a variety of stunning shapes. Not only does it boast attractions such as Taoyuan Cave, Xunyang Terrace, Shimen, Zhongtan, Hongmiao, ancient plank roads, and Dai Peak, but it is also rich in historical tales, including the hermitage of Xu Xuanping, the Fisherman Asking the Way, Li Bai Fishing, and Sister’s Hat. The area is incredibly picturesque and has historically been praised as a “scenic corridor”!

The Zhang River meanders down to a pool beneath Shimo Ridge, where a massive rock known as Xunyang Terrace, also called Taibai Fishing Terrace, is located.

Legend has it that Li Bai visited this place on his way to Yi County while seeking out the Xin’an recluse Xu Xuanping. The Song Dynasty work Fangyu Shenglue by Zhu Mu states: “The fishing terrace is located 18 li south of Yixian County in Huizhou, known as Xunyang Terrace. It is said that Li Bai once fished here.” A poem by Li Bai reads: “Grinding ink from Shimo Ridge, fishing crimson fish at Xunyang, the peaks sharp as brushes—fit to paint, unfit to describe.” In the past, an octagonal two-story pavilion stood by the terrace, with the northern gate inscribed “Flying Springs Beyond the Sky” and the southern gate “Soaring Radiance in Crimson.” The three large characters “Xunyang Terrace” are engraved on the cliff face in powerful and disciplined calligraphy. In the 13th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1808), Xunyang Academy was built on Pan Mountain east of the terrace, but it no longer stands.

Traveling up the Zhang River from Yuting, about 8 kilometers from Yixian County, lies the southern foot of Shimo Ridge. Here, rugged rocks jut from the mountain, ancient trees flourish, and peach blossoms line the riverbanks. A cave is carved into the mountainside—this is Taoyuan Cave. Passing through the cave, one can walk along wooden supports, hence it is also called Stack Pavilion Ridge. Below lies Zhongtan, with cliffs rising over a hundred meters on both the north and south sides. The Zhang River surges westward through the valley, creating a precipitous and breathtaking landscape. Upon exiting the cave, a sudden expanse of open land and neat houses comes into view, closely resembling the Peach Blossom Spring depicted by Tao Yuanming.

Taoyuan Cave was an important passageway in the county’s ancient transportation network. The cave entrance is engraved with the words “Ancient Taoyuan Cave.” Originally, there was a teahouse here, where “mountain spring water was used to brew tea, quenching the thirst of travelers.” Further up the back ridge, Taoyuan Academy—also known as Shixi Hall—was built during the Ming Dynasty. A Guanyin Pavilion was also constructed on the rock face, housing a white jade statue of Guanyin.

Bamboo Raft: 75 RMB; Rubber Raft: 65 RMB.

Transportation

Buses depart from Tunxi Long-Distance Bus Station to this area at 10 RMB per person. There are also minibuses from Yixian County Town, taking just over ten minutes to arrive, costing around 1 RMB per person.