Tianzhuangzhai Waterfall Cluster

Tianzhuangzhai Waterfall Cluster

Tianzhuangzhai is situated in the Dabie Mountain Range and acts as the watershed between China’s northern and southern river systems. Rivers north of the mountain flow north to the Huai River, and those south flow south to the Yangtze River. The Tianzhuangzhai forest area is hailed as “the last primeval forest in East China, a kingdom of plants, and an ocean of flowers.”

The Tianzhuangzhai forest area enjoys an annual rainfall of 1350mm, which provides ample water resources. As a water conservation forest, its unique geographical location and climatic conditions have created a landscape where the mountains are as high as the water that flows from them. It combines beauty, serenity, grandeur, and danger, along with springs, waterfalls, streams, and pools all within one valley. Most remarkably, within a 2-kilometer radius of the Tianzhuangzhai forest area lies a waterfall cluster featuring five stepped waterfalls: Jiuying Waterfall, Lovers' Waterfall, Xiayu Waterfall, Lady Waterfall, and Silver Bow Waterfall. This phenomenon is truly rare in East China. A poem praises it: “Having trodden Huangshan, Emei, Taishan, and Lushan, none compare to the waters of Tianzhuangzhai.”

Entering the Tianzhuangzhai Waterfall Cluster scenic area, the first waterfall you encounter when traveling upstream from the bottom is Jiuying Waterfall. This is a perennial waterfall, standing 71 meters high and about 12 meters wide. It was formed due to differences in rock types and fault activity. At the base of the waterfall, diorite granite intrudes as a rock bed into amphibolite gneiss. Below it lies a deep pool approximately 500 square meters in size, which never dries up year-round. The waterfall cascades down like a hanging curtain, producing a thunderous roar. (A waterfall is a phenomenon where a river flows over a cliff-like riverbed, causing the water to plunge downward. Smaller ones are called cascades. Waterfalls have strong erosive power.) Seeing Jiuying Waterfall, we truly grasp the profound meaning behind Li Bai’s famous line: “Its torrent dashes down three thousand feet from high / As if the Silver River fell from the blue sky.”

Continuing upward along the walking trail, the second waterfall is Lovers' Waterfall. This waterfall is 44 meters high and 10–15 meters wide, and is a cliff-type waterfall. Under the pool, you can see boulders of varying sizes made of diorite granite, including xenoliths of Dabie complex rocks within the rock mass. The water flow here is gentle, folding several times as it descends, resembling a young woman combing her beautiful hair. A poem describes it: “Waterfall and emerald trees grow old together; a ferry is repaired across millennia.” The third waterfall, Xiayu Waterfall, stands 62 meters high and 12 meters wide. It is also a perennial waterfall, with water cascading down like rolling pearls and flowing jade, then plunging onto a stone flat, resembling sea waves churning with white snow. Standing here, you feel as though you’re looking down at green trees coloring the surrounding peaks and looking up at the Milky Way descending from the heavens.

Jiuying Waterfall is a perennial waterfall, 71 meters high and about 8 meters wide, formed by differences in rock types and fault activity. At the base of the waterfall, diorite granite intrudes as a rock bed into amphibolite gneiss (note: geological terminology), and there is a deep pool about 50 square meters in size that never dries up year-round. The waterfall cascades down like a hanging curtain, making a thunderous noise. Observing this waterfall allows you to truly appreciate the meaning of Li Bai’s famous line: “Its torrent dashes down three thousand feet from high / As if the Silver River fell from the blue sky.” This area has a very high concentration of negative oxygen ions in the air, making it a natural forest bathing spot. In winter, Jiuying Waterfall resembles a white vertical curtain hanging in front of the valley, with countless ice bead necklaces hanging from both sides of the curtain and countless icicles sewn together like a curtain fringe hanging from the top, presenting an elegant and sacred aura like a palace in a fairyland.

Lovers' Waterfall stands 44 meters high and is 10–15 meters wide. It is a cliff-type waterfall. Under the pool, you can see boulders of various sizes made of diorite granite, including xenoliths of Dabie complex rocks within the rock mass (note: geological terminology). The water here flows gently, folding multiple times as it descends, like a maiden playing with her beautiful hair. A poem says: “Waterfall and emerald trees grow old together; a ferry is repaired across millennia.” In winter, it resembles a folded jade tower, with icicles on both sides looking like golden boys and jade girls guarding the tower, and swirling clouds rising like purple mist. The third waterfall in the cluster, Xiayu Waterfall, is 57 meters high and 12 meters wide. It is a perennial waterfall with water cascading down like rolling pearls and flowing jade, then falling onto a stone flat, resembling waves rolling with white snow. Here, you can look down to see green trees coloring the surrounding peaks and look up to see the Milky Way descending from the heavens—a delightful and intoxicating scene.

Silver Bow Waterfall has a drop of 68 meters and is 11–15 meters wide. It is a two-tiered perennial waterfall, with water flowing down along the oblique joint surface of diorite granite and into a pool about 100 square meters in size, where you can even spot giant salamanders (also known as baby fish). The waterfall resembles a silver bow ready to shoot, hidden among green trees and blooming flowers, searching for its target—what a spectacular sight it makes. The connected waterfalls are like white silk ribbons flying across the sky or silver dragons descending from above. Looking up, they seem to spurt out from between the shadows of pine trees reflected in the blue sky; looking down, they crash into the deep pool, sending up jade-like splashes and blossoms, rushing like a stampede of horses or an abrupt storm—truly a magnificent spectacle.