Wuliu Scenic Area

Wuliu Scenic Area

Located in Jiagou Town, Fulizhen Town, and Caozhen Town in the northwest of Yongqiao District, Suzhou City, Anhui Province. The Beijing-Shanghai Railway, National Highway 206, and the Hefei-Xuzhou Expressway to the west of the scenic area run north to south. It is 30 kilometers from downtown Suzhou City, 20 kilometers from Huaibei City, and 30 kilometers from Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It integrates a nature reserve with scenic landscapes, boasts profound cultural heritage, and is a low-mountain plain resort characterized by its harmonious combination of mountains and water.

Known for its “clear mountains, beautiful waters, marvelous caves, spiritual springs, and fragrant rice fields,” the scenic area is surrounded by mountains on its southern, western, and northern sides, featuring a rich variety of plant species and a pleasant climate.

The Longquan Lake in the main scenic area is serene and crystal-clear with sweet-tasting water. The lakeside is lined with weeping willows, dragon cypresses, and snow-pure trees, creating a stunningly beautiful scenery. In the Pen Shan Cave within the scenic area, the variously shaped stalagmites and stalactites spark the imagination. The Wuliu Mineral Spring nurtures the famous Jiagou Fragrant Rice, known as an imperial tribute from the Song Dynasty through the Ming and Qing Dynasties, earning the reputation that “when one family cooks rice, ten families smell the fragrance, and when ten families cook, it fills the entire village.” Wuliu Scenic Area offers breathtaking natural scenery along with numerous historical sites and cultural landscapes, making it a rare tourist gem in northern Anhui.

Centered around the Wuliu Longquan Lake, the area includes sightseeing zones such as the Min Temple, the hometown of Empress Ma, Liugou Temple, and Dafang Temple, spanning a total area of 46 square kilometers. The mountain peaks here belong to the Suburban Wuli Mountain area in northern Suzhou, extending from north to south with winding, undulating terrain enclosed by mountains and embraced by water—resembling a dragon’s vein. With the “Dragon’s Head” facing north and its tail to the south, connecting Dragon Backbone Mountain, Turtle Mountain, and Fish Mountain forms the “Four Spirits” of mountains, while Dragon Mountain and Phoenix Slope symbolize “prosperity through the union of dragon and phoenix.” The area harbors pristine ecological forests and sacred springs. The blue lake and karst caves contain prehistoric cultural sites, the birthplace of the revered Min Ziqian, the hometown of Empress Ma from the Ming Dynasty, the military garrison site of Zhu Di from the Ming Dynasty (Huangdian Lake), Dafang Temple, and ancient Han tombs. It encompasses green hills and clear waters, lush forests and bamboo groves, sacred springs and unique caves, renowned temples, and ancient tomb woods. It features both natural and cultural attractions.

The vegetation here mainly consists of warm temperate deciduous broadleaf forest, with abundant tree species. The forest coverage rate is 80.4%, exhibiting transitional plant types between warm temperate and subtropical zones. The plant communities are distributed horizontally, including 46 families and over 160 species of woody plants, along with over 200 types of medicinal plants. There are ancient “sacred trees” such as artificially cultivated ginkgos and cypresses over two thousand years old, as well as towering trees from naturally ancient forests.

Surrounded by dozens of large Blue Sandalwood trees, one of them lies nestled against the mountain with twisted roots and a thick trunk that can be encircled by ten people. It stands 35 meters tall, with a 1.5-meter-high main trunk and a crown covering 500 square meters. Its radiating branches extend toward the sky at different angles, showcasing diverse shapes that are truly magnificent. Wuliu Scenic Area features over 20 major highlights, with renowned water scenes including Willow Grove in the Lake, Pearl Spirit Spring, Azure Dragon Spouting Water, Empress Ma’s Mirror Pond, and the surface of Longquan Lake. Stone landscapes include Two Spirits Playing, Herd of Cattle Resting on the Slope, Lotus Worshiping Buddha, Eagle Overlooking the View, Jiang Ziya’s Fishing Spot, Tiger Climbing the Mountain, Apricot Growing from Stone, and Divine Cleavage of Fragrant Cliff. Notable caves include “Laolao Cave,” “Qinshan Cave,” and “Fragrant Cliff Cave.”

Jiagou Town: Established during the Han Dynasty, Jiagou Town has a history of more than 2,000 years. To the south, a mountain resembles a snake, while to the north, a mountain looks like a turtle. Legend says that a tiger, turtle, and snake once opened a valley here, hence its name. National Highway 206 and the Tianjin-Pukou Railway traverse the entire territory, providing extremely convenient transportation. Blessed with picturesque mountains and clear waters, as well as abundant resources, it has long been known as the “Little Paradise of Huaibei,” shining brilliantly like a bright pearl on the northern gateway of Anhui.