Mashan Nanmu Forest Scenic Area

Mashan Nanmu Forest Scenic Area

Mashan Nanmu Forest Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Mashan Nanmu Forest Scenic Area is known as the "feng shui forest" of Shuinan Village, consisting of nearly ten thousand rare nanmu trees of various sizes. The forest is lush with foliage and remains green all year round, serving as a national-level key ecological forest reserve. Legend has it that the nanmu forest was first planted by Cai Yuanding, one of the "Nine Confucian Scholars of the Cai Family," a renowned Neo-Confucian family from the Song Dynasty. It has been preserved and protected for over a thousand years. In recent years, several film and TV drama crews, including "The Sword Stained with Royal Blood," "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," "Journey to the West," and "Painted Skin 2," have used this location as a filming site.

Nanmu is a precious tree species. To prevent people from illegally cutting them down, a rule was established: anyone who dares to cut a nanmu tree must make Cai family meat pies for every villager—one pie per person. Shuinan Village is large and has a sizable population. For an ordinary family, cutting even one nanmu tree would either bankrupt them or cost them dearly. Under such severe punishment, no one dared to harbor any ill intentions.

Once the rule was set, the spirit of protecting the nanmu forest stood firm on the land of Mashan, just like the nanmu trees themselves. The nanmu forest shelters the villagers, and the villagers protect the nanmu forest. This solemn and majestic power and virtue, forged through millennia, have created an unyielding and eternal faith in the nanmu trees. It is precisely this unwavering and uncorrupted faith, as sturdy as the nanmu itself, that has helped the nanmu forest evade the covetousness of Kuomintang officials and deterred those who sought to profit greatly from the trees. Captivating, spiritually comforting, and extraordinarily beautiful, the nanmu forest has thus remained a secluded wonder.

The nanmu forest spans hundreds of acres and is filled with a dazzling array of trees, consisting of nearly ten thousand rare nanmu trees of various sizes. Today, the nanmu forest has become a popular destination for sightseers, especially as painters in recent years have adorned some of the trees with artwork, making it truly magnificent. On a sunny autumn day, strolling along the forest boardwalk and gazing up at the lush green or golden-yellow leaves overhead is a delightful experience.

Trees have growth rings, and this forest, standing here, tells the history of the village to all who visit. It is like an epic novel full of dramatic twists and turns, captivating the imagination. A village guarded by hundreds of acres of towering trees instantly feels profound and significant. The forest is also home to many nameless flowers that bloom in autumn—most are small and delicate, in light shades of purple, unassuming and somewhat lonely, blooming quietly among the gaps of the massive trees. From a distance, they look like floral treasures scattered carelessly across the earth from a fairy’s basket. I admire the nameless flowers’ silent yet persistent faith, allowing their vibrant lives to bloom year after year, each time bringing forth their own hopes. Moreover, being quietly immersed in the fragrance of plants and trees stirs a desire to write poetry. Because the scenery here becomes poetry in the heart.

Mashan Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Jianyang City. It is a key grain production base in the city. During the Song Dynasty, a patrol inspection office was established here; in the Qing Dynasty, a sub-prefecture was set up; during the Republic of China period, a district office was installed. In 1949, it became Mashan District; in 1958, the Mashan Commune was established; in 1984, it was upgraded to a town. Located in the northwestern part of the city, on the middle reaches of the Maxi River, it is 38 kilometers from the municipal government. Covering an area of 469 square kilometers, it has a population of 38,000. The Shuisen Highway passes through the town. It governs 23 village committees: Mashan, Shuinan, Zhuzhou, Lvtun, Huaxi, Xinxī, Bianxi, Jiangfang, Jieshou, Dun tou, Jiaoxi, Zhongli, Jiangba, Xinping, Qibao, Changping, Maodian, Yongxing, Xitou, Dutan, Liangdun, and Liutian, as well as Mashan... Detailed information about Mashan Town++