Zhouning Dishuiyan

Zhouning Dishuiyan

The Dishuiyan Scenic Area is located at the foot of Donggong Mountain, 30 kilometers southwest of Zhouning County in Fujian Province. It is as renowned as the quaint and elegant Liyu Stream and the majestic Jiulongji Waterfall Cluster, and is listed in the Cihai (Chinese Encyclopedia). An ancient plaque inscribed with “The Foremost Scenic Wonder of Fujian” hangs here. The area lies adjacent to the core zone of the national nature reserve Yuanyang Stream and borders Zhenghe, Pingnan, and Ningde along tributaries of the upstream Huotong Stream such as Chaxi and Baishuiyang Stream. With undulating mountains and dense streams, the scenery is breathtaking, making it an important part of the Huotong Stream tourism landscape belt in eastern Fujian.

The Dishuiyan Grand Tourism Area includes Dishuiyan, Jiulong Stone Caves, Panlong Stream, Chenqiao Yuanyang Stream, Houlong Stream, as well as Lidian’s Shimen Mountain and Yuewang Palace, covering a touring area of several dozen square kilometers. It is an ecological tourism destination that integrates cliffs, caves, valleys, streams, lakes, creeks, waterfalls, and pools. Surrounded by mountains and embraced by water, it features uniquely shaped rocks, secluded caves, lush forests, bamboo groves, rural houses, as well as ancient architectural relics and mythical legends.

Shimen Mountain is located east of Dishuiyan, behind Louping Village in Lidun Town, and is one of the top ten scenic spots in Zhouning County. The surrounding mountains are undulating and towering, stretching 3 kilometers from east to west. In the middle section, the rocky ridge splits into two large stone mountains facing each other, creating a majestic and spectacular sight. The two stones rise over 80 meters above the ground, about 100 meters apart, with sheer cliffs that resemble a grand stone gate when viewed from afar—hence the name Shimen Mountain. The area is known for its rugged peaks and hidden caves, predominantly featuring rocky landscapes, including Laojun Rock, Shaomao Rock, Gong Rock, Qishan, and Tianluo Cave. Legend has it that the stone gate opens during the day and closes at night, adding to its mystical allure. Nearby attractions such as the Diyan cliff, Qincun Three-Tiered Waterfall, and the Nine Pine Trees also offer captivating scenery.

Lidun, situated midway between Shimen Mountain and Dishuiyan, is a market town inhabited mainly by the Li clan. The character “Li” is closely associated with the historically significant Tang Dynasty of China. In the fifth year of Tianyou during the late Tang Dynasty (909 AD), Prince Yue Li Jing (the fourteenth-generation descendant of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan), sensing an impending rebellion, fled to Fujian to avoid disaster. After a long journey, he settled at Longtan Head in Lidun. Today, imperial edicts and relics such as the “King’s Resting Place” can still be found. At the end of 1997, descendants of the Li clan raised funds to construct the grand and magnificent Yuewang Palace (Ancestral Hall), covering an area of approximately 1,500 square meters with a built-up area of over 600 square meters, which has become a tourist attraction.

On the way from Lidun to Dishuiyan, one passes through the ancient village of Huahua in Gongchuan. The Chen clan in the village traces its lineage back to Yingchuan in Henan and its genealogy to Emperor Shun over 4,000 years ago. The ancestral hall’s plaque was inscribed by Chen Lifu, a founding member of the Kuomintang, at the age of 100. Beside the village lies the Zhenwen Bridge, originally built during the Qing Dynasty, with a simple yet charming design that resembles a rainbow spanning the road. Both the ancestral hall and the bridge are worth a visit.

Source: Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Commission