Pingshan Scenic Area

Pingshan Scenic Area

Pingshan Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Yudu Pingshan is located in Jingshi Township in the southern part of the county, about 60 kilometers from the county seat. Formerly known as Longshan, it stands at an elevation of 1,312 meters, making it the highest peak in the county. The surrounding area within a radius of over a hundred li is composed of layered rocks, featuring a typical karst landform structure. The mountain rises high like a screen, home to rare birds and animals, with the highest summer temperature reaching only 29°C.

Experts note that the area below 900 meters of Pingshan resembles the landscape of Zhangjiajie in the National Geological Park—steep cliffs, numerous peculiar rocks, and lush primeval forests that block out the sun. Above 900 meters, the scenery transforms into that of a northern grassland, with 50,000 mu of undulating alpine meadows covering the mountaintop.

The area is often shrouded in clouds and mist, featuring extremely rare natural bonsai tree belts, cliff walls reminiscent of the Hexi Corridor, well-preserved primeval forests, majestic waterfalls and springs, the grand and rugged Hulu Peak, and the vividly shaped Crocodile Rock. There’s also the Golden Lotus Mountain Temple, which resembles the landscape of Mao Zedong’s ancestral tomb site at Tiger Resting Platform, along with sites full of myth and legend such as Immortals Playing Chess, Yellow Dog Drilling Cave, and Immortal Spring. Visitors can enjoy sea of clouds, watch sunrises, walk through mists, and experience the high-altitude grassland scenery at the mountaintop windswept areas. Additionally, there’s the Pingshan Ranch, China’s first privately funded alpine grassland development project, which began in the winter of 1996. In 1998, it was listed as a demonstration project for southern grassy mountains and slopes by the State Planning Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture. The “Pingshan Alpine Grass Milk” and its various products are bestsellers across southern China and beloved by many.

At the foot of Pingshan lies the ranch headquarters, which includes a European-style resort built specifically for tourists, as well as cow breeding and product processing workshops. There are two routes up the mountain from the resort: one is a six-kilometer-long paved mountain road that allows vehicle access, and the other is a footpath that follows the mountain stream, locally referred to as the “Dangerous Path.” Hiking the Dangerous Path is considered the best way for tourists to explore the mountain’s wonders. It takes you through vast primeval forests, past babbling streams, ancient vines, steep and peculiar peaks and rocks, and offers a chance to hear ancient immortal legends—an experience full of unique charm. Highlights along the way include the Straw Sandal Bridge, the Cane Bridge, the Crocodile Rock, the Crowing Golden Rooster, the Soaring Eagle, the Lion Guarding the Mountain, the “Foreigner” with a Large Nose, and Immortals Playing Chess—each scene is uniquely picturesque and full of delight.

At the mountaintop, Zhu Shaogang, leader of a peasant uprising during the Ming Dynasty, once set up camp here to train his troops. Ascending to the summit and looking out in all directions, you’ll feel the clouds floating beneath your feet, birds singing below, and see the vast grasslands rolling under the drifting clouds, with cattle and sheep dotting the green expanse. This serene and magnificent view stirs a sense of awe and inspires endless admiration: the scenery here is truly unparalleled.

Photography: Xiao Zhiyi

Jingshi Township: Located in the southern part of Yudu County, Jingshi Township is 46 kilometers from the county seat. The township covers an area of 153.6 square kilometers, including 200,000 mu of mountainous land, 19,000 mu of arable land, and 4,000 mu of water area. It comprises 10 administrative villages, 191 village groups, 5,769 households, and a population of 28,000. Key natural resources include tungsten and coal. Major local enterprises consist of Shunda Hydropower Station, Pingshan Ranch, Jingshi Tungsten Mine, and Pingshan Spring Water Company.

The dairy cow industry and plum industry are the pillar and featured sectors of Jingshi Township. Leveraging Pingshan Ranch as a leading enterprise, the township adopts a “one household…” Jingshi Township detailed information ++