Ancient Stone Dragon Scenic Area

Ancient Stone Dragon Scenic Area

The Ancient Stone Dragon Scenic Area is located about 10 kilometers northwest of Handan City, a renowned historical and cultural city. It earned its name after the discovery of a unique group of ancient stone dragons. Situated in the Taihang Mountain range at the eastern foot of Zishan Mountain, it lies within a hilly region. The scenic area features interconnected lakes, plains, ravines, hills, and rocky cliffs, along with numerous cultural relics. Major attractions include the Ancient Stone Dragon Group, Dragon Drinking Lake, Phoenix Terrace, Luo Fu Pool, Wish Valley, Mulberry Garden, Zhenwu Taoist Courtyard, Five Dragons Taoist Temple, the ruins of Longxing Temple, and over 30 other sites.

The Ancient Stone Dragon Group is situated in the central part of the scenic area. It lies to the west of the Zishan Mountain peaks, east of the Zhao Kings’ Mausoleum terraces, south of the Dragon God Taoist Temple, and north of the Phoenix Ancient Terrace—truly an ancient marvel and a feng shui treasure land.

The main dragon’s head stands 6 meters tall and 4.3 meters wide, with 32 meters currently excavated. It is estimated that the entire dragon body stretches about 369 meters in length. Its body segments are made up of roughly one-meter-long sandstone blocks, which are hollow. According to locals, it was still discharging water outward thirty years ago. On its left side is one claw. Overall, the dragon exudes a majestic and spirited aura, appearing as if it might soar into the sky at any moment. It is currently the largest, oldest, and most structurally complex stone dragon discovered within China, earning the title “The Number One Dragon Under Heaven.” The other nine stone dragons are slightly smaller, made of the same stone material as the main dragon, and are arranged with four on the left and five on the right. The entire dragon group is buried deep beneath a 15-meter-thick layer of earthy cliffs. All dragons face northeast with their tails pointing southwest, their heads held high and tails low, each with unique and vivid forms, naturally charming and perfectly illustrating the saying, “A dragon begets nine sons, each different from the others.”