Scorpion Gully National Forest Park

Scorpion Gully National Forest Park

Scorpion Gully National Forest Park is a national-level forest park.

Scorpion Gully National Forest Park is located in the western part of Lincheng County, Hebei Province, in the central section of the Taihang Mountains, covering a total area of 69,500 mu. Its main peak stands at an elevation of 1,508.1 meters, and the forest coverage rate exceeds 90%. Satellite remote sensing monitoring has identified it as "the greenest place in the Taihang Mountains."

The western mountain area of "Scorpion Gully" features typical "Zhangshiyan" landform landscapes, which hold high scientific and geological research value as well as significant tourism and sightseeing appeal, making it a quintessential representation of the Taihang Mountains’ majesty and beauty. The eastern part is characterized by undulating, continuous peaks, with uniquely spectacular metamorphic rock formations interwoven with Zhangshiyan landforms to create landscapes such as canyons, peculiar rocks, and sharp peaks—features that are rare even on a global scale. It is an ideal destination for scientific research, eco-tourism, and summer retreats. In January 2008, it was officially approved as a national forest park by the State Forestry Administration.

Natural Climate of Scorpion Gully National Forest Park

The western mountain area of "Scorpion Gully" features typical "Zhangshiyan" landform landscapes, which hold high scientific and geological research value as well as significant tourism and sightseeing appeal, making it a quintessential representation of the Taihang Mountains’ majesty and beauty. Scorpion Gully National Forest Park is situated in the central section of the Taihang Mountains in the western part of Lincheng County, Hebei Province, covering a total area of 69,500 mu. Its main peak stands at an elevation of 1,508.1 meters, and the forest coverage rate exceeds 90%. Satellite remote sensing monitoring has identified it as "the greenest place in the Taihang Mountains."

The eastern part is characterized by undulating, continuous peaks, with uniquely spectacular metamorphic rock formations interwoven with Zhangshiyan landforms to create landscapes such as canyons, peculiar rocks, and sharp peaks—features that are rare even on a global scale. It is an ideal destination for scientific research, eco-tourism, and summer retreats.

Flora and Fauna Resources of Scorpion Gully National Forest Park

Little Tianchi (Small Heavenly Lake)

The park has a planned total area of 4,634.15 hectares, with a forest coverage rate of 89%. The natural ecosystem within the park is well-preserved, featuring lush vegetation and numerous ancient trees, as well as various rare birds and animals. Each of the four seasons brings unique and colorful scenery, with landscapes that change beautifully with the passage of time. In spring, mountain peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, and azaleas bloom in succession, competing in brilliance across the hills, filling the air with fragrant and refreshing scents. Summer brings a sea of green and a cool, pleasant climate, making it an ideal place to escape the heat. Autumn paints the forests in vibrant hues, with red maple leaves, yellow oak and birch foliage creating a dazzling display. In winter, snow weighs down the green pines, cloaking the landscape in a stunning silver-white robe.

Most of the park’s mountain peaks stand at elevations above 1,200 meters, with the highest peak reaching 1,508.1 meters. The western mountain area features diverse and vividly shaped typical "Zhangshiyan" landform landscapes; the eastern half consists of undulating, continuous peaks and uniquely spectacular metamorphic rock peak forests. Golden Palace Nao resembles a magnificent palace; the nine stone pillars of Shirenzhai stand like jade maidens facing north, exquisitely lifelike. Scorpion Gully features high mountains and deep valleys, and in summer, the high air humidity often leads to the formation of vast, spectacular seas of clouds and flowing mists. When thick, they are majestic like the ocean, making it hard to distinguish between mountains, islands, or heavenly pools above the clouds; when thin, they drift like gauze, slowly rising and causing the mountains to appear and disappear intermittently, creating a fairyland-like scene.

The park boasts rich wildlife resources, with approximately 100 families and 604 species of wild higher vascular plants, including two species under national second-class protection. There are 52 families and 149 species of wild animals, among which 15 are under national protection. It is hailed as the "Taihang Biological Resource Repository."

The park is divided into five major scenic areas: Little Tianchi, Shuangshipu, Sanfengshan, Sitai, and Jinluannao, encompassing over 100 scenic spots. With its pristine natural scenery, dense forest vegetation, ancient thousand-year-old tree clusters, unique Zhangshiyan landforms, and spectacular seas of clouds and flowing mists, it has won the favor of many visitors, making it an ideal destination for scientific research, sightseeing, and leisurely summer retreats.

Since its development and construction began in 1998, the scenic area has successively been designated as a National Forest Park, a National Geopark, and a National Scenic Area.

Scorpion Gully National Forest Park includes five major scenic areas: Little Tianchi, Sanfengshan, Shuangshipu, Jinluan Mountain, and Sitai, featuring over 100 scenic spots. It is home to more than 600 plant species, including around 2,000 ancient trees over a hundred years old, truly making it a "natural oxygen bar."

Infrastructure Construction of Scorpion Gully National Forest Park

After Scorpion Gully was approved as a national forest park, Lincheng County strengthened both soft and hard environmental infrastructure in accordance with relevant requirements, improving the tourism service system. More than 80 million yuan was invested to develop the Sitai and Little Tianchi scenic areas, construct the park entrance and management office, and build or widen 75 kilometers of roads and 24 kilometers of walking trails. Fifty "farmhouse stay" guesthouses were also developed, capable of accommodating 1,000 diners and over 800 overnight guests simultaneously, laying a solid foundation for the park’s inauguration. In 2004, to improve the tourism environment and accelerate infrastructure investment, a road leading to Scorpion Gully was completed, hiking routes within the scenic area were established, and five parking lots, six hotels, 30 family guesthouses, and other service facilities were built, receiving over 50,000 visitors annually.