Ye Dian Village

Ye Dian Village

Ye Dian Village is under the jurisdiction of Gaozhuang Subdistrict Office, Laicheng District. The village covers a land area of 1,040 mu and has 5,000 mu of barren hills. The Ye Dian Reservoir in the village has a water storage capacity of 700,000 cubic meters, with a vast water surface and beautiful scenery, making it an ideal spot for leisure fishing. In recent years, leveraging its advantages in mountain and water resources, the village has vigorously developed eco-tourism, sightseeing agriculture, leisure fishing, and catering services, developed high-quality apple, chestnut, and Kate apricot orchard bases, built villa complexes suitable for agritainment reception, and formed a lakeside leisure resort integrating leisure, entertainment, dining, and accommodation.

With picturesque scenery and ponds everywhere, this hidden paradise is Ye Dian Village. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the village is encircled by nine ridges resembling nine pythons coiling around it, hence its former name "Jiulong Village" (Nine Dragons Village). It was renamed "Ye Dian Village" during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty.

This is the southern gateway of Laiwu, with Yanling Pass to the south. In Laiwu, there is a saying: "Yanling Pass in the south, Qingshi Pass in the north." During the Warring States and Spring and Autumn periods, Yanling Pass was a famous mountain pass near the border of the Taiyi Mountains between the states of Qi and Lu, and it was also a well-known ancient route of Qi and Lu. According to elders in the village, mountain passes have always been treacherous. Over the long years, the ancient road of the majestic Yanling Pass has retained the blood and footprints of warriors, as well as the hardships and sweat of merchants and travelers. As time passes and the world changes, Yanling Pass has undergone tremendous transformations. Only a wide river valley on the east side of the asphalt road still faintly evokes the aura of an ancient battlefield.

Ye Dian Village has a long history, and within the village are seven stone mills. The stone mills of Ye Dian Village are different from ordinary ones—their millstones are made from a single piece of stone. One of the mills is nearly 400 years old, and faint inscriptions can be seen on the rim of the millstone: "The 5th year of Chongzhen, Tian Ji, 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month." According to village elders, the millstones were moved here from Lotus Mountain by the Tian brothers.

From a high vantage point, one can see a ridge to the north of Ye Dian Village with steep cliffs, resembling a natural barrier for the village. Because the shapes of the east and west sides of the mountain resemble horse heads, it is called Horse Head Mountain. Beneath the lush cypress trees on the mountain, tucked under a cliff, lies a cave called Monk’s Cave. At the entrance of Monk’s Cave, there is a naturally formed rock resembling a monk, which villagers call the Stone Monk. The cave can accommodate one or two hundred people, and during times of turmoil, villagers would come here to take refuge. To the north of Ye Dian Village, there is a unique and widely known scenic wonder: clusters of cypress trees thriving on the cliffs, standing proudly amid the rocks. The tenacious vitality of the cypress trees growing in the crevices is truly astonishing. Villagers say these trees are over a hundred years old.

To the southeast of Ye Dian Village rise the peaks of Lotus Mountain; to the south, continuous mountain ranges stretch out, with the delicate beauty of Meng Mountain standing out. Encircled in the middle are the Ye Dian Reservoir and various small bays, dotted like pearls, forming a beautiful landscape painting. Surrounded by mountains and water, crisscrossed with fields; green trees veiled in mist, fragrant grass lush; pavilions and towers are scattered in an orderly fashion; waterside pavilions and corridors line up in a row. This scene resembles the idyllic peach blossom land described by Tao Qian—lush grass, falling petals, fertile fields, beautiful pools, mulberry trees, and bamboo.

Address: Ye Dian Village, Gaozhuang Subdistrict Office, Laicheng District, Laiwu City

Featured Attractions: In recent years, leveraging its advantages in mountain and water resources, the village has vigorously developed eco-tourism, sightseeing agriculture, leisure fishing, and catering services, developed high-quality apple, chestnut, and Kate apricot orchard bases, built villa complexes suitable for agritainment reception, and formed a lakeside leisure resort integrating leisure, entertainment, dining, and accommodation.

Tourist Route: Ye Dian Reservoir – Horse Head Mountain

Supporting Facilities:

A lakeside leisure resort integrating leisure, entertainment, dining, and accommodation

Transportation Guide

Self-driving Guide:

Get off at Laiwu West on the Taian-Laiwu Expressway, drive about 3 km east along Wenhe Avenue, then turn right. Drive 13 km south via Ezhuang and Poocaowa to reach Ye Dian.

Parking Information:

Parking is available near the reservoir