Dayu Zhang Forest Park

Dayu Zhang Forest Park

Dayu Zhang Forest Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national water conservancy scenic area.

Dayu Zhang Forest Park is located in Boxing County, 25 kilometers from Xingguo Temple and 10 kilometers from Longhua Temple. It lies at the mouth of the Yellow River, west of National Highway 205, and is named after the world-famous Dayu Zhang Yellow River Irrigation Project. The scenic area includes the Dayu Zhang Headworks River Viewing Zone, the Featured Agriculture Sightseeing Zone, the Leisure Fishing Zone, the Dayu Zhang Reservoir Scenic Area, and the Dike-Outside Wetland Scenic Area.

Centered around pastoral scenery, the forest park boasts lush forests, crystal-clear rivers, birdsongs, and rich natural charm. Characterized by “seclusion, tranquility, beauty, wilderness, and comfort,” it combines natural and cultural landscapes. It is divided into five major scenic zones: the Dayu Zhang Headworks River Viewing Zone, the Featured Agriculture Sightseeing Zone, the Leisure Fishing Zone, the Dayu Zhang Reservoir Scenic Area, and the Dike-Outside Wetland Scenic Area. The forest park enjoys a beautiful environment, mild climate, and abundant rainfall. It is home to over 100 plant species from more than 40 families, and over 40 bird species from 17 families. With over 50,000 mu of arboreal forests, a forest coverage rate of 73.2%, over 200,000 square meters of green space, and negative oxygen ion levels reaching 1,000–1,300 per cubic centimeter, it is truly a “natural oxygen bar.” The entire park features a harmonious blend of natural and cultural landscapes, embodying the distinctive charm of a northern water town. In spring, plants just awaken, sprouting tender buds, while wild azaleas begin to bloom, creating breathtaking scenery. In the height of summer, it feels like entering a cool paradise, an ideal retreat. Autumn brings golden hues and splendid light, making visitors linger with joy and serenity. From spring to autumn, blooming flowers and bountiful wild fruits paint a beautiful, naturally-formed traditional Chinese painting.

The Dayu Zhang Yellow River Irrigation District is located on the right bank of the Yellow River in northern Shandong Province. The irrigation sluice was originally designed to be near Dayu Zhang Village, but after later evaluations, it was built at its current location. However, it retained the name of the original Dayu Zhang Yellow River Sluice. It was completed in 1956. Due to the rising riverbed of the Yellow River, a new sluice was constructed behind the original one in 1981.

Scale

It has a design flow rate of 120 cubic meters per second. There are over 1,680 irrigation channels, over 3,280 drainage ditches with a total length of more than 3,850 kilometers, and over 50,000 structures of various sizes. The irrigation area extends from Zhangbei Highway in the west to the Old Tidal Defense Dyke in the east, from the Xiaoqing River in the south to the Xinguangli River in the north, covering a controlled irrigation area of 160,700 hectares. It is one of the major irrigation districts in Shandong.

Project Development

In recent years, the Boxing Dayu Zhang Irrigation District has been actively developing a provincial-level water conservancy scenic area, and the application process is currently underway.

Relying on its profound irrigation culture, Yellow River culture, natural landscapes, as well as the deep-rooted Buddhist and theatrical cultures within the area, the Dayu Zhang Yellow River Irrigation District has initially formed a unique water conservancy landscape featuring “one core and four scenic belts.”

One Core

This refers to the Dayu Zhang Headworks Project as the core. It includes the 1956-built Yellow River Sluice, the 1981-built new sluice, as well as the inlet sluices of the Old First Trunk, Yellow River-to-Qingdao Project, Sanhe Trunk, Thirteenth Trunk, and Rice-Conversion Trunk. Among them, the Dayu Zhang Yellow River Sluice has become a county-level cultural relic protection unit, and the sluice name inscribed by Shu Tong, former Secretary of the Shandong Provincial Committee, has also become one of the symbols of the Dayu Zhang Irrigation District. The old and new Yellow River Sluices stand before and behind, silently witnessing the historical changes of the Dayu Zhang Irrigation District. A group of modern hydraulic structures behind the Yellow River Sluice features a compact layout, blending modern elements with the surrounding natural landscape, together forming the core of the scenic area along with the old and new sluices.

Four Scenic Belts

The Irrigation District Cultural Landscape Belt, Sanhe Trunk Eco-Tourism Landscape Belt, Yellow River-to-Qingdao Memorial Landscape Belt, and Yellow River Cultural Charm Belt.

The Irrigation District Cultural Landscape Belt stretches 31 kilometers from the Dayu Zhang Headworks to the downstream of the Second Trunk. Historical hydraulic structures such as the Thirteenth Trunk Inlet Sluice, Luocheli Hub Sluice, Zhangluogou Aqueduct, and Dayu Zhang River Culvert form the main sights. The two old poplar trees by Luocheli Sluice and the Xinghe Willow Tree beside the Xinma Douqu of the Second Trunk not only witness the history of the irrigation district but also serve as beautiful scenic spots. The “Crescent Sea” is a crescent-shaped reservoir reconstructed from the reserved 14th sedimentation channel of the Dayu Zhang Irrigation District. While meeting the water needs for industrial and agricultural production, it forms two scenic corridors together with the adjacent Thirteenth Trunk. The Liu Guan Village area downstream of the Second Trunk is the birthplace of Shandong Lu Opera. The Yellow River not only nurtures this land but also enriches its people with artistic sensibility.

The Sanhe Trunk Eco-Tourism Landscape Belt is located on both sides of the Sanhe Trunk Canal, stretching 12 kilometers. Qiaozhuang Town at the Dayu Zhang Headworks is an advanced freshwater aquaculture town in the province. Numerous shrimp and fish ponds dot the canal banks, and the Ecological Hundred-Fruit Orchard built by Qiaozhuang Town in the south of Huangjia Village has become a popular spot for fishing, fruit picking, and leisure.

The Yellow River-to-Qingdao Memorial Landscape Belt extends 34 kilometers from the headworks to the entrance of the Yubei River. Built upon the original Dayu Zhang First Trunk Canal, it serves as a joint project for water diversion to eastern Shandong and local production. The upstream area features the Jiqing Pumping Station Botanical Garden, which includes dozens of greening tree species as well as pavilions and terraces that dot the landscape. It is a great place for flower viewing, fishing, spring outings, and birdwatching. Different bird species can be seen fishing or playing in the pools or resting in the woods in various seasons. The headworks sedimentation basin, also known as “Memorial Lake,” is where Yellow River water is settled before being transported to Qingdao and Yantai. The middle and lower sections of the Yellow River-to-Qingdao Main Canal are also the birthplace of Boxing’s Buddhist culture. The ruins of Longhua Temple are located about 3 kilometers east of the Yellow River-to-Qingdao Main Canal and have been included in Boxing County’s development plans.