Times Hill Country Tourism Area

Times Hill Country Tourism Area

Times Hill Country Tourism Area is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

Relying on the superior ecological environment of the mountain villages in the Yimeng Mountain area, the neat rural scenery, and the well-developed organic agricultural foundation around the old village, Times Hill Country Tourism Area has been developed into an all-for-one agricultural leisure demonstration site that integrates hill-country eco-tourism, organic farming leisure, and rural vacation. It embodies a scenic-village unified model.

Located 6 kilometers southwest of Mengyin County, Times Hill Country Tourism Area spans a planned total area of 12,000 mu and stretches across the Qinglong Mountain Range. With its stunning natural scenery, rational layout, and comprehensive offerings, it serves as a top choice for rural tourism, integrating ecological sightseeing, folk culture experiences, leisure entertainment, fruit picking, and green cuisine. In recent years, Xiaoshankou Village has earned multiple honors, including “National AA-Level Tourist Attraction,” “Shandong Provincial Civilized Village,” “Shandong Provincial Ecological Civilization Village,” “Shandong Provincial Agricultural Tourism Demonstration Site,” “Linyi City Tourism Characteristic Village,” and “Linyi City Beautiful Countryside Model Village.”

The tourism area features undulating mountains that stretch like a dragon. On the mountains, geological wonders such as Gaolou Fortress and Pangu Cave are exquisitely crafted and look almost supernaturally made. Verdant meadows sprawl between the peaks, creating vast seas of green. At the foot of the hills, rapeseed flower bases burst with color and fragrance. From atop Gaolou Fortress, one can gaze at the main peak of Dongshan Mountain, known as “Big Unicorn,” which rises abruptly from the earth. Scattered throughout the landscape are agricultural sightseeing parks such as Persimmon Forest, Peach Blossom Valley, and Grape Valley, all laid out harmoniously. A millet processing workshop and handmade pancake workshop allow visitors to prepare their own food and immerse themselves in rich rural charm. Stone guesthouses offer unique lodging options where guests can enjoy the mountain scenery and connect with nature. Scattered throughout are countryside homestays that center on the themes of eating farm food, staying in farmhouses, doing farm work, and enjoying the rural views—altogether painting a naturally beautiful picture scroll of Times Hill Country.

The tourism area has currently carried out protective development on natural attractions such as Pangu Cave, Gaolou Fortress, and Qiganwo. It has paved and built mountain-loop sightseeing roads, opened dedicated paths connecting various scenic spots, and constructed a large-scale visitor reception center, a garden-style themed restaurant, and two parking lots within the scenic area. Supporting tourism resources are abundant, including a millet processing workshop, a pancake processing workshop, recreational fishing ponds, farmhouse restaurants, and family farms. The area also offers a range of locally distinctive tourism products, mainly including tiger-head hats, embroidered pillows, root carvings, scenic rocks, and products made from medical stone.

Moving forward, the tourism area will continue to adhere to the construction and development philosophy of “rooted in green mountains and clear waters, returning to ecological nature.” It plans to build new leisure and entertainment facilities such as a suspended viewing platform, sightseeing plank roads, zip lines, and hunting enclosures. In line with the concepts of “all-for-one tourism” and “national fitness,” it aims to establish a mountain-biking leisure and sports base, and strive to promote the distinctive tourism brand of “Eco Xiaoshankou: The Most Beautiful Hill Country Tour.”