Dapingtai Longju Waterfall Scenic Area

Dapingtai Longju Waterfall Scenic Area

The Dapingtai Longju Waterfall Tourist Area is located south of Longju Village in Liujia Tai Township, themed around natural landscapes. The Longju Waterfall stretches 2.7 kilometers in total, featuring nine uniquely spectacular waterfalls, the highest reaching 43 meters, creating an awe-inspiring impression akin to “water cascading down three thousand feet as if the Milky Way fell from the ninth heaven.” Here, you’ll find massive stone basins shaped by millions of years of erosion; local legends about the Yang Family Generals and Yang Chengwu are still told; well-preserved ancient mountain strongholds remain; there are garden-like water features, exotic plants and rocks, bamboo-and-wood ecological performance spaces, leisure cabins; lush thousand-year-old trees thrive here; the evergreen Huangtian Cliff and Baishu Ridge; historical residences from the Ming and Qing dynasties; and the imposing General Stone Statue standing on General’s Ridge.

Today, the Dapingtai area has been developed into a comprehensive tourist destination integrating leisure, wellness, sightseeing, and vacationing.

In front of Dapingtai stand two mountain peaks that resemble natural screen walls, backed by a peak shaped like a grand master’s chair—forming a solid natural support. As a result, locals regard Dapingtai as a piece of “prime feng shui land” suspended in the sky. It is precisely because of this “feng shui treasure” that people settled here, culture flourished, and a humanistic atmosphere took root.

With access to drinking water, food, fruits, wild game for nutrition, and medicinal herbs for treatment, all within a beautiful and concealed environment, Dapingtai became a revolutionary base during the War of Resistance against Japan. Generals such as Nie Rongzhen, Yang Chengwu, and Ma Hui stationed troops here, igniting the flames of anti-Japanese resistance. On one occasion, Japanese soldiers attempted to sneak up under cover of darkness to capture Yang Chengwu but found no one. The clever and brave Yang Chengwu, taking advantage of dense orchards and crops for cover, evaded the enemy like a game of hide-and-seek and successfully relocated.

Dapingtai features various rock formations including limestone, granite, and gneiss, giving rise to diverse landforms and forming numerous natural attractions such as General Stone, South Heaven Gate, Waterfall Gully, Stone Basin, and Thousand-Foot Cliff. During the rainy season, high mountain waterfalls present a majestic view reminiscent of “water cascading down three thousand feet as if the Milky Way fell from the ninth heaven.” When post-rain fog rises, the sea of clouds churns, vast and misty, resembling a celestial realm. Such landscapes offered both offensive advantages and defensive cover, making them a natural shelter for the Eighth Route Army and an ideal healing ground for wounded soldiers. As a result, the Eighth Route Army established a rear hospital here, treating thousands of injured soldiers. International communist fighters such as Norman Bethune and Dwarkanath Kotnis once performed surgeries and treated the wounded here.

Dapingtai is ancient. In the late Ming Dynasty, a young refugee couple arrived at this “feng shui paradise” in the sky. Drawn by the lush mountains, clear waters, fertile soil, green grass, and fresh air, they resolutely built a thatched hut, set up a hearth, cleared land for farming, and began a life of farming and weaving, putting down roots. From then on, the area gained human presence—baby cries, cooking smoke, crowing roosters, barking dogs, terraced fields, and fruit-bearing trees. Today, when visiting Dapingtai, remnants of Ming-era houses, ancient wells, and old trees can still be clearly seen.

Dapingtai is mysterious. During the War of Resistance against Japan, upon hearing that four to five hundred wounded soldiers were stationed at the mountaintop, the Japanese forces launched a full encirclement. But just as they reached the mountainside, they suddenly received orders to retreat. As a result, the critically endangered wounded soldiers were suddenly saved from danger.

Dapingtai is beautiful. Standing at an elevation of 700 meters, it towers high above the surrounding peaks within dozens of miles. To the west lies Xiantai River, and to the south, Jie River, ensuring abundant groundwater. The plentiful water supply keeps the ancient wells of Dapingtai flowing year-round, with sweet, high-quality water. Coupled with thick, fertile soil layers, the area flourishes even more, covered in vibrant greenery. Towering pines and cypresses thrive, secondary forests sprawl across the hills, and a variety of plants grow vigorously. From spring through autumn, blooming flowers can be seen everywhere. Dozens of unique blossoms—including peach, apricot, walnut, bitter vegetable, wolfberry, morning glory, Dahongpao, bauhinia, jujube, mountain lotus, wild leek, and cockscomb flowers, as well as wild chrysanthemums—fill the air with rich fragrances. The green of the trees and the fragrance of the flowers nurture nearly a hundred species of birds, such as red-billed choughs, cuckoos, pigeons, swallows, pheasants, magpies, and owls. The forests and caves are also home to dozens of small wild animals, including rabbits, foxes, and weasels.