King Chestnut Scenic Area

King Chestnut Scenic Area

The King Chestnut Scenic Area is primarily known for its eco-tourism. The area features 30,000 mu of chestnut orchards, 10,000 mu of tea plantations, 10,000 mu of peach orchards, and 2,000 mu of bamboo groves. As you step into the scenic area, you feel as if you've entered a green world and the kingdom of chestnut trees.

Among the chestnut orchards, there are over 1,200 chestnut trees that are more than 300 years old, one of which was planted by local residents when they migrated here during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, symbolizing that this land would become a paradise for future generations. These chestnut trees, growing along the Zhuxi River, have withstood centuries of wind and rain and still flourish today, bearing abundant fruit. It is said that the only chestnut tree in China over 700 years old is located here. This tall and majestic chestnut tree has a girth of over 4 meters, towering above the rest of the forest, thus earning the name "King of Chestnuts."

　Within the chestnut orchard, there are many varieties of chestnuts, some of which have peculiar shapes that seem mysterious. For example, there is a thick chestnut tree whose branches do not grow straight upward but twist like a pretzel, full of tension and energy, with gnarled bark resembling the muscles of a bodybuilder, exuding raw power. This tree is nearly 500 years old. Legend has it that when Emperor Qianlong visited the south of the Yangtze River, he came to the Zhuxi River and saw a lush chestnut orchard heavy with fruit, which delighted him. He ordered it to produce even more fruit the following year to be sent to the capital. The next year, while other fruit trees obediently bore abundant crops, this once most fruitful and vibrant chestnut tree produced neither blossoms nor fruit. Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianlong was furious and scolded, “You’re just like my son — a stubborn dragon!” Strangely enough, the curse seemed to take effect, as the tree began to twist and spiral as if struggling against the heavens, displaying a posture of unyielding resistance. Thus, people began calling it the “Twisted Dragon Tree.” Before crowds of visitors, it proudly shows off its unique form, stealing the spotlight. The chestnuts it bears have a color reminiscent of a tiger’s striped fur, hence it is also called the “Dragon-Tiger Chestnut,” a rare delicacy among chestnuts.

There is also a “Lover’s Tree” in the orchard that stirs the imagination. Legend has it that long ago, a young couple by the Zhuxi River fell deeply in love, but their parents disapproved of their union. The two hanged themselves together on this tree. After their death, their families buried them beneath it. Years later, the chestnut tree grew into two trunks joined as one, and the chestnuts it bore always came in pairs—never singly. People from all around, moved by the couple’s love and loyalty, came to worship and pray to the “linked tree,” hoping it would bless them with a happy ending, just as the saying goes, “May we be like birds flying wing to wing in the sky, and like intertwined branches on the earth.” Strangely, all who came to pray for love found their wishes fulfilled and went on to marry happily. Since then, the tree has been regarded as a sacred symbol of love in the region, hence the name “Lover’s Tree.”

In the King Chestnut Scenic Area, spring tea fills the air with fragrance, bamboo shoots sprout vibrantly, chestnut blossoms are fragrant, and the Zhuxi River gathers its nine tributaries. Countless domestic and international tourists are enchanted by its scenery, which rivals that of the south of the Yangtze River, earning it the title “Jiangnan of the North.” Stepping onto this land, you’ll feel as if you’ve entered a world of clear waters, a sea of flowers, a realm of green, and a kingdom of chestnuts. It offers you the enjoyment of eternal spring, preserving the green vibrancy of the season in your memory forever.

Within the chestnut orchard, there are many varieties of chestnuts with uniquely shaped trees, such as Sister Chestnuts, Dancing Chestnuts, Heart-Linked Chestnuts, and Tiger-Patterned Chestnuts, all adding to the sense of mystery. The King Chestnut Scenic Area boasts fragrant spring tea, emerald bamboo, fragrant chestnut blossoms, and the convergence of the Zhuxi River’s nine streams. Tourists are deeply captivated by its Jiangnan-like beauty, giving it the name “Jiangnan of the North.” In recent years, a large number of Party and state leaders, including [redacted] and [redacted], as well as visitors from all over, have come to offer guidance, work, and for sightseeing.