Gubei Yue National Forest Park

Gubei Yue National Forest Park

Gubei Yue National Forest Park is a national-level forest park.

Gubei Yue National Forest Park is located 75 kilometers northwest of Tang County’s county town, within the territory of Shimen Township. The park consists of the former Damao Mountain Forest Park, Dashiyu Scenic Area, and Xiushuiyu Scenic Area, covering a total area of 4,873.33 hectares, and is hailed as the “Jade Pearl of North China.” Here, forests and sea of clouds, emerald peaks rise above, dense trees and lush grass, springs and cascading waterfalls unfold before your eyes. At the mountaintop, grasslands embrace Taoist temples, while hidden caves lie within cliffs among the woods. In winter and spring, snow blankets the land; in summer and autumn, a mystical purple haze rises. It is truly a paradise on earth.

Gubei Yue National Forest Park boasts hundreds of natural landscapes. In Beigou, bubbling mountain springs and cascading streams and waterfalls bring endless vitality to the wild valley. On the sheer cliffs at the southern end lies the mysterious Huanglong Cave, where crystal-clear water flows year-round, icy cold even in the height of summer. There are also 72 other hidden vertical shafts such as Heilong Cave and Bottomless Cave, tucked away in the cliffs. On the open plateau known as Paomaalang on the southern side of the summit, there are hundreds of acres of flat land referred to as the mountaintop grassland. Under blue skies and white clouds, the green grass spreads like a carpet, and various alpine flowers change with the months. Watching the sunrise from the peak of Damao Mountain offers a uniquely enchanting experience.

Deciduous broad-leaved forests are distributed below an altitude of 1,500 meters, while natural secondary forests are found in the southern part of the park. The main tree species include birch, mountain poplar, oak, and linden. These species are unevenly mixed, often forming block-like mixtures, with some sections also intermingled with maple, walnut, hornbeam, mountain elm, mountain willow, as well as planted stands of Chinese juniper and Chinese pine. In the early 1960s, large areas of pure Chinese pine plantations were established in the northern part of the park. The forest understory hosts a rich variety of shrubs, mainly including Spiraea, Campylotropis, Abelia, Sambucus, rhododendron, Deutzia, and kiwi vines.

Located 2.3 kilometers west of the park management office, beneath the sheer cliffs on the western slope, lies a natural cave. The cave is deep and winding, with an entrance approximately 3 meters wide and high, extending about 20 meters inside. There are caves within caves, mysterious and hard to fathom, requiring lighting to explore. Crystal-clear water flows year-round inside, and a sip feels refreshingly cool to the soul. Locals call it “holy water.” Legend has it that long ago, the two grandsons of the Dragon King, Huanglong and Heilong, ventured out to sea and followed the Tongtian River to its source at Damao Mountain. Due to their playful nature and reluctance to leave, they caused frequent flooding in the region. One day, Guanyin Bodhisattva passed by and, enraged, trapped them in two separate caves—Huanglong Cave and Heilong Cave—giving them their names.