Xisheng Gorge Scenic Area

Xisheng Gorge Scenic Area

The Xisheng Gorge Scenic Area is located 38 kilometers north of Tang County and stretches 7 kilometers through a valley. The gorge features cascading springs and waterfalls, with streams flowing year-round. Nine beautiful dragon pools are scattered throughout. The rugged valley is filled with jagged rocks and steep cliffs adorned with a variety of karst stalactites in diverse shapes. The area is covered with azaleas, crabapple blossoms, vines, and shrubs, creating a picturesque southern landscape.

Upon arriving at Xisheng Gorge, the first sights you’ll see are the Sword-Cutting Dragon and the Self-Raising Stele, standing on the cliffs on either side. Entering the mountain gate, the first thing that greets you is the Dragon Pool — a crystal-clear body of water where fish, shrimp, and aquatic plants create a charming scene. A short walk ahead leads you to the tranquil Longquan Mountain Villa, nestled in the green shade. Further in lies a kilometer-deep valley, with sheer cliffs on both sides that look as if they were cleaved by a knife, covered in stone flowers, stone bamboo shoots, and stalactites. Deeper still is the Second Dragon Pool, where crisscrossing cliffs hang overhead like a cave dozens of meters deep. Two streams form the Two Dragons Waterfall, which plunges down from a cliff over ten meters high with a thunderous roar before flowing into a large semi-cave on the right that can accommodate thirty to forty people. Stalactites hang upside down, with water dripping in thin streams. Splashing some water on yourself and taking in the cool air will instantly refresh your spirit.

Not far beyond the Second Dragon Pool lies the Third Dragon Pool, which is even more mysterious. Towering cliffs and a trio of waterfalls along with two pools will truly get your heart racing. After passing through the dragon pools and the Tiger Lair Hall, a short walk leads you to Longmen Lake, which contains One-Mu Stone — featuring imprints of a fairy’s foot, a lotus-shaped stone basin, a Hanging Fairy Bell, and a Suspended Immortal. These features offer visitors endless food for thought. To the right is Longmen Gorge, deep and serene, with walls covered in stalactites and hanging vines that are quite a sight. Further along is Tianmen Gorge, which resembles a narrow split in the mountain. Here you’ll find the South Heavenly Gate, North Heavenly Gate, Heaven-Ascending Stone, and Heaven Ladder. Passing through, you’ll encounter lifelike scenes such as Two Dragons Playing with a Spider, Goldfish Coming Ashore, Turtle Entering Water, Frog Gazing at the Moon, and Howling Sky Dog — all of which are so vivid they will make you want to linger.

The rocky structures of Xisheng Gorge are mainly limestone, which have been eroded by wind and rain over time, forming unique peaks resembling bamboo shoots, fangs, and arrows. Here, you can admire the largest karst peak forest landscape in northern China. Beneath the peak forest, deep within the dense forests of Hounu Valley, there is a uniquely styled Ming Dynasty building known as the Beamless Hall. Its architectural structure and geographical location are both subjects worthy of study. The Beamless Hall is a key cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province.

The Xisheng Gorge is a valley within a valley, and within it lie other sites such as Beitan Valley, Shadowless Mountain, Maolu Hermitage, ancient pagodas, and historical mountain strongholds. Visiting Xisheng Gorge is an ideal way to seek out a paradise on earth. Here, you can freely pick melons and vegetables, grind grain to cook meals, and enjoy the leisurely “mountain-valley” rural charm amid the rising cooking smoke.