Tangyao Cultural Park

Tangyao Cultural Park

Tangyao Cultural Park is situated on Qingdu Mountain in Gaochang Town, approximately 5 kilometers northeast of Tang County. It offers a perfect mix of “proximity to mountains without entering deep wilderness, closeness to the city without urban noise, stunning landscapes, and abundant cultural sites.” Tang County is the homeland of Tang Yao, one of the forefathers of the Chinese nation, and the cradle of Tang Yao culture. In his honor, the county was named “Tang County,” the river was renamed “Tang River,” the mountain became “Yao Mountain,” and numerous Yao Temples and Yao Wells were constructed. To this day, the “Ancient Tang Marquis State Stele” and the “Tang Emperor Stele” still stand in the county town.

Qingdu Mountain is a prominent highland surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the vast plains to the east. It is where Tang Yao spent his childhood with his mother, Qingdu. Today, the mountain is covered with lush ancient cypresses, and the Yao Spring flows year-round. The foundation of the Lingyuan Temple from the Tang Dynasty, which “enshrined the spirit tablets of Emperor Yao and Empress Qingdu,” still remains, as does the massive Buddhist scripture stele inscribed with “Offered by the Great Tang Empress in Worship.” At the foot of the mountain lie orchards spanning thousands of acres, forests covering hundreds of acres, and a lake of thirty acres. On March 2, 2000, the People’s Government of Tang County decided to build the “Tangyao Cultural Park” on Qingdu Mountain, leveraging the legacy of the revered figure and the renowned mountain.

The main section of Tangyao Cultural Park is situated on the eastern half of the mountain summit, covering approximately 200,000 square meters. All attractions highlight Yao culture, dragon culture, stone culture, and the long-standing, culturally rich heritage of Tang County. The park features Lize Lake, Yao Mother’s Cave, and Yao Mother’s Shrine to depict Tang Yao’s birth and upbringing in Tang County; statues of Yao, the ancient capital “Tang Capital,” and the “Tang Marquis State” to showcase Yao’s ennoblement in the ancient Tang State, unification of tribes, governance under Yao’s reign, ascension to the throne, and establishment of the imperial capital; an observatory, totem poles, workshops for pottery, clothing, and liquor making, cave hotels, pottery houses, and thatched cottages to reflect the cultural characteristics of the Yao era; and a forest of steles, sculpture groups, and Ancestral Hall to bridge ancient and modern times, fostering patriotism and local pride among visitors.

The associated sections of the cultural park include the restoration and reconstruction of the Buddhist holy site Lingyuan Temple; the development of fruit-picking gardens and ornamental orchards using the existing orchards; the construction of small villas and senior living apartments in the deep forest; and the setup of multiple boat docks, fishing platforms, barbecue areas, and chess tables around the reservoir, offering ecological sightseeing, green fitness, and leisure wellness experiences for visitors.

Transportation: Take the Beijing–Shenzhen Expressway and exit at Baoding, then head west along the Baofu Road via Shunping to Tang County; or exit at Wangdu on the Beijing–Shenzhen Expressway and go west to Tang County. The cultural park is located 5 kilometers northeast of the county town.

Gaochang Town: I. General Information

Gaochang Town, formerly known as Qingdu Post, was the residence and living place of Yao’s mother, Qingdu. It is located 15 li (approximately 7.5 km) east of Tang County town, adjacent to both Wangdu and Shunping counties. The town governs 20 administrative villages, covers an area of 53.2 square kilometers, has a population of 34,000, 44,848 mu of arable land, and over 50,000 mu of mountainous land. The Baofu Road runs east to west through the town, with asphalt roads connecting all villages and major village streets paved, together forming an extensive transportation network… More details about Gaochang Town++