Zhaohu Mountain National Forest Park

Zhaohu Mountain National Forest Park

Zhaohu Mountain National Forest Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national forest park.

Zhaohu Mountain National Forest Park is a 2A-level tourist attraction, a national forest park, and a national agricultural tourism demonstration site. It is located in Haiyang City in the southern part of the Jiaodong Peninsula. The Qingwei Expressway runs across the south, and the Lan-Yan Railway is accessible from the north. It is about 8 kilometers from downtown Haiyang. It is a typical mountainous natural scenic area. According to the "Haiyang Continuation Annals", "Thirty-five li north of the county lies Zhaohu, so named because a tiger was said to have hidden in the mountain, was tamed by an immortal, and turned into stone, leaving behind clear traces."

Zhaohu Mountain belongs to the Laoshan Mountain Range, with a total area of 1,762.7 hectares and a main peak elevation of 549.7 meters. The eastern section of the park features steep cliffs, rugged rocks, and serene valleys full of beauty; the western section has rapid streams, beautiful rocks, and layered scenic spots with waterfalls and pools; the southern section showcases mountain light and cloud shadows, rippling waves, as if a dragon were making its presence felt; the northern section is covered with emerald bamboo forests that block out the sun, resembling a Jiangnan landscape in the north, forming a spatial layout where “mountain ranges share one vein, two rivers encircle the main peak, water and mountain scenery intertwine, and hiking trails run through it all.” The terrain within the park is complex, with towering and elegant mountains, narrow and deep valleys, dense vegetation, and numerous waterfalls, showcasing the unique features of the Jiaodong region. The mountain rocks are mainly composed of monzonitic granite and syenite formed during the Yanshan Movement. The soil is primarily brown forest soil and brown soil. The vegetation coverage reaches 92%, with dramatically changing forest colors throughout the four seasons. There are over 600 species of herbaceous and woody plants, including 14 species under national first and second-level protection, as well as more than 180 species of wildlife such as wolves, leopard cats, golden eagles, and the scaly-sided merganser. The annual average temperature is 11.5°C, and the air is rich in negative ions, with up to 770,000 ions per cm³, offering a pleasant climate that is warm in winter and cool in summer — an ideal destination for tourism, vacation, summer retreat, health improvement, sightseeing, and leisure. The scenic area holds unique Jiaodong-themed tourism festivals each year: the Zhaohu Mountain Cherry Festival and Spring Outing Festival in May; the “Meet Zhaohu Mountain, Care for Nature” summer camp in July; the Zhaohu Mountain Jiaodong Folk Culture Tourism Event in September; the Zhaohu Mountain Golden Autumn Tourism Festival in October; and the “Haiyang Yangko” Folk Tourism Festival in December.

Eastern Route: Characterized by peculiar rocks and steep peaks, visitors can admire over 30 scenic spots including Hagu Summit, Ghost Brush Stone, Child-Rearing Platform, Heavenly Horse Playing with Water, Nine-Tower Peak, Guanyin Peak, and Zhaohu Mountain Fortress (the highest peak of Zhaohu Mountain), all of which are pristine natural landscapes.

Western Route: Focused on streams, waterfalls, rare trees, and lush bamboo, visitors can enjoy a series of water features such as Dragon Gate Eighteen Pools and waterfalls, as well as over 40 scenic spots including Light Bamboo Forest, Reed Marshes, and Guanyin Peak.

Guanyin Peak: This peak is the world’s largest natural statue of the Goddess of Mercy, standing over a hundred meters tall, resembling the bodhisattva with hands clasped in prayer, blessing the human world.

Purple Locust Ancient Tree: Commonly known as the “itchy tree,” it has a history of over 400 years and is a rare sight in China. In October, when it blooms, the tree is covered with bright red flowers, creating a spectacular view.

Wolong Lake: Completed in 1982, it has a total storage capacity of 5 million cubic meters. The lake is spanned by Longhu Bridge, a stone arch bridge 175 meters long, 7.5 meters wide, and with a maximum height of 16 meters. Dragon Gate Eighteen Pools: Comprising eighteen pools, the entire water system stretches nearly ten kilometers. Each pool has its own unique features and beautiful legends. The water is clear, sweet, and rich in minerals, believed to promote longevity with regular consumption.

Tiger Mountain Secluded Bamboo: This is the northernmost distribution of light bamboo, with some bamboo reaching over 20 meters in height. The mountain range features vast bamboo forests, and from elevated vantage points, visitors can admire the sea of bamboo shrouded in mist — a marvelous sight.

The municipal government has invested 30 million yuan to build two walking trails (east and west), strengthen infrastructure, and reinforce Wolong Lake for safety.

Additionally, the Zhaohu Mountain Xiaohu Spring Health Resort, with an investment of 30 million yuan, has completed all necessary procedures and is about to start construction.

Address: Eight kilometers northeast of downtown Haiyang (east of Xishilanhe Village, Fangyuan Subdistrict Office)

Opening Hours: 8:00–18:00

Estimated Visiting Time: About 3 hours

Scenic Area Website: www.zhaohushan.com.cn

Ticket Price: 50 RMB/person

Featured Attractions: Guanyin Peak, Wooden Fish Stone, Footbridge Over Water, Jiulong Lake, Chengdao Chan Temple

Recommended Tour Route: Jiulong Lake – Chengdao Chan Temple – Fairy Playing the Zither – Mountain Village – Reed Marsh – Service Area – Papaya Tree – Leiyin Pool – Treasure Seal Stone – Jade Wall – Guanyin Peak – Scripture Depository – Longmen Lake – Chess Table – Yunbiao Peak – Wooden Fish Stone – Stone Buddha – Grand Waterfall – Light Bamboo Forest – Return via the same route downhill

Guide Prices: Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin-speaking guides available

Price: 100 RMB

Supporting Facilities:

The scenic area has a central service zone with dining and shopping options

Visitor Service Center: Located above the parking lot of Zhaohu Mountain National Forest Park, providing services such as visitor consultation and complaint handling

Public Transportation:

1. Take bus No. 4 from downtown Haiyang to Zhaohu Mountain National Forest Park; fare: 2.50 RMB.

2. Take the Dongcun–Panshi minibus to Zhaohu Mountain; fare: 3 RMB.

Self-Driving Directions:

Take the G20 Qingdao–Jinan Expressway to the Weiqing Expressway, then head north on Yanfeng Highway—turn right at the second traffic light and follow the signs. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the scenic area after getting off the highway.

Parking information:

There are 150 parking spaces in the courtyard.