Xi Jiu Hua Mountain Scenic Area

Xi Jiu Hua Mountain Scenic Area

Xi Jiu Hua Mountain Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Xi Jiu Hua Mountain Scenic Area is located in Chenlinzi Town, Gushi County, Henan Province, bordered by the Huai River to the north and the Dabie Mountains to the south. It is a national AAA-level scenic spot, covering an observation area of 80 square kilometers. Currently, multiple scenic zones and nearly 100 attractions have been developed, making it the largest ecological tourism destination in the Central Plains region that integrates “tea, bamboo, Zen, and landscape sentiment.” The forest coverage rate of Xi Jiu Hua Mountain Scenic Area exceeds 95%, with several pristine forests. The entire scenic area primarily features vast tea plantations, bamboo seas, forests, lakes, and canyon waterfalls, centered around Buddhist culture, grounded in the folk customs of southern Henan, and forming a unique landscape characterized by the unity of tea, bamboo, and Zen, as well as the harmony between mountains, waters, and emotions.

Currently, the open scenic areas in Xi Jiu Hua include the Zen Culture Zone, Tea Culture Zone, Bamboo Culture Zone, Folk Experience Area, Landscape Sightseeing Area, and Tourism Service Area. The Zen Culture Zone includes attractions such as Miaogao Temple, Luming Nunnery, Ancient Pagoda Forest of Eminent Monks, Heavenly Ladder for Mountain Climbing, and Root-Seeking Tower, among which Miaogao Temple was first built in the Sui Dynasty and has a history of over a thousand years. It is the most influential Buddhist sacred site in the border region of Hubei, Henan, and Anhui. The Tea Culture Zone uses the vast tea plantation as its backdrop, takes Xinyang Maojian—one of China’s top ten famous teas—as its medium, and offers experiential venues such as the Miaogao Temple Buddhist Tea Farm, Tea Art Corridor, and Tea-Bamboo Cultural Garden to showcase the long-standing tea culture of southern Henan. The bamboo sea of Xi Jiu Hua is a spectacular sight in southern Henan and the largest natural bamboo oxygen bar in the Central Plains. The widespread bamboo groves set off the farmhouses and rice fields of Xi Jiu Hua, painting a breathtaking pastoral scene. The Liumeng River Valley Landscape Gallery is a canyon scenic area, approximately three kilometers long, with the Liumeng River running through it. There are six major waterfalls in the scenic area, the most famous being the White Dragon Pool Waterfall, which cascades impressively. The valley boasts a rich variety of plants. In spring, various wild orchids bloom quietly, exuding a serene fragrance; azaleas bloom vibrantly on the cliffs, resembling floating red clouds. In the peak of summer, the valley is shaded and cool, with temperatures averaging 2–3°C lower than outside, making it a rare summer retreat. In autumn, the warm hues of red maples and sweet gums contrast with the cool greens of tea trees, firs, and bamboo, reflecting layered, colorful scenes in the tranquil pools. In winter, the valley is covered in snow, creating unique ice waterfall landscapes. The Liumeng River Valley Landscape Gallery is the essence of Xi Jiu Hua’s natural scenery and an unmissable destination. The Tea-Bamboo Culture and Folk Experience Tourism Area covers over 100 acres, highlighting the folk culture of southern Henan and offering a full display of local traditions. Visitors can enjoy performances on the folk art stage and even participate in hands-on experiences of farming, coarse grain processing, tea production, tofu making, oil pressing, brewing, weaving, papermaking, pottery, bamboo and willow crafts, blacksmithing, incense making, and pickled vegetables.

The Tourism Reception Area consists of a conference center (a four-star hotel), farmhouse accommodations, Bamboo Rhyme Villa, as well as parking lots, dining, and other tourism service facilities, providing comprehensive services for eating, accommodation, transportation, entertainment, and shopping. Free shuttle buses transport visitors across the 80-square-kilometer scenic area. Bailu Lake Hot Spring Resort is a developing project within Xi Jiu Hua, featuring a sunny beach, bamboo rafts, speedboats, cruise ships, jet skis, cable descents, hot air balloons, bumper cars, a golf driving range, and hot spring resort villas—making it an ideal leisure destination. The Yangtze River Rafting offers a relaxing experience drifting along gentle waters, admiring the lush green mountains, and enjoying nature’s tranquility and elegance. For the brave, paddling through the rapids and battling the waves provides an exhilarating challenge. Adventurers can navigate through dangerous waters, emerging from the crests of waves or disappearing beneath them—all to conquer nature. All projects and facilities in the scenic area will be completed within two years. By then, Xi Jiu Hua will become the largest tourism destination in southeastern Henan, blending landscapes and balancing activity with serenity.

Best Time to Visit

One-Day Tour of Xi Jiu Hua

Arrival at Xi Jiu Hua. Morning tour of the Zen Area (Nantianmen Gate, Miaogao Temple, Luming Nunnery, Bhikkhu Pagoda Forest, Derwo, Wangya Platform, Ancient Pagoda Forest of Eminent Monks) and Tea Mountain Observation Area. Afternoon tour of the Liumeng River Valley Landscape Gallery and other attractions.

Two-Day Tour of Xi Jiu Hua

Day 1: Arrival at Xi Jiu Hua. Tour the Zen Area (Nantianmen Gate, Miaogao Temple, Luming Nunnery, Bhikkhu Pagoda Forest, Derwo, Wangya Platform, Ancient Pagoda Forest of Eminent Monks) and Liumeng River Valley Landscape Gallery. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel within the scenic area.

Day 2: Tour the Tea-Bamboo Folk Culture Village, Tea Mountain Observation Area, and Bamboo Sea Observation Area.

Transportation Routes

1. The Nearest Route from Zhengzhou to Xi Jiu Hua

Total distance: 450 km. Travel 271 km along the Jinzhu Expressway, exit at Nanyang/Hefei, head toward Luoshan/Hefei, enter the Shanghai-Xi’an Expressway and drive 166 km (passing the Henan-Anhui Toll Station of the Shanghai-Xi’an Expressway in Gushi), then exit at Liji/Chenlinzi Town, drive 13 km along the expressway connector to reach the scenic area.

2. The Nearest Route from Wuhan to Xi Jiu Hua

Total distance: 330 km. Travel 143.8 km along the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway (passing the Ezhou North Toll Station in Dawu), exit at Nanyang/Hefei, head toward Luoshan, enter the Shanghai-Xi’an Expressway, drive 166.4 km (passing the Henan-Anhui Toll Station of the Shanghai-Xi’an Expressway in Gushi), exit at Liji/Chenlinzi, turn left and drive 12 km to reach the scenic area.

3. The Nearest Route from Lu’an to Xi Jiu Hua

Total distance: 65 km. Travel 53 km along the Hefei-Lu’an-Yeji Expressway, exit at Yeji, cross the Shih River Bridge to reach Chenlinzi Town, then drive another 12 km to the scenic area.

4. The Nearest Route via National Highway 312 to Xi Jiu Hua

Drive along National Highway 312 to the Yeji exit, approximately 16 km from the scenic area.

Transportation

By Car: Zhengzhou – Lianyungang–Horgos Expressway – Daqing–Guangzhou Expressway – Shanghai–Xi’an Expressway – Chenlinzi Town Exit – Xi Jiu Hua.

Ticket Prices

All-inclusive Ticket: 100 RMB (Includes: Millennium Ancient Temple – Miaogao Temple 30 RMB/person, Landscape Gallery – Liumeng River Valley 30 RMB/person, Southern Henan Farming Workshop – Folk Culture Village 30 RMB/person, Hometown – Root-Seeking Tower 20 RMB/person, Vast Bamboo Sea – Bamboo Sea Maze 20 RMB/person, Vast Tea Mountain Observation Area + Scenic Area Shuttle Bus 20 RMB/person. Single attraction tickets + scenic transportation total 150 RMB/person, all-inclusive ticket price 100 RMB/person)

Attraction Location

Xi Jiu Hua Mountain Scenic Area, Chenlinzi Town, Gushi County, Xinyang City, Henan Province

Chenlinzi Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Gushi County. Established as Chenlin District in 1950, restructured as a township in 1956, changed to Chenlinzi Management Camp in 1958, became Chenlin Commune in 1959, restructured as Chenlinzi Township in 1983, and upgraded to a town in 1986. Located in the southeastern part of the county, 47 km from the county seat. Covers an area of 105 square kilometers with a population of 50,000. Accessible by road. Administers Chenlinzi, Wangling, Houchong, Tumenling, Honghua, Yuanqiangang, Suntan, Dazhuyuan, Xujialou, Bailonggang, Daying, Kuaileling, Tonglou, Youdoushan, Zhao Ying, Nangu Ancient City, Caotian, Zhongtan, Liangting, Lianhe, Shengta Temple, Qianzhuang, Yi... (Detailed information about Chenlinzi Town++)