Banqiao Reservoir Water Conservancy Scenic Area

Banqiao Reservoir Water Conservancy Scenic Area

The Banqiao Reservoir Water Conservancy Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a national water conservancy scenic area.

The Zhumadian Banqiao Reservoir Water Conservancy Scenic Area is located in Banqiao Town, Yicheng District, Zhumadian City, Henan Province. Relying on Banqiao Reservoir and combining natural landscapes such as the Baiyun Mountain Forest Park on the southern bank with cultural sites like various memorial structures in the reservoir area, it has developed into a comprehensive attraction integrating sightseeing, entertainment, leisure, vacation, as well as scientific, cultural, and educational activities, offering great tourism value. In addition, this water conservancy scenic area plays an extremely important role in maintaining engineering safety, conserving water sources, protecting ecology, improving the living environment, and boosting regional economic development. It was approved as a “National Water Conservancy Scenic Area” in December 2012.

Longtan Waterfall

Behind Baiyun Mountain lies a bottomless pool. Legend has it that the pool connects underground to the East China Sea and serves as an exit for the Dragon King to ascend to the heavens, hence the name Longtan (Dragon Pool). In reality, the pool was formed by mountain water cascading down from a high cliff (with a drop of over 40 meters), which carved out the Longtan Waterfall. It is the largest natural waterfall in Zhumadian City. During the rainy season, the gushing water splashes like pearls and jade, creating a spectacular sight. The pool is surrounded by steep cliffs, as if cut by knives and axes, with lush trees covering the cliffs, presenting a serene landscape. A poem testifies: "High cliff waterfall descends to the mortal world, turning into a pool of emerald green. The Dragon King has gone somewhere unknown, while green trees and verdant hues reflect in the water sky." The water of Longtan is warm in winter and cool in summer, sweet in taste, and remains unfrozen all year round. It has long been reputed as a place where “the heat is unbearable, but here one instantly feels cool,” making it an ideal destination for escaping the summer heat.

Apricot-Mulberry Tree

On the eastern side of Baiyun Mountain at Wanfeng Temple, there are two ginkgo trees planted during the Tang Dynasty. They stand 2 meters apart from north to south—the northern tree is female, 35 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 5.5 meters, while the southern tree is male, 30 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 5 meters. At a height of 5.5 meters on the trunk of the male tree, there is a withered hole with a diameter of 0.3 meters in which a 4-meter-tall mulberry tree grows. The mulberry tree growing on the ginkgo tree is called “Apricot-Mulberry.” It is a rare plant (its formation is due to birds carrying mulberry fruits, eating the flesh, discarding the pit, and excreting the undigested seed, which then falls into a hole or crack in the tree branch and takes root, causing a mutation in the ginkgo tree that combines the advantages of both parent plants, resulting in particularly delicious fruit. This biological phenomenon is called bird-mediated grafting, and through this process, the “Apricot-Mulberry Tree” is formed—an extremely rare occurrence in the world).

The male and female ginkgo trees are planted close to each other, growing together. Their tree crowns, with five or six branches intertwining as one (providing shade over 800 square meters), resemble a married couple. Hence, people also call these two ginkgo trees the “Couple Trees.”

Wild Boar Village

About 200 meters southeast of Longtan in Baiyun Mountain, there is a pine forest where wild boars are frequently seen. They often nest and raise their young here, so locals have named the place Wild Boar Village. Most of the pine trees here are as thick as a person’s embrace. Beside this pine forest is a mud pit where wild boars love to take a bath before coming to the pines to scratch themselves. Strangely enough, wild boars prefer to scratch against large pine trees, to the extent that they have indented two trees as thick as a person’s embrace by over ten centimeters. Visitors to this spot are always amazed and quickly take photos next to the pine trees scratched by wild boars before hurrying away.

Fragrant Fruit Tree Grove

At Zhuyuan Village at the northeastern foot of Baiyun Mountain, there is a group of over 200 fragrant fruit trees. These are tall arbor trees with white flowers, which later develop spindle-shaped capsules. When ripe, the fruits split into two and turn pink, remaining on the branches throughout the year. It is a rare and beautiful ornamental tree species unique to China.

Taxodium Forest

At the southern edge of Banqiao Reservoir at the northern foot of Baiyun Mountain, there is a hundred-acre stand of Taxodium trees, over 10 meters tall with trunk circumferences of 60–70 centimeters. The trunks are straight and upright, and when the reservoir water level is high, the trees can be submerged by about 2 meters. Visitors to this area enjoy the refreshing sensation of “boats sailing on water, people strolling among the cypresses,” and it is praised as an aquatic forest park.

Natural Resources

The forest park covers an area of 159,000 mu, featuring mostly original natural secondary forests (oak, chestnut, cypress, chinaberry, etc.), a small portion of artificial forests (pine, metasequoia, taxodium, cryptomeria), and economic forests (peach, plum, apricot, pomegranate, pear). With diverse forest types, mixed broadleaf and coniferous trees, arbors and shrubs, vines and herbs, lower organisms (algae, moss, ferns) and higher plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms), nature blends harmoniously to form a colorful sea of forests, a green world, and an island paradise. “Birdsong echoes freely amid trees of red and purple hues”—this line from Ouyang Xiu’s poem is a tribute to Baiyun Mountain here.

Banqiao Town: Banqiao Town is located 30 kilometers west of National Highway 107 in Zhumadian City, 45 kilometers east of Biyang County, bordering Shuhe Town to the east, Lahe Township to the southeast, Baiyun Mountain to the south, Xiabeisi Township to the west, and the border between Suiping District of Wugang and Suiping County to the north. It covers a total area of 250 square kilometers, governs 21 administrative villages and 201 natural villages, with a total population of approximately 46,800. After the reconstruction of Banqiao Reservoir began in February 1987, the area came under its jurisdiction.

Introduction to Advantageous Resources

(1) River Sand Resources: The favorable geographical environment of Banqiao Town determines that it possesses abundant river sand resources... Detailed information on Banqiao Town++