Longtian Gully

Longtian Gully

Longtian Gully is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

Longtian Gully Natural Scenic Area is located in HuaiShu Township, Suiping County, Henan Province, covering an area of approximately 20 square kilometers. It is part of the Funiu Mountain range. Named after Jiulong Mountain and Longtian Mountain, it enjoys the reputation of being the “Jiuzhaigou of Central China” and is a sacred tourist destination where natural and cultural landscapes blend harmoniously.

The scenic area boasts naturally formed landscapes where mountains connect, ridges meet, valleys link, and waters merge, creating pleasant scenery. The mountains include Longtian Mountain, Jiulong Mountain, Feishi Mountain, Maotou Mountain, and Jinding Mountain. Longtian Mountain, with an elevation of 553 meters, features steep peaks and treacherous paths. The Longtian Fortress built atop the peak by Dou Jiande, a famous general of the Sui Dynasty, still stands today. Jiulong Mountain resembles nine dragons poised to soar into the sky, intertwining and playing with one another. Feishi Mountain has no cliffs or peaks at its summit, but is covered with countless massive boulders, some standing and some lying, as if they fell from the heavens, displaying miraculous craftsmanship. Maotou Mountain, when viewed from afar, strikingly resembles a cat’s head, vivid and lifelike. Jinding Mountain gets its name from the golden-colored rocks or sand grains on its summit that shimmer brilliantly under sunlight, radiating dazzling splendor. The ridges include Fenshen Ridge, known for its mythical legends; Paoma Ridge, stretching several kilometers from north to south; Fenghuang Ridge, resembling a phoenix perched gracefully; and Jinshan Ridge, which contains a mix of stone and gold ores. The valleys consist of Longtian Gully, Jiaolong Gully, and Wuli Gully. Longtian Gully features deep valleys, perilous peaks, dense forests, and rich wild charm. Scenic spots such as Wolong Stone, Feitian Stone, Hulang Cave, Niangniang Cave, Shuiliandong Cave, Jiulong Pool, Longkou Waterfall, Sidieyan Waterfall, Shuanglongyan Waterfall, Heishi Cliff, and Qiancengyan Cliff are scattered throughout. Jiaolong Gully has surging waters that resemble a dragon diving into the sea, with oddly shaped rocks and caves everywhere. Wuli Gully has a gentle, continuous stream flowing all year round. The gully is home to a variety of wild plants such as mountain grapes, kiwi fruit, mountain cherries, mountain walnuts, fist vegetables, chestnuts, tangli, mianzao, tung trees, and ganoderma lucidum, as well as wildlife including owls, hedgehogs, squirrels, wild boars, and foxes, adding vitality and energy to the area. The entire scenic area is covered with lush forests that block out the sun, experiences distinct seasons, and enjoys a pleasant climate. In spring, the mountains are covered with blooming flowers, accompanied by birdsong and fragrant blossoms. In summer, the green trees provide ample shade, and streams babble gently. In autumn, the hills are ablaze with red foliage, and the forests are dyed in layers of color. In winter, the area is blanketed in snow, pure and white as jade. Each season transforms the landscape like a constantly shifting painting, making it a place people never want to leave.

Longtian Gully Natural Scenic Area not only offers pleasant scenery, but also boasts a long history, with historical sites and mythological legends that are equally fascinating. Historic relics such as Liuxiu Pit, Fairy Pool, Dianjiangtai (General's Platform), Qiganwo (Flagpole Hollow), Fenghuangtai (Phoenix Platform), Qinwang Temple, Gaojian Temple, General's Tomb, Shentou Fort, Longtian Fort, and Taohua Cave still remain today. Legends such as Emperor Guangwu chasing Liu Xiu, Wu Zixu protecting the empress, and Dou Jiande dying in Zhuzhuxia have been passed down through generations.

During the War of Resistance against Japan, veteran revolutionaries —, —, Huang Lin, Li Zaisan, —, Pi Dingjun, Fan Wenlan, and Liu Zihou once lived and fought in Longtian Gully and Lixinglou. Remains of facilities established by the New Fourth Army in the scenic area, such as the garment factory, military-political training classes, and the houses where — lived, are still preserved. The prototype of Dong Kui, the leopard-hunting hero in the famous writer Wu Boxiao’s essay “The Hunter,”— Zhong Diankui—once lived in Longtian Gully.

As time passes and great changes unfold, the picturesque Longtian Gully Natural Scenic Area is like a “beauty” who has lived in seclusion for years, waiting for people to unveil her mysterious veil.