Former Yellow River Course Forest Park in Xinxiang

Former Yellow River Course Forest Park in Xinxiang

The Former Yellow River Course Forest Park is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

The Former Yellow River Course Forest Park was established on the basis of the state-owned Yanjin Forest Farm, covering a total area of 64,000 mu. It is located in the former Yellow River Course area, 20 kilometers due east of Xinxiang City. To the north lies the Jidong Expressway, to the south the Xinhe Railway, and to the west the Beijing–Zhuhai Expressway. Provincial highways Xinchang North Line and Xinhuaxian run through the park, giving it a prominent location and very convenient transportation. Here, the forest is lush, the grass green and the water clear, the flowers and fruits fragrant, and the environment peaceful. It has been praised as a “natural oxygen bar” and a “paradise on earth.” There are tens of thousands of mu of locust forests, thousands of mu of orchards, thousands of mu of landscape forests, 30,000 mu of poplar forests, a national-level wetland bird nature reserve, and the Dashasha River aquaculture area, all forming a uniquely distinctive tourism landscape along the former Yellow River Course. The Yanjin Former Yellow River Course Forest Park (provincial level) was established on the basis of the bird protection area within the original state-owned Yanjin Forest Farm, 20 kilometers east of Xinxiang City, with a total area of 64,000 mu. The forest park is in the former Yellow River Course area, bordered by the Jidong Expressway to the north, the Xinhe Railway to the south, the Beijing–Zhuhai Expressway to the west, and traversed by provincial highways Xinchang North Line and Xinhuaxian. It is close to the Xinxiang Industrial Park and the Xinxiang Yudong Industrial Zone, boasting a prominent location and highly accessible transport. Here, the forest is lush, the grass green and the water clear, the flowers and fruits fragrant, and the environment peaceful. It has been praised as a “natural oxygen bar” and a “paradise on earth.” There are tens of thousands of mu of locust forests, thousands of mu of orchards, thousands of mu of landscape forests, 30,000 mu of poplar forests, a national-level wetland bird nature reserve, and the Dashasha River aquaculture area, all forming a uniquely distinctive tourism landscape along the former Yellow River Course. In November 2006, the park was designated as a “National Agricultural Tourism Demonstration Site” by the National Tourism Administration.

Since construction began in 2004 with a focus on the Ten Thousand Mu Locust Forest scenic area, the park has invested over 20 million yuan, hardening 17,000 meters of walking trails, installing 15,000 meters of fencing, and building 18 attractions including an antique-style office area, a garden-style entrance gate, a fountain square, a hundred-flower garden, a botanical garden, a hundred-fruit garden, a water lily pond, an ostrich park, a World Expo Flower Garden, a Taoyuan Farmhouse Courtyard, a hunting ground with Mongolian yurt-themed area, an inner-garden Miao Village bamboo house-themed area, the Locust Garden Club, a jungle combat zone, and the Locust Forest Mountain Villa. The park officially opened during the “May Day” holiday in 2006, receiving 200,000 visitors annually and generating over 3 million yuan in revenue.

I. Entrance Plaza Gathering Area

Two massive artificial ancient trees lie horizontally across the sky, creating a majestic entrance gate that harmonizes with the surrounding natural scenery. Dozens of quaint reception and office buildings on both sides divide the 70-plus-mu plaza into inner and outer sections. Outside the gate, there is a parking lot, a tourist service station, the terminus of Xinxiang City Bus Route 26, rental stations for single and double bicycles, dune buggies, and other vehicles, as well as fast food, shopping, and baggage storage stalls. Inside the gate, the central plaza features a large musical fountain. Clusters and patches of rare and exotic flowers and trees divide the plaza into several differently sized blocks, suitable for hosting large flower shows during holidays or setting up temporary amusement activities.

II. Ten Thousand Mu Locust Forest Area

Passing through the central plaza, you will enter the Ten Thousand Mu Locust Forest, where sand dunes spread out and the terrain of the forest undulates.

The dense locust trees have tall trunks and lush branches and leaves, stretching endlessly with a spectacular presence reminiscent of the great forests of the northeast—a rare sight in the plains. In winter, when snow falls, the endless white creates a silvery landscape evoking the feeling of a snowy plain. In summer and autumn, the forest is lush and shady. When spring arrives and flowers bloom, the locust blossoms covering the branches look like cloud clusters from afar and piles of snow up close, while bees and butterflies flutter about, filling the air with fragrance for miles. Walking along the winding paths into the depths of the forest feels like entering an ocean of flowers, with intoxicating scents all around. Birds may suddenly take flight overhead, and rabbits may dart across your path. Without a guide, visitors can easily lose their way. In recent years, horticultural workers have grafted more than 100,000 secondary young trees in the forest with red locust and fragrant locust, adding beauty to the forest, extending its flowering period, and enhancing its tourism appeal and ornamental value.

III. Hundred-Flower Garden

Located in the northern part of the locust forest, it covers 300 mu and features over 300 varieties of precious trees, including arbor, shrub, coniferous, broadleaf, and variegated foliage. Fifty-plus specialized gardens are arranged according to plant types. At the entrance stand two thousand-year-old crape myrtle stumps, shaped like coiled dragons and full of vitality. In July, purple flower spikes hang from their branches like colorful umbrellas, attracting visitors to stop and admire. In the middle of the Hundred-Flower Garden is a 30-mu artificial lake, with a Lingxiao Corridor along the shore. In the lake sits a Turtle-Dragon Spirit Mountain, with several wooden boats moored at its base. Connected to the lake and running from west to east is a looping waterway that alternates between wide and narrow sections, dividing the garden into inner and outer sections, with arched bridges linking the narrow parts. The inner garden resembles a beautiful small island, uneven and charmingly arranged. It includes small attractions such as a red maple forest, lovers’ grove, pine and cypress hill, and apricot blossom bay. Visitors can not only fish from the shore or boat on the water but also explore the island to enjoy the scenery.

IV. Hundred-Fruit Garden

Covering 500 mu, it introduces and cultivates over 100 varieties of high-quality, unique, and new domestic fruit trees, including extremely early, early, mid, late, and extremely late ripening types. The garden has fresh fruit available almost year-round. In spring, it bursts with vibrant colors and seas of blossoms; in autumn, it is laden with golden and jade-like fruits weighing down the branches. Fruits of all seasons mature in sequence throughout the year. With guidance from management staff, visitors can freely enter the garden to pick, taste, and admire the fruit. Entering the Hundred-Fruit Garden naturally evokes a feeling of being in a paradise on earth.

V. Botanical Garden

Covering 200 mu, it mainly features precious colored tree species from China and abroad. Key varieties include Norway Golden Maple, Japanese and Canadian Red Maple, American Purple Leaf Smoketree, Red Oak, Red Leaf Cercis, Forsythia suspensa, Red Lotus, Red Leaf Plum, Fragrant Peach Tree, Parrot Tree, Red Rose, Honeysuckle, Incense Cedar, as well as domestic species like Photinia, Viburnum, and Blue Spruce. Some retain their colors year-round, while others change with the seasons, presenting a dazzling array of hues. The Botanical Garden is a great place for visitors to learn about the world’s unique tree species and increase their knowledge in a fun way. The garden-within-a-garden concept and layered sceneries are one of the park’s highlights. Several major scenic areas also host over ten small attractions that combine recreation, leisure, fitness, and specialty dining services. These include the Peach Blossom Spring Farmhouse Courtyard in the orchard, the Miao Village Bamboo House-themed area in the Eucommia forest, the K歌 Hunting Ground’s Mongolian yurt-themed area on the sparse woodland meadow, the jungle combat zone deep in the locust forest, the Locust Garden Equestrian Club, and the Locust Forest Mountain Villa. Here, visitors can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery of the former Yellow River Course but also savor distinctive cuisine such as roasted whole lamb, stewed wild rabbit, Central Plains farmhouse-style chicken cooked in a soil pot, and various wild vegetables and game.

VI. Horseback Archery Area

Covering over 300 mu, it offers horses, camels, and other animals for riding and play, allowing visitors to experience the feeling of the vast grasslands and northwestern deserts even in the Central Plains plains.

The Former Yellow River Course Forest Park is the largest in northern Henan, featuring tens of thousands of mu of locust forests, 20,000 mu of poplar ecological forests, thousands of mu of economic forests, a national-level wetland bird nature reserve rich in birdlife, reed marshes, bird islands, an ostrich training farm, a Dashasha River aquaculture corridor, and a meat sheep farm. There are also cultural sites such as “Wuqi City,” where the Warring States general Wu Qi guarded the Yellow River crossing, and the “Jijí” ruins, where Jiang Ziya took refuge and sold potstickers after falling on hard times. In recent years, following the guiding principles of “strict protection, unified management, rational development, and sustainable growth,” it has been developed into one of the largest tourist attractions in northern Henan, integrating ecological sightseeing, vacation tourism, entertainment and leisure, science education, and sports and fitness.

Scenic Spot Location

Provincial Highway 308, Yanjin County, Xinxiang City, Henan Province