Dongjiakou Scenic Area in Yinzu Town

Dongjiakou Scenic Area in Yinzu Town

Dongjiakou Scenic Area in Yinzu Town is located in the southeastern part of Daye City, extending to the northern end of the Luoxiao Mountain Range, covering an area of 62 square kilometers. The area enjoys a mild climate, abundant rainfall, lush bamboo and forests, fresh air, and a tranquil environment. Especially during the hot summer months, when cities like Wuhan, Chongqing, and Nanjing become "furnaces," this place remains pleasantly cool, with daytime average temperatures about 8–10°C lower than areas outside the mountains, and even greater temperature differences at night. Hence, it has earned the reputation of being a "Little Lushan Mountain."

Here, peaks rise and fall, cliffs stand densely, ancient trees tower into the sky, and greenery thrives in all seasons. The interplay of lake views and mountain scenery resembles the beauty of Lushan, the wonder of Huangshan, and the grandeur of Mount Tai. It combines the elegance of southern hills with the majesty of northern mountain ranges, making it an underdeveloped yet promising summer retreat and tourist destination.

Taopojian, the highest peak among the three regions of Ezhou, Yangxin, and Daye (counties), lies within the Dongjiakou Scenic Area. It connects to Huangping Mountain of the state-owned forest farm in Daye City to the east, borders Maiyi Mountain to the west, extends to Aotou Village to the south, and reaches the southern foothills of Leidajian to the north. Located at 59.67' north latitude and 114.57' east longitude, it faces Longtoujiao Mountain to the north from afar.

The main peak of Taopojian stands at an elevation of 980 meters, often shrouded in clouds and mist, which is how the renowned "Taopojian Fog Tea" got its name, celebrated both within and beyond the province. Historical records describe, "Beside it lie Longjiao, Fu, and Wangyue mountains, where wind and cloud shift, each displaying their own marvels." A poem reads: "Riding the mist up to Tahe (Taopo), laughing as I tumble atop the summit, soft winds lull the low-hanging moon, longing to spur a flying dragon over a giant toad."

This scenic area boasts the picturesque beauty of a natural kingdom. The "high-mountain alpine lake," Dongjiakou Reservoir, is like a bright, emerald ribbon nestled among the mountain valleys. The reservoir contains 88 mountain springs and streams and 99 peaks, adding boundless vitality and a touch of mystery to the forested region. The vast, verdant bamboo and forests, the tall and stately pines and cypresses, the golden sea of clouds at sunrise, and the serene mountain streams and pools all evoke a sense of transcending the mundane and returning to nature’s simplicity.

Longquan Cave: Located at the southern foot of Shideng Mountain northeast of Huayou Village in Yinzu Town. Legend says a dragon once dwelled inside the cave, which frequently emitted clouds, hence its name. The cave entrance faces west, is 5–10 meters wide and 7–20 meters high, and has been explored to over 300 meters in depth. On the right side of the cave entrance, eight regular-script Chinese characters are carved into the rock: “Flowers bloom at the cave mouth, water flows to the human world,” with a history of over 200 years. Inside Longquan Cave, there are stalactites and year-round dripping water, keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer. At the cliff inside the cave, there is a seasonal waterfall with an 85-meter drop, which is spectacular. According to surveys by experts, the cave extends over 4,000 meters and holds extremely high development potential.

Taihe Clouds and Mist: Located in the Dongjiakou Forest Area of Yinzu Town, Daye City, the main peak Taopojian rises 980 meters above sea level, making it the highest among the mountain ranges in the Huangshi area. To the north lies Longjiao Mountain, to the south lie undulating peaks, and the clouds and mist shift with the seasons. When the clouds rise, they envelop the entire mountain. Climbing to the summit to watch the sunrise is a magnificent sight.

Dragon Horn Morning Sun: Located to the north of Taopojian, the main peak stands at an elevation of 786.9 meters. Originally named Long’er Mountain, it was renamed Dragon Horn Mountain by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty in the fourth year of the Yuanyou era because of its characteristic of “the sunrise first shining on its summit, and clouds rising when rain is coming.” The mountain features historical sites such as Yue Fei Cave and Immortal Bridge.

Twin Springs Ancient Temple: Located in Zhengshan Forest within Fanduan Village at the northwest foot of Mianshan Mountain in Yinzu Town, approximately 2.5 kilometers from Huayou Tree at Nanfeng. It gets its name from the two springs behind the temple. It is said that the temple was originally built during the Tang Dynasty, with upper, middle, and lower halls, covering a construction area of about 1,000 square meters. It was later destroyed during the Japanese invasion. In the summer of 1946, the main hall was repaired, with the upper and lower sections covering about 300 square meters. Legend has it that when a high monk built the temple during the Tang Dynasty, there were two mountain springs behind the mountain—one producing salt and the other oil, which provided for the monks year-round. By the time of the third-generation monk, greed took over, and he secretly sold the surplus oil and salt. Since then, the twin springs no longer produced oil or salt, only trickling spring water. To the left of the temple stand two thousand-year-old podocarpus trees, each with a diameter of about one meter and a height of over four meters. Having survived a millennium of trials, they remain lush and upright—an extremely rare sight—and are now listed as protected rare tree species by Huangshi City.

Swan Drinking Water: Located in a cave on the eastern side of the main peak of Nanshan Head, accessible to a single person, it resembles a natural shrine. On the cave wall is a statue of Guanyin, and there is a skylight in the cave through which sunlight and moonlight shine directly onto Guanyin’s face. Legend says Guanyin cultivated herself here, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, which led her to become the Goddess of Mercy of the South Sea.

Five Dragons Underground Palace: Located on the mountain near the Twin Springs Ancient Temple, it features five dragon caves distributed across the mountain—Golden Palace, Silver Palace, Treasure Chamber, Crouching Dragon Palace, and the main cave, the Hidden Dragon Underground Palace. Descending via a vertical shaft and proceeding along dual paths, it branches into East and West Palaces in the middle, with colorful hangings and a dazzling array of scenery.