Zunhua Peach Blossom Mountain

Zunhua Peach Blossom Mountain

I. Geographic Location. Peach Blossom Mountain is situated to the north of Yangjiayu Village, Dangyu Town, Zunhua City. It lies 150 kilometers west of Beijing, 150 kilometers west of Tianjin, 170 kilometers east of Qinhuangdao, and 50 kilometers south of Tangshan. National Highway 112 runs through the area, giving it a prime location and very convenient transportation.

II. The Charm of Peach Blossom Mountain. The Peach Blossom Mountain tourist area is the largest wild botanical garden in Hebei Province. It can accommodate up to 400,000 visitors annually. Covering an area of 15,000 mu, within a range of over 270 hectares, the primeval forest coverage exceeds 80%. Over 9,000 mu of wild peach trees naturally grow on the mountainside. These trees bear small fruits but large pits, and the wild vegetation harmonizes beautifully with the peach blossoms. The blooming season lasts about ten days, creating a spectacular sight. What makes these peach blossoms unique is that they bloom about half a month earlier than in other areas, with numerous small flower buds bursting into bloom before the leaves even emerge. The landscape is filled with white wild peach blossoms stretching as far as the eye can see, attracting large numbers of visitors from near and far each year. In addition, the area is home to more than 100 varieties of medicinal herbs and over 20 species of wild birds and animals, making it an ideal destination for herb collectors and hunting enthusiasts.

The mountain is also home to root-suckering trees that are hundreds of years old. There are oddly shaped giant rocks such as "White Mouse Wedding," "Upside-Down Bottle Lake," "Dragon King Summit" at an altitude of over 430 meters, and "Holy Water Beads" from the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era, all of which add a rugged charm to Peach Blossom Mountain.

III. Rich Natural Resources. Relying on the abundant resources of Dangyu, Peach Blossom Mountain produces dozens of types of fresh and dried fruits, including autumn honey peaches, fragrant white apricots, high-quality plums, mopan persimmons, jujubes, walnuts, and pears. The annual fruit yield reaches 20 million kilograms, earning it the reputation of being the “No. 1 Fruit Town in Eastern Beijing.” Local agritourism activities such as fruit picking, free-range poultry farming, and farmhouse stays also offer unique tourism experiences. The mountains are covered with wild plants such as sour jujubes and wild apricots, many of which have medicinal properties and great development potential. Livestock breeding is also rich, with well-developed industries for raising pigs, cattle, and sheep. Specialized breeding of raccoon dogs, foxes, colorful pheasants, rex rabbits, and black-bone chickens is rapidly emerging and expanding. There are abundant reserves of limestone and cement rock, making them ideal materials for the construction industry. Currently, Dangyu Town has increasingly complete infrastructure, a beautiful environment, simple and kind-hearted people, rich resources, relaxed policies, convenient transportation, and warm, attentive services—making it an ideal place for investment, business, leisure, and holiday travel.

IV. Unique Myths and Legends. Legend has it that during his exile, Yang Silang of the Song Dynasty heard that the abbot of Baofeng Temple was honest and kind-hearted, so he fled here. The foolish abbot treated Yang Silang to good food and drink, knowing he was the descendant of a loyal official. When fleeing, Yang Silang had brought some gold and silver treasures. Unsure of the abbot’s character, he hid the treasure under a large rock on Zhanmao Mountain. Later, when he returned to retrieve it, he couldn’t find it anywhere. After settling down, Yang Silang recruited young men from nearby areas to practice martial arts, and all his disciples adopted the Yang surname. To this day, the people of Yangjiayu still maintain the habit of practicing martial arts. Before liberation, a famously skilled martial artist named DouBao, known for his incredible speed—able to travel 1,000 li by day and 800 li by night—specialized in robbing the rich to aid the poor. In 1932, Yang Jizhang, a shepherd from Yangjiayu Village, was herding sheep on Zhanmao Mountain. While resting on a large rock, he later flipped it over and discovered a wooden box underneath containing dozens of gold bars, a golden spoon, a golden shovel, a pair of golden doves, and the military token of Yang Silang’s troops. This confirms that Yang Silang did indeed come to this area.

Additionally, there are other legendary tales steeped in myth, such as Laonzuyu (Ancestors’ Valley), named by Tang Dynasty feng shui masters Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng; the “Invisibility Grass” where you can hear voices but not see people; the Tiger Cave located midway up the cliff of Feihu Ridge; the Money-Picking Gully where others throw out scorpions but you can pick up money; the Crouching Dragon Stone said to instantly heal wounds; and the legend of the Nan Tan Wooden Buddha of Kṣitigarbha—all adding to the uniquely rich cultural history of Peach Blossom Mountain.

V. Patriotic Education Base. Laonzuyu at the foot of Peach Blossom Mountain is not only a scenic tourist spot but also a base for resistance during wartime, having made great contributions to the anti-Japanese struggle. During the Anti-Japanese War, key leaders of the Jireliao Revolutionary Base such as Li Yunchang, Bao Sen, and Ding Zhenjun frequently gathered at the temple to discuss military strategies. To commemorate revolutionary martyrs and provide patriotic education to youth, the Dangyu Town government built an Anti-Japanese Heroes Monument in the south of Yangjiayu Village in 1984. Commander Li Yunchang personally inscribed the monument with the words: “Eternal Glory to the Revolutionary Martyrs!”

“Last year in this door, the face and peach blossoms reflected red. The face is gone, I know not where, but the peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze.” With the annual Peach Blossom Mountain Tourism Festival approaching, Peach Blossom Mountain is winning the hearts of more and more visitors. At the same time, it serves as a wonderful leisure and holiday destination for city dwellers in different seasons.