Jiuluzhai

Jiuluzhai

The Jiuluzhai Tourist Scenic Area is located in the southwestern frontier of Xiema Town, Baokang County, bordering cities and counties such as Yichang and Xingshan. It spans two townships—Xiema and Maliang—with an average altitude of over 1,200 meters. The scenic area covers a total of more than 90 square kilometers and encompasses 12 natural villages in Xiema Town. The village of Jiuluzhai is surrounded by cliffs on three sides, with only one side connected to the outside world. In ancient times, there were only nine small paths leading up and down the cliffs using vines and ropes, hence the name.

The village administers four villager groups, with 151 households and a population of 570. It covers an area of 21.17 square kilometers. Viewed from above, the village is shaped like a gourd hanging by a golden thread. With numerous valleys and densely scattered scenic spots, it is vividly described as “one valley, two flats, five ravines; a towering mountain village with nine connecting paths; seven rivers, three waterfalls, and a slit gorge; supporting the peaks of the Green Lion and White Elephant.” The village committee is 78 kilometers away from Xiema Township. It is a naturally preserved village with intact primitive ecology, captivating scenery, and simple local customs.

The Jiuluzhai Scenic Area features typical karst landform characteristics. The area has distinct seasonal divisions and falls under the northern subtropical continental monsoon climate, with annual precipitation between 800–1,200 millimeters and an average annual temperature of 15–17°C. The area is rich in water resources, with well-preserved vegetation and diverse flora and fauna. To date, over 30 types of nationally rare plants have been discovered here, including camphor trees, Alsophila spinulosa fruits, golden hairpins, and yew trees, as well as rare animals such as leopards, masked palm civets, civets, golden eagles, and giant salamanders.

The terrain and landforms within the scenic area are unique, with rugged mountains and perilous landscapes, combining grandeur, precipitousness, and beauty. It features a mix of rivers, valleys, rocks, forests, waterfalls, and caves, making its scenery comparable to that of Zhangjiajie and Jiuzhaigou. It is a highly charming and high-quality tourist treasure. To date, over 100 scenic spots of high ornamental value have been discovered in the area, among which the most stunning include Huanglong Cave, Elephant Trunk Mountain, Buddha Gazing at the Waterfall, Slit Gorge, Luogu Village River, General Peak, Tianma Mountain, and Sky Bridge.

To promote the development of Jiuluzhai, this rare treasure, as a natural and cultural heritage site for China and even the world, the Party Committee and government of Xiema Town have put forward the development goal of creating a leading tourism town. They have carried out a series of efforts including resource protection, promotion, infrastructure construction, and investment attraction. Basic issues such as electricity, drinking water, housing, transportation, medical care, and schooling for the 12 villages in the scenic area have been largely resolved. The living and production conditions of the residents have been continuously improving, their desire for prosperity has grown stronger, their sense of the bigger picture has deepened, and the conditions for development have become increasingly mature.