Qu You Valley

Qu You Valley

Qu You Valley is located downstream of the Huangsang National Nature Reserve and the Liuge Cave Waterfall. It is a deep mountain valley stretching approximately 4.5 kilometers, flanked by dense primeval secondary forests that block out the sky. A narrow forest path, less than one meter wide, leads you deep into the valley. The steep mountains on both sides are covered in lush forests with numerous ancient trees, and the flowing water tumbles dramatically, with an average of 160,000 oxygen ions per cubic centimeter in the air—ranking first in Hunan Province. As an ancient poem goes: “A winding path leads to a secluded spot; a Buddhist retreat is deep amid flowers and trees.” In spring and summer, the valley is lined with blooming centuries-old azaleas, Chinese orchids, camellias, cherry blossoms, magnolia, and white magnolia flowers, all vying in a breathtaking display of beauty that tops the region. A clear stream meanders gracefully through the valley, stretching for ten miles, sometimes calm and gentle, other times surging with splashing waterfalls.

Qu You Valley has a subtropical monsoon climate and is home to over 700 species of woody plants, including 193 rare woody species and 166 species of flowering plants. Arranged along the mountain terrain, they form three plant communities at upper, middle, and lower levels, making it a rare and precious plant gene bank today—as well as a tranquil forest sanatorium that soothes the mind, strengthens the body, and rejuvenates the skin.