Qipan Mountain Ecological Forest Nature Scenic Area

Qipan Mountain Ecological Forest Nature Scenic Area

Qipan Mountain Ecological Forest Nature Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Qipan Mountain Ecological Forest Nature Scenic Area

Qipan Mountain Ecological Forest Nature Scenic Area is located in Duanligou, west of Zanhuang County, on the eastern foothills of the central section of the Taihang Mountains. Its geographical coordinates are between 37°36′20″–37°38′32″ north latitude and 114°06′07″–114°09′22″ east longitude. The scenic area primarily covers the upper section of the state-owned Huzhaikou Forest Farm, including the two administrative villages of Shangduan and Xiaduan, as well as parts of Xiataopo Village. The total area of the scenic area is 36

square

kilometers, with the main scenic area spanning 20 square kilometers. It is 27 kilometers from Zanhuang County, 77 kilometers from the provincial capital Shijiazhuang, and 25 kilometers southwest of Zhangshiyan Scenic Area. The scenic area gets its name from Qipan Mountain, which rises abruptly at the head of the main valley, Duanligou. The highest peak is Wolftuo Peak, with the main peak, Sixianggongzhai, standing at an elevation of 1,342.3 meters. Qipan Mountain not only boasts stunning scenery but also enjoys a pleasant climate, with an average temperature of 22.3°C in the hottest month, making it an ideal summer retreat.

The Qipan Mountain Scenic Area is serene and picturesque, characterized by the major themes of pine waves, apricot rain, ancient paths, and unique peaks. Its eight major scenic spots include: Locking Clouds Blue Waves, Apricot Blossoms in Full Bloom, Eight Immortals in Formation, Duanling Ancient Pass, Qipan Immortal Traces, Precipitous Cliffs Hiding Peaks, Divine Camel Resting on Clouds, and Emerald Valley Pine Waves.

The scenic area is covered with dense forests. During the Qing Dynasty, it served as an official mountain for academies, and after the liberation, it was designated as a state-owned forest farm. The area features a rich diversity of wild plant species and genera. The mountainsides, summits, and valleys are covered with trees, shrubs, vines, and grasses, resulting in an extremely high forest coverage rate. The warm temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest is the zonal vegetation, with a distinct vertical plant spectrum. The mountaintops consist of trees, shrubs, and meadows, while the middle and lower sections are dominated by trees. Common vegetation types include: on shady slopes, the upper zone has a shrub belt mainly composed of Photinia davidiana, the middle zone is a secondary forest of Quercus liaotungensis, the lower zone is a mixed deciduous forest of elm and oak, and the lowest zone is a mixed forest of Pinus tabuliformis, Quercus dentata, Juglans mandshurica, Carpinus turczaninowii, and Cercis chinensis; on sunny slopes, the upper zone is a deciduous broad-leaved forest mainly composed of Quercus aliena, while the middle and lower zones consist of deciduous tree-shrub forests dominated by Quercus variabilis and Cotinus coggygria.

The main tree species of the natural secondary forest in the scenic area include: Quercus dentata, Quercus aliena, Quercus liaotungensis, Tilia, Acer mono, Carpinus turczaninowii, Prunus davidiana, Prunus armeniaca, Syringa, Celtis bungeana, and Euonymus bungeanus; along the valley slopes and foothills are Juglans regia, Catalpa bungei, Castanea mollissima, Toxicodendron vernicifluum, Salix caprea, Morus mongolica, and Populus tomentosa; shrubs and vines mainly include Cotinus coggygria, Lespedeza bicolor, Abelia biflora, Spiraea salicifolia, Rhododendron, Vitis amurensis, and Caragana sinica.

The planted forests mainly consist of Pinus tabuliformis, Populus, Salix, and Toona; economic tree species include Quercus, Tilia, Toxicodendron vernicifluum, as well as fruit and nut trees such as Juglans regia, Castanea mollissima, Prunus armeniaca, Diospyros kaki, black jujube, apple, Zanthoxylum, and pear. There are also valuable medicinal herbs such as Codonopsis pilosula, Gastrodia elata, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Polygonatum sibiricum, Bupleurum, Corydalis yanhusuo, and Ganoderma lucidum, along with large areas of ornamental flowering plants such as Rhododendron, Prunus davidiana, Prunus armeniaca, Cotinus coggygria, and Acer mono.

The scenic area is home to a total of 601 plant species across 100 families. Wildlife includes 113 species from 39 families, such as wild boar, badger, raccoon dog, fox, hare, Mongolian gazelle, black stork, pheasant, and snakes. There are also 324 species of insects.

In spring, apricot blossoms cover the valleys and slopes; the famous poet Liu Zhang once wrote: “Graceful and charming, the old apricot trees need no southern plum blossoms to match.” In the height of summer, the area is lush and green with cascading springs and waterfalls; in autumn, red leaves blanket the slopes, and in winter, the snow-covered mountains and icy branches create a silver wonderland. “Strolling through this poetic spring landscape, one finds serenity without seeking the immortal realm.”