Marea Cliff Scenic Area

Marea Cliff Scenic Area

Yuanzhiping is the easternmost and highest-altitude area in Jiang County, serving as the only gateway to the east of the county. Here, the mountains are high and the forests dense, the air is fresh, and the climate is cool—especially distinct from the outside world during hot and dry weather.

Starting from Molizhen and heading east along the Dongqin Line, you begin entering the mountainous region at Fengjiawan. The smooth asphalt road winds along the banks of a mountain stream where the lush, almost touching vegetation crowds the edges. It’s a gradual uphill journey all the way, with temperatures dropping bit by bit as you go forward and the feeling gradually becoming more relaxing. There’s a gentle babble of stream water, and at times you can hear the bright sound of flowing water. On the northern bank of the Xiaobei Mountain stream, someone has built a Mongolian-style place called “Jintang Mountain Villa,” connected to the road by an iron-cable suspension bridge. Standing on it swaying gently is quite fun, and the sound of horsehead fiddle and Mongolian songs drifting from inside is very elegant. After a short rest, continue onward—at Xiaobei Mountain, a stream branches off from the main road, where two streams converge. Going further, passing through Tan Yuan River, Pijia Wan, and climbing a long slope, you’ll reach the highest point of the mountain road: Shiyao and Qiaozishang in Yuanzhiping Village.

The village is built against a high mountain slope, facing the sun, with the road running right through it. It’s said to be at an altitude of 1,500 meters, though I’m not sure how accurate that is. From here, looking out in all directions—north, south, east, and west—you see vast, undulating mountain peaks stacked continuously. To the east of the village is the mountain pass on the road, leading out to the famously steep and long Wuli Slope of the Dongqin Line. Standing on the ridge of the highway and looking out, you see cars laboriously crawling uphill with rumbling engines, while those going downhill proceed cautiously at a slow pace. The endless mountain road can carry your thoughts even farther away, and here you can feel the refreshing and pleasant joy brought by the mountain village environment.

With distant mountains, gentle breeze, pine waves, and quiet sunlight, the peaceful sounds of farm life—chicken crows, dog barks, birdsongs—are occasionally broken by the roar of speeding cars. A tall communications tower stands on a hill to the south of the village. On the roadside to the east of the village, there is a stone tablet inscribed with “China Water Conservancy.” Villagers say that it marks the point from which tap water is piped into each household. Everyone has a satellite TV dish, showing that this is neither a forgotten place nor a remote, impoverished village. The people here experience both the ancient and the future, enjoying modern civilization just like those outside the mountains.

Phone: 0359-6522767

Address: Jiang County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province