Xuanhan Guanyinshan Forest Park

Xuanhan Guanyinshan Forest Park

Xuanhan Guanyinshan Forest Park is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

National AA-level tourist attraction

Provincial forest park

Address: Baishu Town, Xuanhan County, Dazhou City, Sichuan Province

Contact number: 0818-5220889

Brief overview: The Guanyinshan Provincial Forest Park consists of “ten mountains, one plateau, ten valleys, and eight openings,” with a forest coverage rate of 95%. It features dense forests, diverse peaks, murmuring streams, the mysterious Dry Sea, enchanting caves, ancient animal and plant fossils, the ruins of Baogai Temple at the mountaintop, as well as sites of Red Army battles, the White Lotus Sect uprising, and the legendary tale of the “Child-Making Pit.” There are also beautiful forests of red, white, and purple azaleas, rich wildlife, sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, snowscapes, and other landscapes that integrate flora, nature, water bodies, and celestial phenomena.

Park introduction:

The Guanyinshan Provincial Forest Park is located at the southern foot of the Daba Mountains in the northeast of the Sichuan Basin, in Baishu Town, Xuanhan County, Dazhou City, covering an area of 24,488 mu, with the highest elevation at 1,058.6 meters. The terrain is mainly low mountainous hills, and it lies within the mid-subtropical humid monsoon climate zone.

The forest park is known for its abundant natural landscapes, characterized by being “unique,” “beautiful,” “ancient,” “secluded,” and “mysterious.” Standing atop the mountain, you can watch the sunrise in the morning, which is “like Mount Emei,” or admire the sunset in the evening, where the Buddha’s halo shines brilliantly. Its dense forests, diverse peaks, murmuring streams, mysterious Dry Sea, enchanting caves, and marine animal and plant fossils all together form a series of mysterious, serene, beautiful, and fantastical natural landscapes. In spring, the azaleas are especially splendid; in midsummer, the green pines are a delight to behold; in autumn, the maple leaves turn the mountains red; and in winter, the snow blankets the lush greenery. All four seasons offer views of wonders such as sunrises and sea of clouds. The park is home to a rich variety of animal resources, including over 200 species of forest insects, as well as abundant and diverse vegetation. The air is fresh, with high levels of negative oxygen ions, and wild medicinal herbs are found everywhere on the mountains.

Guanyinshan Forest Park is not only an eco-tourism destination but also holds historical value and rich cultural heritage. The myths and legends of Guanyinshan, the legendary tales of Shenlong Palace, the ruins of Baogai Temple at the mountaintop, the sites of Red Army battles, and the “White Lotus Sect” uprising all bear witness to historical imprints.

Azalea Forest: Xuanhan Guanyinshan Provincial Forest Park is home to many wild tree azaleas, covering an area of over 8,000 mu, with the core area spanning 1,500 mu. According to experts from the provincial forestry academy, there are more than twenty varieties, including deep red, light red, rose, purple, light purple, and various other colored azaleas. There are also pink-white, snow-white, and purple azaleas that bloom before their leaves emerge. When the azaleas bloom in spring, they cover the mountains in vibrant colors, resembling a halo of colorful clouds swirling through the forest, with red, white, and purple hues competing in beauty. On April 26 to May 5, 2010, the first “China·Sichuan·Xuanhan Azalea Flower Festival” was successfully held, jointly organized by the county party committee and government—bringing people closer to nature and celebrating the beauty of azaleas. Viewing period: early March to early May. Best viewing time: mid to late April.

Fossils: Guanyinshan belongs to the Echeng Mountain Range. Two hundred million years ago, it was a shallow freshwater lake. Through crustal changes, it has formed pure white, glittering and translucent marine shell fossils. The park also houses a large number of rooster fossils, isatis root fossils, large tree root fossils, and others, collectively presenting a living textbook on the origin and evolution of life, making it an ideal base for science education.

Baogai Temple Ruins: Also known as Baogai Chan Yuan, it was first built during the Tang Dynasty, located at the mountaintop of Guanyinshan, at an elevation of 1,058 meters, covering an area of over 2,000 square meters. It sits at the junction of Xuanhan County, Daxian County, and Kaijiang County, and is known for the saying “a rooster’s crow can be heard in three counties.” The temple once had four main halls: the Jade Buddha Hall, Guanyin Hall, Samantabhadra Hall, and Elephant Hall, each further divided into smaller halls such as the Grand Buddha Hall, Ancestral Master Hall, Bamboo Hall, and Sando Hall. The stone carvings and inscriptions inside the halls showcase exquisite craftsmanship, with inscriptions and paintings as vivid as new. Legend has it that one early morning long ago, an eagle flew from Miaoziling to the mountaintop, where it perched for three days and nights without eating or moving. The villagers regarded it as a divine sign and thus initiated the construction of a temple for the sacred eagle. Monks tilled the vegetable garden, incense smoke curled ceaselessly in the temple, and Guanyin Bodhisattva sat smiling on the lotus throne, with worshippers coming in droves, and her manifestations were particularly efficacious. It is said that a thief, fleeing under the cover of darkness, once sought refuge near the stone-carved pig statue in Baogai Temple and was frightened to death on the spot by the pig’s “hehe” mocking laughter. Since then, the saying “punish evil and promote good, heal the sick and save lives” has been passed down. Those suffering from headaches could cure their ailment by touching the pig’s head, and those with stomach pain could ease their discomfort by touching the pig’s belly.

: The tourist road from Xuanhan County to the park has been fully paved with cement and asphalt, allowing vehicles to reach the scenic area in just one hour. Roads within the park are smooth and safe, leading directly to Daxian County, Kaijiang County, and other areas. National Highway 210, the Xiangyu Railway, and Provincial Highway Liangshuang all run through Xuanhan. The Dazhong Expressway passes through the county, while the Dawan Expressway runs through the park. Travel route from Chengdu – Dazhou (374 km, 2 hours 40 minutes by train) – Baishu Town, Xuanhan County – Guanyinshan Forest Park. Travel route from Chongqing – Dazhou (255 km, via highway, 3-hour drive) – Baishu Town, Xuanhan County – Guanyinshan Forest Park. The park is 36 km from Dazhou City, 40 km from Heshi Airport in Dazhou, and 45 km from Xuanhan County, all accessible via cement and asphalt roads.