Tianma Mountain National Forest Park

Tianma Mountain National Forest Park

Tianma Mountain National Forest Park is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a national-level forest park.

Tianma Mountain National Forest Park is located in the northeastern part of Bazhou District, Bazhong City, Sichuan Province. It can be accessed via transfers from Chengdu, Chongqing, or Xi'an. The park is approximately 400 kilometers from Chengdu and Chongqing, and about 500 kilometers from Xi'an. It is a mountainous natural scenic area.

Tianma Mountain National Forest Park was established on the basis of the Nanyang Forest Farm. The forest farm and the forest park operate under a dual-name, single-management system. The Nanyang Forest Farm was established in 1958 and is the only state-owned forest farm in Bazhou District. It is 38 kilometers from downtown Bazhong, with an elevation ranging from 800 to 1,430 meters and a total area of 20,400 mu. Its standing timber volume is 160,000 cubic meters, and the forest coverage rate is 99%. In 2004, with approval from the State Forestry Administration, Tianma Mountain National Forest Park was established, encompassing both the Tianma Mountain and Yinling Mountain scenic areas, covering a total area of 34,000 mu.

The park is located in a low-to-mid mountainous region, stretching from east to west. Rolling mountains form a cohesive landscape, with the highest peak reaching an elevation of 1,431.6 meters and the lowest valley at 518.3 meters, resulting in a relative elevation difference of 200–912 meters. The park features a subtropical monsoon climate, characterized by distinct seasons: dry springs, humid summers, rainy autumns, and cold winters. Especially during the hot months of June to September, the average temperature is 4.5°C lower than that of downtown Bazhong. The favorable climate and unique forest ecological environment make it an ideal destination for rest, tourism, recuperation, and summer retreat.

The Tianma Mountain scenic area is located in the northeastern part of Bazhou District, 40 kilometers from downtown Bazhong. It covers an area of 1,748 hectares, with elevations ranging from 705.3 to 1,431.6 meters. The area includes 27 scenic spots, among which there are 5 second-tier spots (Tianma Pine Waves, Broadleaf Frost Forest, Tianma Mountain, Tianma Pool Waterfall, and Bridge River Monkey Cries), 8 third-tier spots (Emerald Forest Flower Sea, Bridge River Canyon, Jade Emperor Morning Glow, Ancient Vines and Nine Cypresses, Thirteen Cultivation Peaks, Bridge River, Cultivation Sea of Clouds, and Little Tianqiao), and 14 fourth-tier spots (Sky Ladder Waterfall, Pine and Oak Intertwined, Five Horses Facing Heaven, Tianma Snow Accumulation, Fairy Pool, Tianma Pool, Jade Emperor Summit, Bridge River Python, Ten Ridges and Nine Bends, Exquisite Pool, Nine Bends Mist, Watchtower, Remains of Cultivation Temple, and Remains of Old Land Ancient Fort).

The Yinling Mountain scenic area is located within Zaolin Town in the northern part of Bazhou District, bordering Nanjiang County. The scenic area entrance is about 14 kilometers from downtown Bazhong. It covers an area of 549 hectares, with elevations ranging from 370 to 1,454.5 meters. There are 22 scenic spots, including 3 first-tier spots (Yinling Mountain, Ling Mountain Ancient Forest, and Ling Mountain Stele Forest), 4 second-tier spots (Laojun Rock, Ling Mountain Ancient Field, Guan Di Temple, and Guanyin Hall), 7 third-tier spots (Lion Rock, Red Stone Bamboo Shoot, Sunning Scripture Rock, Mule Slope Azaleas, Former Site of the Red Fourth Army Headquarters, Lingying Kuilou, and Remains of Red Stone Bamboo Shoot Stone Fort), and 8 fourth-tier spots (Lion Rock, Ling Mountain Bright Moon, Lion Mountain Sunset, Black Stone Forest, Great Buddha Hall, Ox King Hall, Medicine King Hall, and Laojun Hall).

With the acceleration of park construction and increased external promotion, the park’s natural and cultural landscapes have attracted numerous visitors. Over the more than ten years since its establishment, the Nanyang Forest Farm, where the park is located, has raised funds through various channels and invested nearly 10 million yuan in infrastructure and service reception facility development, enabling the park to achieve a certain level of reception capacity.

The park still has several valuable yet undeveloped scenic spots such as “Sunrise Viewing at South Heavenly Gate,” “Mysterious Ancient Road of Micang,” “Monkeys Frolicking at Heavenly Gate,” “Panoramic View of Old Land,” “Five Horses Galloping to Drink at the Trough,” “Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Vines Linking Nine Cypresses,” “Imperial Canopy Welcoming Pine,” “Thousand-Step Stone Stairs Leading to Secluded Valley,” “Dragon King Fort’s One-Line Sky,” and “Three Forts of Cultivation Temple,” all awaiting comprehensive development, construction, and effective preservation.