Huahai Guoxiang Tourist Scenic Area

Huahai Guoxiang Tourist Scenic Area

The Huahai Guoxiang Tourist Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Ya’an, Sichuan’s Hanyuan enjoys abundant sunshine and a pleasant climate, earning its reputation as a “sea of flowers and world of fruits.” It is known as the “Hometown of Chinese Prickly Ash” and the “Hometown of Chinese Sweet Cherries.” With eco-friendly fruits available year-round and organic vegetables as well as dried fruits like prickly ash and walnuts selling well across the country, it has also earned titles such as the “First City of Sunshine in Panxi” and “Huahai Guoxiang · Sunny Hanyuan.”

The Huahai Guoxiang Tourist Area is about 200 km from Chengdu and approximately 230 km from Xichang. The scenic area includes six attractions: Jiuxiang Pear Blossom Mountain Valley, Peach Garden Splendor, Flowery Fruit Fragrance, Qingxi Confucius Temple (Qingxi Ancient Town), Qianyu Crane Dance Countryside, and Splendid Countryside, covering a total area of over 120,000 mu. It is currently the largest, most scenic, and most authentically rural leisure tourism destination in China.

A floral wonderland in spring, and sweet flavors all year round—the Huahai Guoxiang of Hanyuan welcomes you.

Cock’s Comb at Dawn: Located to the west of Houyu Township, Cock’s Comb Mountain features towering peaks with ridges over 3,200 meters above sea level and a main peak at 3,640 meters. The craggy cliffs and steep summits catch the first light of dawn or the last glow of sunset when viewed from Jiuxiang, making the peaks appear like a cockscomb gently trembling, hence the name "Cock’s Comb at Dawn."

Crabapple Scholar’s Lamp: In the Crabapple Academy, located about five li north of the old Qingxi County seat, a crabapple pond was surrounded by over a hundred crabapple and hibiscus trees. A pavilion called Yaoyao Xiangting (Fragrant Pavilion) was built within it, where scholars entertained guests during spring and autumn leisure days. The red clouds and fragrant mists filled the streets, earning it the title “Little Land of Fragrance.” Although the academy and pond have been lost since the Song Dynasty, locals often reported seeing lights there, giving rise to the name Crabapple Scholar’s Lamp, the third of Hanyuan’s Eight Scenic Spots.

Jade Spring: Located on Chuanzhu Hill east of the old Qingxi County seat, the Jade Spring Pool spans roughly ten square meters. Spring water flows from crevices in the rocks, never drying up throughout the year, and is exceptionally clear. Local officials often used this water to brew tea, considering it superior, or at least equal, to Chengdu’s Xue Tao Well—it is the fourth of Hanyuan’s Eight Scenic Spots.

Wind Cave Roar: This refers to a limestone karst cave at the foot of Fengdong Mountain in Jianli Township. The unfathomable cave features murmuring springs and glistening colorful stones. At noon, wind and mist emerge from the cave, creating sounds like a zither, hence the name "Wind Cave Roar." It is the fifth of Hanyuan’s Eight Scenic Spots.

Dadu River Clear Waves: The mighty Dadu River, when viewed under clear skies from the top of Dashu Longtang Mountain, presents wave after wave as if dragging a long silk ribbon or hanging a white rainbow. An ancient poem describes it: “Shimmering waves arise in countless ripples; silver billows and snowy flows cannot fully capture its grandeur.” It is the sixth of Hanyuan’s Eight Scenic Spots.

Qionglai Snow After Rain: Refers to the snow scenery of the Daxiangling Mountain Range (anciently known as Qionglai Mountain or Qiongzuo Mountain). The Daxiangling Mountains accumulate snow in autumn and winter, which melts only in midsummer. On clear, sunny days, they look like jade mountains or celestial gardens. A line goes: “Mountain snow brightens the window”—it is the seventh of Hanyuan’s Eight Scenic Spots.

Dragon Pool Moonlight: Refers to the Dragon Pool at the western foothills behind the main peak of Daxiangling in Shuangxi Township, Banxi County. The area is full of wonders and once housed the Lanruo Temple. The moon’s reflection shimmers and vanishes in the pool, hence the poetic name "Dragon Pool Moonlight." A poem describes it: “An ancient temple by a square pond, a mirror reflecting the void, capturing night moonlight in cosmic haze. A lonely white moon peers down, casting red glimmers on myriad dragon scales. All stars retreat beyond shape and hue, waxing and waning uncounted in their cycle. For sacred beasts coil and leap, stirring clouds to veil the laurel palace.”

Dadu River Grand Canyon

The Dadu River Grand Canyon within Hanyuan County has drawn widespread attention from geologists and media both within and outside the province. Experts from the Sichuan Geological Survey Bureau were amazed upon field investigation—the majestic and precipitous natural landscape of the Dadu River Grand Canyon is comparable to the world-famous

Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. The canyon stretches 17 km from Wusihe Town in Hanyuan County in the west to Baixiong Gorge in Yongli Township in the east. Before entering the Sichuan Basin, the Dadu River cuts through the final threshold of the basin’s southwestern edge—Washan Mountain—forming this spectacular grand canyon and carving out a perfectly preserved geological section thousands of meters thick. The “Pillar of Heaven,” which supports the vital Chengdu-Kunming Railway artery, lies within the canyon, adding a modern touch to this ancient wonder.

Stone Memorial Archway

The stone memorial archway was commissioned and built under imperial decree by Huang Ticheng, a presented scholar from Hanli Market in Qingxi County during the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty, to honor his mother’s chastity and filial piety. The entire Jiuxiang Stone Archway is constructed from red sandstone, standing 11.1 meters tall, 7.4 meters wide, and 1.9 meters deep. It follows the popular Qing-style design of four pillars, three bays, and a tripartite horizontal and vertical structure.

Wan’an Bridge

Located east of Henan Village, Henan Township, Dashu District, the Wan’an Bridge was built in the eighth year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a covered bridge with a stilt-style structure and a single stone pier. The bridge is formed by thick round logs laid atop two stone piers, covered with wooden planks, creating a sturdy and flat surface. It is 18 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, and 6 meters high. Both ends of the bridge feature gate towers with double-eave hip-and-gable roofs, offering a uniquely ancient charm.

Kuixing Tower

Standing in the gorge between two mountains by the Baiyan River in Fuquan Village, Wanxi Township, the Kuixing Tower is hexagonal with three tiers and double eaves, topped with a pyramidal roof. The ground floor uses a post-and-lintel structure and is entirely made of wood. The tower stands 15 meters tall and covers an area of 90 square meters, exuding a lofty and timeless elegance.

Baiyun Temple

Located at Tanguanyao in Houyu Township, Baiyun Temple was built during the Ming Jiaqing era and is the only surviving ancient temple in the county.