Qinpai Ridge Scenic Area

Qinpai Ridge Scenic Area

Qinpai Ridge is located in Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province, known as the "Hometown of Three Sages." This is where ancient scholars of the Jin State originated, and it is also the birthplace of Hanshi (Cold Food Festival) and Qingming Festival—two of China’s major traditional solar terms. The site lies in Xihuan Village, Mianshan Town, just 9 kilometers from downtown Jiexiu, adjacent to National Highway 108.

The Qin cypress is located on Baishu Ridge in Xiguan Village, approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Jiexiu City. Legend has it that it was planted during the early Qin Dynasty, boasting a history of over 2,200 years. The circumference at the base of the tree is 16.7 meters, with a crown height of 16 meters and a main trunk that stands 2.6 meters tall. At 1.5 meters above the ground, the trunk measures 11.8 meters in circumference, from which ten major branches extend. Each branch averages around 3.1 meters in circumference, with the thickest one measuring 4.75 meters. The tree remains lush and evergreen, providing shade over an area of nearly 300 square meters. The Qin cypress is 1.8 meters thicker than the Huangling Xuanyuan Cypress in Shaanxi (with a circumference of 10 meters), making it the cypress with the largest girth in China. It is a national first-class protected ancient tree and is honored as the "No. 1 Cypress in China."

According to locals, there used to be many structures around this ancient tree, but they were long destroyed, so villagers have taken great care to protect it. In the summer of 2001, during a severe drought, when it seemed the ancient tree might not survive, the residents of Xihuan Village—who themselves had trouble accessing water—spent four full days hauling over 200 cartloads of water up the mountain using tricycles to irrigate the tree.

In 2002, Song Weigui, a farmer entrepreneur from Jiexiu, invested 30 million yuan to restore the original buildings following the principle of preserving their historical appearance. Tens of thousands of trees were planted, including tens of thousands of cypresses. To ensure a stable water supply, a water tower was also built near the “Qin Cypress.” The “Qinpai Ridge Tourist Area,” developed around this 2,200-year-old “No. 1 Cypress of China” at the foot of Mianshan Mountain, was officially opened to the public.

Address: Baishu Ridge, Xihuan Village, 15 kilometers southwest of Jiexiu City

Type: Urban Park

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–3 hours

Opening Hours:

8:00—18:00

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 25.0 RMB