Wujinshan National Forest Park

Wujinshan National Forest Park

Wujinshan National Forest Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national forest park.

Wujinshan National Forest Park is situated at the northern border of Yuci City, due east of Taiyuan City, and at the southwestern junction of Shouyang County. It was officially established in 1993 under approval document No. 89 (1993) from the former Ministry of Forestry, covering a total area of 3,667 hectares with a forest coverage rate of 40%. After over ten years of scientific planning, conservation, development, and construction, the park has become a summer resort that combines natural and cultural landscapes.

Located on the western foothills of the Taihang Mountains, Wujinshan features higher elevations in the north and lower in the south. The park is characterized by overlapping mountains and picturesque peaks, with altitudes ranging from 1,200 to 1,489 meters. It boasts 30,000 acres of pristine forests densely populated with pine and cypress trees, featuring lush vegetation. The white-bark pines stand gracefully, the arborvitae display elegant postures, the Chinese red pines grow robust and upright, and their tree canopies present unique shapes.

Wujinshan is situated on the western foothills of the Taihang Mountains, with higher terrain in the north and lower in the south. The area is rich in resources—not only producing specialties such as Gua Zi (melon seeds), cypress nuts, mushrooms, and medicinal herbs—but also abundant in root carving materials, zinc-strontium mineral water, crystal stones, and maifan stones. It is a world of trees, a sea of flowers, a home for wildlife, and a paradise for birds. The region is scattered with 336 species of woody plants, herbaceous plants, wildflowers, and medicinal herbs across mountain ridges, valleys, and slopes, along with over 50 animal species and more than 200 bird species that dwell among the woods and sing in the trees. Particularly notable are the nationally protected second-class plant species—white-bark pines—and the world’s rare golden-cypress trees, as well as the nationally protected first-class animal—the leopard—adding boundless charm and poetic beauty to the forested landscape.

Wujinshan is graceful and picturesque, blessed with cool weather. The dense evergreen natural scenic forests, the rich and enduring cultural heritage, and the unique geology and meteorology have contributed to numerous captivating attractions, including the Old Eight Scenic Spots, New Ten Scenic Spots, Four Wonders, Six Common Views, and Outer Eight Sights. The park features sites such as the Crystal Monastery, Zhengshou Temple, Huayan Temple, Hehe Temple, and the ruins of the Western Jin King Temple. These structures are built along the mountain, with pavilions and halls complementing each other, surrounded by pines and cypresses, with pavilions and terraces appearing through the mist, all enveloped by drifting clouds and offering diverse sceneries. There are also Song Dynasty stone statues, inscribed tablets of Lü Dongbin, the tomb of the Monk Who Cut Off His Own Hand, and the former summer retreat of Kong Xiangxi. Especially notable are attractions such as the Purple Cloud Meteorite (Great Comet Stone), the Crystal-Filled Courtyard, the Exotic Lake Flower Island, the Finest Pine and Cypress in North China, the Dragon King Spring, the Musical Mermaid, the Pine Grove Fun Quest, the Blossoming Peach Hills, and the Emerald Peaks Layered like Jade. The four wonders—Wujin Cloud Sea, Rare Mountain Sunrise, Three Immortals Celebrating Spring, and Cedar Rain Showers—are even more fantastical, magnificent, and uplifting to the spirit. Beautiful legends such as the Nine-Lotus Lantern, Golden Ox Silver Snake, Treasure Basin, and Three Monks Weeping the Revived Purple Gold Tree further enrich Wujinshan with touching stories.

The cool environment and magnificent scenery have made Wujinshan a natural summer resort, attracting countless visitors throughout history. “Since the Tang and Song dynasties,” Wujinshan has not only seen “crowds of tourists and ceaseless incense burning” but has also captivated emperors, eminent monks, high-ranking officials, nobility, and international travelers. Liu Zhiyuan, the founding emperor of the Later Han Dynasty, came to the mountains to gather firewood and often rested at the Great Comet Stone to enhance his wisdom. Royal family members of the Tang Dynasty, such as Li Tongyuan, were enchanted by the cool mountain air and chose to reside and meditate in the mountain temples. Emperor Kangxi admired the beautiful mountain scenery and visited the mountain temple in person in the 43rd year of his reign (1704). Kong Xiangxi fell in love with the mountain’s scenery and built a summer retreat. International visitors were particularly fond of Wujinshan’s beauty, and during the late Qing and early Republican periods, tourists from over ten countries including Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States came to the mountains for summer retreats and sightseeing.

Wujinshan is also a revolutionary holy site. During the Anti-Japanese War and the Liberation War, the vast Wujinshan served not only as the base for the Yuci Northern County Committee and County Government of the Communist Party, the Qin-Lai Detachment, but also as the location of the Eighth Route Army’s arms workshop and the pre-liberation battle headquarters for the liberation of Taiyuan. Chinese Communist leaders and army commanders such as Peng Dehuai, [names omitted], Zhou Shidi, [names omitted], and Lai Jifa left their glorious footprints here.

With its long history, beautiful scenery, touching legends, abundant resources, convenient transportation, Wujinshan National Forest Park has become a nearby leisure destination in the Yuci-Taiyuan region.

Address: Wujinshan National Park, Yuci District, Jinzhong City

Type: Forest, Mountain, Historic Sites, Temples, Taoist Shrines

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visiting Time: 3–4 hours

Phone: 0354-3263132; 0354-3231350

Official Website: http://wjsfp.forestry.gov.cn/

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Ticket Information:

Free entry. The park is free, but attractions within may charge fees.