Hongya Grand Canyon

The Hongya Grand Canyon Scenic Area is situated in the southern part of Taiyue Mountain National Forest Park, within Mahexiang Township, Lingshi County. It is 20 kilometers west of Lingshi County, 5 kilometers from the Lingshi exit of the Dayun Expressway, only 6.5 kilometers away from the Mianshan Scenic Area in Jiexiu and the Wang Family Courtyard in Lingshi County — known as the premier dwelling of traditional Chinese architecture — and 9 kilometers from the thousand-year-old Zishou Temple. The canyon scenic area spans 2,591 hectares. In addition, there are eight major attractions including Twin Camel Peaks, Water Curtain, Five Sons Heavenly Stone, Stone Kiln, Mother and Son Peaks, South Heaven Gate, Reflection Cliff, and Hard Work Wall, each with unique features and picturesque scenery, making it an ideal destination for leisure and vacation.

Hongya Grand Canyon is located at the foot of the Taiyue Mountains, belonging to the Taihang Mountain system. It was uplifted during the Yanshan Movement of the Mesozoic Era and later transformed by the Himalayan Movement of the Cenozoic Era. Its landform is characterized as a large undulating karst erosion mid-mountain, a rocky mountainous region with diverse geomorphological types, and has a history of over 100 million years.

The scenic area features undulating peaks, stretching mountain ridges, steep cliffs, and a majestic U-shaped canyon. The elevation ranges from 900 to 2,500 meters, with the highest point being Niujiao’an at 2,566.6 meters, which is the highest peak of Taiyue Mountain, the highest point in central Shanxi, and the fifth highest peak in Shanxi Province. The terrain is higher in the east and lower in the west, with the main valley being Hongya Di. The climate is a typical temperate continental climate with strong monsoon influence, distinct seasons, changeable weather, long summers and winters, and short springs and autumns. The annual average temperature is 10.7°C, with the lowest monthly average temperature at 3.7°C and the highest at 23.7°C. The vegetation in Hongya Grand Canyon is well-preserved, with a forest coverage rate of over 85%. There is a rich diversity of species, including 233 species of woody plants from 44 families and 99 genera, and over 500 species of herbaceous plants from 62 families.

From the bottom of the canyon upwards, it can be divided into four vertical zones: below 1,200 meters is the shrubland and farmland zone; between 1,200–1,800 meters is the mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest zone, with main tree species including Chinese pine, spruce, mountain poplar, white birch, and red birch; between 1,800–2,200 meters is the coniferous forest zone, mainly consisting of North China larch; and above 2,200 meters is the alpine shrub and meadow zone. Ascending from the valley, one can see lush and verdant forest resources, with countless woody and herbaceous plants. There are also numerous precious medicinal herbs such as “Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi),” “trogopterus dung (wulingzhi),” “pig’s fungus (zhuling),” “calamus (cangpu),” and “codonopsis (dangshen),” earning it the reputation of a “biodiversity treasure trove.”

There are approximately 160 animal species in Hongya Grand Canyon, including 40 species of mammals and over 120 species of birds. Major animals include the leopard, musk deer, roe deer, black stork, wild goat, wild boar, blue sheep, fox, hare, pheasant, and owl. The overall environmental quality of the scenic area is good, with atmospheric quality meeting the Grade II standards of the Ambient Air Quality Standards (GB 3095—1996). The water quality is excellent, reaching Grade I drinking water standards, with no pollution, earning it the titles of “Green Lung of North China” and “Natural Oxygen Bar.”

Address: East of Xiaobagou Village, Lingshi County, Jinzhong City

Type: Canyon

Phone: 0354-7830555; 0354-7830802

Opening Hours:

08:00-17:30.