Zoumacao Scenic Area

Zoumacao Scenic Area

This area is located in the eastern part of Heshun County, about 30 kilometers from the county town. The terrain here is higher in the north and south, with cliffs forming the boundary to the east, bordering Hebei Province. The central part features flat and open land covered with lush green grass, though with relatively sparse vegetation, offering wide, unobstructed views — making it the best spot for sightseeing. Here, you can watch the sea of clouds and sunrise in the morning, ever-changing and ethereal; in the evening, witness the sunset casting over thousands of peaks, with layers of dark mountains painted in hues, look down upon the vast valleys and gorges, and see the steep cliffs up close. The grandeur of the Taihang Mountains unfolds before your eyes. This place combines the peril of Huashan, the beauty of Huangshan, the magnificence of Mount Tai, and the serenity of Lushan. It showcases the landscape of the Taihang Mountains, the perilous cliff paths, the delicate charm of the south, and the sweeping grasslands of the north all in one.

Zoumacao lies on the dividing ridge between Shanxi and Hebei provinces. At a glance, its jagged peaks and sheer cliffs present a particularly precipitous sight. Around the approximately 15-square-kilometer mountain area, the green grass spreads like a woven carpet, giving the feeling of standing in the vast grasslands of northern China. On the mountains, you can see stone-paved “ancient plank roads,” with “protective walls” made of stone blocks resembling city fortifications on both sides. These, along with “beacon towers” and “lookout platforms,” twist and turn along the ridges, resembling a stretch of the “Badaling Great Wall.” Even more unique is a large karst cave halfway up the mountain, spanning about a kilometer in length. Inside, stalagmites, stalactites, and stone pillars take on various shapes, alongside stone flowers, stone chrysanthemums, and stone pearls — all delicate and translucent, displaying the exquisite beauty characteristic of southern landscapes.