Chahan River Scenic Area

Chahan River Scenic Area

Chahan River Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Chahan River. A national forest park located in Bao’ku Township, Datong County, 50 kilometers from downtown Xining. Lush forests here cloak peculiar peaks and streams. The rhododendrons blooming in June add a touch of charm to the landscape. In winter, icefalls echo with uniquely shaped stone forests, creating a breathtaking sight. The Chahan River Scenic Area not only boasts picturesque scenery but also hosts a rich diversity of flora and fauna as well as wild mountain delicacies. Plant species include juniper, birch, rhododendron, and spirea, both evergreen and deciduous. Animals such as blue sheep, Tibetan snowcocks, snow partridges, and common kestrels can be found, while wild edibles like caterpillar fungus, berries, strawberries, wild cherries, mushrooms, and fiddlehead ferns abound. Datong boasts a long history, splendid natural scenery, is the birthplace of the painted pottery basin with dancing patterns, an ecological homeland, and a fertile ground for the “Hua’er” folk songs. It lies along the southern route of the ancient Silk Road.

Chahan River, which means “White River” in Mongolian, is situated in the Bao’ku Forest Area on the southern ridge of the Dabanshan Mountain in the northwest of Datong County. Covering a total area of 3,114 hectares with a forest coverage rate of 58%, it ranges in elevation from 2,868 to 4,235 meters. The terrain is higher in the south and lower in the north, forming a narrow valley landscape. It is 82 kilometers from Xining, the provincial capital, and 45 kilometers from Datong County.

Chahan River National Forest Park is located in the northwest of Datong County, within the Bao’ku Gorge Scenic Area at the southern foot of the Dabanshan Mountain. With a cool and moist climate, the average summer temperature is around 12°C, making it an ideal summer retreat and a perfect place to reconnect with nature. The park is named after the river.

Qinghai’s natural water conservation forest—the Chahan River in the central part of Datong’s Bao’ku Gorge—is a land of golden radiance and captivating beauty. It is a natural forest park that combines jagged peaks, stone forests, caves, pine waves, sea of clouds, fountains, and torrents, along with a vibrant array of rare flowers, plants, birds, and animals.

This naturally exquisite, uniquely charming, and infinitely delightful virgin land has, over the past half-century, amazed and inspired many insightful individuals from both China and abroad. It has been described as a marvel of natural scenery and a pearl at the source of rivers. Its majestic, rugged, vast, and profound essence can only be felt, not fully expressed in words. Entering the Bao’ku Gorge via the Heiquan Reservoir and arriving at the entrance of Chahan River Forest Park, visitors are greeted by a sudden expanse of flat, expansive land covered in lush green grass. Clusters of trees provide ample shade, and crystal-clear springs flow year-round. To the north stands the Lotus Mountain, which seems to rise abruptly from the earth, resembling a screen, shaped like a lotus, and colored like jade. The newly built archway-style mountain gate is grand and imposing. The bright red characters on the gate’s horizontal plaque—“Chahan River Forest Park”—are strikingly eye-catching.

The rugged stone forest of Lotus Mountain divides the undulating mountain ranges of the Chahan River area into eastern and western branches. The eastern branch features high mountains and lush grasslands, forming a natural premium pasture. The western branch has rapid-flowing rivers, with steep cliffs and overlapping valleys on both sides, where verdant pines and cypresses block out the sky. Those who venture into the winding paths must ride horses for over 20 li, crossing 38 streams, before reaching the Tuzhanshan Palm—a vast, flat area of about a thousand acres with abundant water and grass, featuring one large and two smaller hills. Standing atop it, one truly feels as if “on the summit, all other peaks seem small,” with views encompassing landscapes of Datong, Menyuan, and Qilian counties. “Climbing the palm at sunrise, one sees many clouds behind; a single palm holds up the sky, revealing three counties without obstruction.” These poetic lines vividly depict the scene here.

Chahan River attracts visitors not only with its picturesque scenery but also with its diverse wildlife and precious medicinal herbs. Species such as snow cocks, rock partridges, Tibetan snowcocks, and pheasants abound. There are numerous types of animals including red deer, roe deer, brown bears, foxes, blue sheep, stone martens, jackals, wolves, badgers, and musk deer. Medicinal plants such as codonopsis, astragalus, ephedra, wild onion, notopterygium, euphorbia, snow lotus, gentiana, and rhubarb are widespread throughout the area. Chahan River is not only an ideal destination for tourists seeking natural beauty but also a sacred site for experts and scholars conducting research and expeditions. The ancient sights of “Dragon Cave Viewing Clouds” and “Forest Sea Emitting Mist,” together with the construction of Qinghai Province’s largest modern water conservancy project—the Heiquan Reservoir—create a uniquely appealing contrast.

Chahan River National Forest Park is located in the northwest of Datong County, within the Bao’ku Gorge Scenic Area at the southern foot of the Dabanshan Mountain. With a cool and moist climate, the average summer temperature is around 12°C, making it an ideal summer retreat and a perfect place to reconnect with nature. Although named after the river, the park’s beauty is not limited to it. The interaction between the mountains and the river creates uniquely stunning natural landscapes. The area preserves vast primeval forests with lush trees, and its “Four Wonders”—peculiar peaks, waterfalls, rhododendrons, and junipers—are particularly famous.

Scenic Area Name: Chahan River Scenic Area, Datong National Forest Park

Scenic Area Address: 81 km along Ningzhang Highway, Sitang Village, Bao’ku Township, Datong County

Phone: 0971-2846000

Scenic Area Level: National AAA-level

Ticket Price: 20 RMB per person for Chahan River Scenic Area

Opening Hours: 7:00–18:30 from June to September

Parking Information: 20,000 square meters, Sitang Village, Bao’ku Township, Datong County

Seasonal Features: Rhododendron blooms and waterfalls in summer, maple leaves in autumn, snowscapes in winter

Service Tips: From June to September, temperatures in Chahan River generally range between 10–20°C.

Regular Tourist Activities: Rhododendron Festival in mid-June; 2. Hiking treks of 12–14 km within Chahan River

Self-driving Guide: Chahan River is about a one-hour drive from downtown Xining, located along National Highway 227 (82 km mark on Ningzhang Highway)

Tourist Bus Routes: 1. Xining – Niuchang (Sitang); 2. Datong – Niuchang (Sitang)