Fangniuping in Yubei

　　According to ancient legend, a heavenly rhinoceros spirit descended to the mortal world without permission. The deity Erlang Shen, also known as Yang Jian, was ordered by the Jade Emperor to capture it. As he scanned the area, he noticed an aura of evil lingering around the Nantianmen area of the Huaying Mountain Range, and concluded that the rhinoceros spirit must be hiding there. So, he transformed into an elderly white-haired woman, stayed at a farmhouse near Nantianmen, and while helping tend cattle, searched for the spirit. Eventually, he discovered the rhinoceros spirit hiding in a cowshed cave. With the help of the farming couple, Erlang Shen successfully captured the highly skilled magical creature. In gratitude, Erlang Shen granted the farming family two wishes: first, to have a child of their own despite being childless, who would go on to have many descendants and live a prosperous and happy life; second, because the area lacked water, the rhinoceros spirit was to remain in the cowshed cave, spraying out fresh springs to nourish the local people. To show their thanks for the divine protection, the villagers pooled money to build the Rhinoceros Pavilion and Ox-Watching Pavilion here, and thus the place came to be known as Fangniuping (Ox Herding Flatland).

　　Fangniuping Sightseeing and Vacation Resort is located in Liyuan Village, Cizhu Town, covering an area of 40 acres. Visitors can witness the breathtaking sight of pear blossoms described as "whitening the whole world, dominating all floral beauty on earth." The resort sits at an elevation of 850 meters, adjacent to Nantianmen Forest Park. With well-preserved forest vegetation and a pleasant climate, the average annual temperature here is 5°C lower than that of downtown Chongqing, making it ideal for leisure and summer retreats. Over the past thirty years, Liyuan Village has developed a pear orchard base, primarily featuring varieties such as Yellow Pear, Longevity Pear, and Abundant Water Pear. It has also selected 11 extended varieties including Korean Fragrant Pear, Shinseiki, and Golden Pear. Relying on the vast pear orchard base at Fangniuping, Cizhu Town has been fully dedicated to creating a rural tourism destination where visitors can "admire pear blossoms in spring, escape the summer heat in summer, harvest pears in autumn, and enjoy snowscapes in winter."

　　Fangniuping Sightseeing and Vacation Resort is the core sightseeing area in the "One City, Three Zones, One Corridor" tourism plan of Cizhu Town, and a key rural tourism project for the town. First, the project area boasts excellent ecological vegetation. The ecological conditions here are pristine, with fresh air and 87.8% green coverage, including 68.4% forest coverage. Backed by the rich forest vegetation and high negative oxygen ion levels of Nantianmen Forest Park, the area is suitable for developing leisure, summer retreat, agricultural experience, and senior tourism markets. Second, the industrial foundation of the project area is mature. Currently, the area contains 14,159 acres of high-quality pear orchards and a 1,000-acre peach base, making it one of the largest off-season fruit production bases in Chongqing. Twelve enterprises, including Golden Manor and Hailin Vegetables, have been introduced, operating on a large scale and leasing over 3,000 acres of land. Third, the project area has a distinct geographical advantage. It has four major roads, including the Ring Mountain Road and Cifang Road, forming a large tourism loop and smaller scenic sightseeing loops, ensuring very convenient transportation. Lastly, the project area is rich in cultural content. Efforts have been made to explore "pear culture," "ox-plowing culture," and "mountain song culture," resulting in the development of agricultural specialty brands such as pear paste, pear paste liquor, pear-scented wine, and Cizhu free-range chicken. The area has also gradually improved landscape facilities such as mountain gates, new residential communities, sightseeing pavilions, photography platforms, and reception centers. It has successfully hosted three consecutive "Yubei · Fangniuping" Pear Blossom Festivals and Fruit Harvest Festivals, receiving 100,000 visitors annually, with an approximate annual growth rate of 20% in tourist numbers.

　　The First Fangniuping Pear Blossom Festival in Yubei was held from March 22 to March 30, 2010. Organized by the People's Government of Yubei District, and hosted by the Yubei District Agriculture Commission, Yubei District Tourism Bureau, and the People's Government of Cizhu Town, the festival revolved around the theme "Fangniuping in Yubei — A Drunken Journey through Pear Blossoms." A series of activities were held, including the grand performance "Fragrance of Pear Blossoms," the sightseeing tour "Colorful Pear Blossoms," the "Cizhu Cup" chess competition, the "Pear Garden 0" photography contest, the Fangniuping marathon, and tasting sessions of local rural cuisine. The organizing committee invited renowned singer Gao Linsheng, national first-class actor A Dai, and the Chongqing Armed Police Fire Troupe, among other professional groups, to deliver a spectacular audiovisual experience, filling the event with joy and laughter.

　　Since 2010, the Fangniuping Pear Blossom Festival has been held five times, along with multiple fruit harvest festivals.

　　Accommodation in the Surrounding Area

　　There are 38 farm stays within the scenic area, offering a total of 500 beds.

　　Travel Seasons. The scenery changes greatly throughout the year, with appealing sights in every season.