Dakou National Forest Park

　　Dakou National Forest Park is situated at the southern foot of the Dahong Mountain Scenic Area, 30 kilometers from Yinzhou in Zhongxiang City. Its boundaries extend: east to Duodao Stone, south to Yingzi Cave, west to Wulong Cave, and north to the hundred-zhang-deep ravine, covering a total area of 1,590 hectares with 380,000 cubic meters of standing timber and a forest coverage rate of 90.3%. The park encompasses the essence of natural landscapes, cultural sights, and celestial phenomena, integrating rare flora and fauna, caves, streams, waterfalls, and historical relics. With its unique scenery and convenient access, it serves as an ideal destination for sightseeing, leisure, and scientific research.

　　The park features rugged mountains, dense forests, serene ancient paths, springs that connect with heavenly streams, caves linked with waterfalls, and includes the breathtaking Yingzi Cave Waterfall, the majestic Liukoumen Waterfall, the mysterious and alluring Wulong Cave, the winding and tranquil Jiujitian Stream, and the Upper and Lower Tianchi Pools. There are also peaceful and elegant stands of nan bamboo forests, towering trees that cast deep shade, and the “one-line sky” of fir woods where, as the saying goes, “the sun and moon are not seen unless it is noon or midnight.” Enhanced by cultural sites such as Yuntai Temple, Chongmen Temple, Shuangquan Temple, and Bailu Temple, along with the embellishment of Taoist shrines like Xian’gong Palace, the park is cloaked in an even deeper veil of mystery. From myth and legend to religious culture, from Chu culture to science and art, its history spans over two thousand years, dating back to the Warring States period. Historically, this was a sacred site where Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism flourished and contended.

　　The park is primarily characterized by low mountain terrain, with an average elevation of 350 meters, and enjoys a subtropical humid climate, providing a natural haven for diverse flora and fauna. According to surveys, the park is home to over 430 plant species, including 12 rare and protected species such as metasequoia, ginkgo,

　　walnuts, eucommia, pteroceltis tatarinowii, and weeping oriental arborvitae. It also hosts more than 50 species of wild animals, among which eight are under national protection, including leopards, egrets, pangolins, jackals, otters, and white cranes. It is truly a captivating green treasure trove.

　　Thanks to the natural regulation provided by the forests and surrounding reservoirs, the park enjoys warm winters and cool summers with abundant rainfall, making it an excellent destination for vacationing and enjoying a “forest bath.”

　　Yuntai Temple

　　Yuntai Temple is a Taoist temple site situated on Liaojue Mountain, located 3.4 kilometers north of Wulongtai in the Dakou Timber Farm. It was first built during the Tang Dynasty, flourished in the Ming Dynasty, declined in the Qing Dynasty, and was destroyed in the early Republican period. Historical records and inscriptions indicate that Yuntai Temple was connected via sacred paths: 1.7 kilometers east to Shiquan Nunnery, 0.9 kilometers west to Bailu Temple, 1.6 kilometers south to Baiyang Temple, and 1.6 kilometers north to Mituo Temple. The temple once had eight palaces, 210 rooms, three layers of walls, nine temple gates, and over 150 stone tablets. Records document imperial recognition, visits by eminent monks, donations from gentry and commoners, and renovations across various dynasties. Today, the halls have been lost, ancient tablets lie fragmented, and only 51 stone tablets and two stone gates remain.

　　Liukoumen Waterfall

　　Liukoumen Waterfall is located 6.5 kilometers southeast of Wulongtai in the Dakou Timber Farm, at an elevation of 237 meters. Influenced by the mountainous terrain, the stream forms a cascading staircase of waterfalls. The waterfall consists of eight tiers, stretches 1 kilometer in length, has a width of 8–10 meters at the mouth, and features a maximum drop of 80 meters. Upstream, there is a 30–50 meter-wide flagstone creek, in which stands a prominent stone pillar known as the “Pillar in Midstream.”

　　The terrain around Liukoumen is precipitous, resembling a crouching tiger, while the winding waterfall coils like a jade dragon. Looking north to the Imperial Tomb, the view is vast and boundless with high clouds and low trees; gazing south to the plains, the landscape is expansive and open, with floating clouds, the scenery of the Chu region, the water towns of the Jianghan Plain, farmhouses, and fields presenting a picturesque panorama.

　　Wulong Cave / Nan Bamboo Forest

　　Wulong Cave is located to the north of Dakou National Forest Park and is said to be the dwelling place of the Wulong (Black Dragon). The cave entrance faces west, with clear spring water flowing out. The ceiling and walls feature limestone scale-like formations resembling blue skies and white clouds, and the cave’s interior is adorned with numerous uniquely shaped stalactites. The stone walls near the entrance bear four poetic inscriptions, one of which reads: “Turtle Mountain leans on Yuntai Temple; people speak of Wulong’s layered pools. How enviable to live nearby, free from dread of drought demons.”

　　Adjacent to Wulong Cave lies the Nan Bamboo Forest, covering an area of 387 mu. The tall and straight nan bamboos create an enchanting scene. A poem describes it: “Mountain after mountain of pines, grove upon grove of bamboo; boundless azure sky dotted with drifting clouds. Sitting, listening to cicadas and watching lovely birds, I am so enchanted I forget to drink.”

　　Address: Southern foothills of the Dahong Mountain Scenic Area, 30 kilometers from Yinzhou in Zhongxiang City

　　Phone: 0724-2333472