Meiyuan Valley

　　With its unique natural landscapes—clear streams, mirror-like waters, and crystal-clear depths—there is no mountain without charm and no water without beauty. It is a primitive, unspoiled, and harmoniously beautiful tourist destination. Entering Meiyuan Valley is like stepping into a vast forest oxygen bar. The fresh, oxygen-rich air and the serene atmosphere of ancient trees towering overhead make you feel as if you’ve entered a mythical world. To date, over 60 natural and cultural sites of high development value have been identified in the Meiyuan Valley Scenic Area. Major attractions include the “Five Lakes, Four Seas, Three Pools, and Four Waterfalls,” “Orioles Singing Among Willow Trees,” “Crescent Pool,” “Dragon Emerging from the Sea,” “Qingfeng Stockade,” “Swan Lake,” “Meiyuan Cluster of Lakes,” “Tang Dynasty Ancient Tombs,” “Begonia Valley,” “Begonia and Meiyuan Waterfalls,” as well as “Azure Dragon Pool” and “Rhinoceros Gazing at the Moon,” among other natural and cultural sights. The area enjoys a mild climate and abundant rainfall, with thousands of peaks covered in lush greenery and bizarrely shaped rocks, making it one of the most typical examples of pristine subtropical landscapes in western China. Here, “mountains and waters of Kang County, an ecological homeland,” are fully on display. The banks of Meiyuan Valley are covered with dense forests and are home to over 100 species of unique economic tree species, 38 nationally and provincially protected rare tree species, 96 types of fungi, and 567 varieties of medicinal herbs. There are also more than 40 species of nationally protected rare birds, animals, and aquatic life. It serves as an “ideal habitat” for precious protected animals such as golden snub-nosed monkeys, golden cats, tufted deer, Lady Amherst’s pheasants, Reeves’s pheasants, giant salamanders, and otters. Statistics show that the forest coverage rate reaches as high as 95%, with well-preserved vegetation and abundant forest specialty resources. There are over 300 types of marketable agricultural and specialty products, making it a famous “shopping paradise for green mountain and wild foods” in western China.

　　Source: Kang County Tourism Website