Zhuoni Dayugou

　　The Dayugou Forest Ecotourism Area is situated in Dayugou, Muer Township, Zhuoni County, Gansu Province, 30 kilometers from the county seat, with a total area of 105,214.6 hectares. The area boasts crisscrossing springs that converge into the perennially abundant Dayu River. The river winds gracefully, its waters clear, sweet, and refreshing, stretching 81 kilometers in length. Along its course, one can often spot fish swimming near the surface and musk deer sipping water—a truly delightful and naturally formed scene. The main peak of the Die Mountains within the Dayugou scenic area, Zhaiyikaga, stands at an elevation of 4,920 meters. The valley entrance is at 2,500 meters above sea level, creating a relative height difference of 2,400 meters. The area features significant vertical biodiversity: above the snow line of the Die Mountains lies bare rock, followed by alpine meadows, primeval forests, low mountain grasslands, shrubs, and crops. Dayugou has nine tributary valleys, namely Sangbu Valley, Ajiao Small Valley, Ajiao Large Valley, Yamao Valley, Zhayata Valley, Bash Valley, and Niezuo Valley, among others. These are distributed to the southeast of Dayugou, resembling a giant fan accidentally dropped from the heavens, its surface painted in rich hues depicting countless extraordinary mountains and waters. The Dayugou Forest Ecotourism Area not only offers a rich array of captivating landscapes but also serves as a pristine biological garden abundant in diverse resources. Key tree species include 100-plus varieties of drought-resistant coniferous trees such as fir, spruce, and pine, belonging to 19 families, 31 genera, and 100-plus species, along with 140-plus types of medicinal plants and over 20 species of nationally protected animals (Class II and III). There are also more than 10 types of fungi such as morel and black fungus, with various mountain delicacies and wild fruits scattered abundantly across the landscape.

　　Verdant mountains glisten with dew, and flowing waters compose melodies. The azure waves of the Tao River and the lush, dense forest belts envelop Zhuoni, nestling it within a breathtaking natural paradise. It is for this reason that Zhuoni enjoys widespread fame, and the scenery of Dayugou presents its magnificent and enchanting allure. The Dayugou Forest Ecotourism Area is located in Dayugou, Muer Township, 30-plus kilometers from Zhuoni County seat, covering a total area of 105,214.6 hectares. The area features crisscrossing streams that form the perennially abundant Dayu River. The river meanders gracefully, spanning 81 kilometers, where one can often see fish swimming near the surface, musk deer sipping water, and flocks of birds soaring through the air. The Yunjiang Gorge is the first scenic spot within the Dayugou Forest Ecotourism Area. Its cliffs rise steeply on both sides, with the Dayu River winding through the gorge, twisting and turning amid murmuring waters. Towering pines and cypresses within the gorge provide a canopy of shade, while the area outside is filled with lush greenery and crisscrossing fields, making the gorge resemble a miniature version of the Wu Gorge on the Yangtze River—mysterious and marvelous. Qibuyuan naturally forms three terraces, upon which the ancient Qibu Temple is situated. With a history of over 800 years, the temple has undergone several renovations since reopening in 1980 and now has taken initial shape, becoming an otherworldly sanctuary deep in the mountains. Dayugou’s Qibulinka lies at the heart of the integrated scenery of Qibu Temple, Qibu Yuan, Qibu Gorge, and Qibu Lin, presenting a natural-cultural landscape that blends Tibetan heritage with aristocratic garden aesthetics. The Qibulinka Resort is located on Qibu Yuan, featuring uniquely styled tile-roofed houses, quaint wooden cabins, and tents rich in ethnic characteristics, providing elegant accommodation and recreational facilities for visitors. With the development of tourism, the resort sees a continuous stream of visitors. Based on its mountainous terrain and hydrological systems, the entire Dayugou region is divided into five major sections, from west to east: the Qibu Valley, Bashi Li Valley, Nigani Ma Valley, Ajiao Small Valley, and Sangbu Valley, encompassing over 200 major attractions. The beauty of Dayugou lies in its majestic mountains, peculiar rocks, beautiful waters, and lush forests. Among them, the most spectacular and grand three-dimensional landscape is formed by the towering peaks led by the Die Mountains—an exquisite combination of peaks from around the world, a convergence of natural charm, and a gathering of unique shapes. Overlooking these layered mountains, their bodies tilt from east to west and rise progressively from north to south, forming a staircase-like pattern. Following the stream upstream, the gentlest fifth terrace consists of rounded, low hills cradling broad alluvial meadows, arranged along both sides of the main valley. The fourth terrace sees gradually rising mountains, with peaks standing opposite each other, sometimes closing in, sometimes parting. Nestled at the foot of the Die Mountain range, these intricately arranged layers of verdant ridges create undulating green waves. The Danxia landform along the canyon edges, with its red cliffs, gray limestone, and bare rocky outcrops, comes alive under sunlight and rosy clouds. The exposed white rocks of the Die Mountain range, sheer cliffs thousands of feet high, perennial glaciers, and swirling mists stretch for hundreds of miles, creating an overwhelmingly majestic sight.

　　The Dayugou Forest Ecotourism Area is located in Dayugou, Mulin Town, over 30 kilometers from Zhuoni County seat, covering a total area of 105,214.6 hectares. The area features crisscrossing streams that converge into the perennially abundant Dayu River. The river winds gracefully for 81 kilometers, with its valley often showcasing fish swimming near the surface, musk deer sipping water, and birds flying through the air.

　　Yunjiang Gorge is the first attraction in the Dayugou Forest Ecotourism Area. Its cliffs rise steeply on both sides, and the Dayu River flows through the gorge, twisting and turning amid murmuring waters. Towering pines and cypresses within the gorge provide a canopy of shade, while the area outside is filled with lush greenery and crisscrossing fields, making the gorge resemble a miniature version of the Wu Gorge on the Yangtze River—mysterious and marvelous.

　　Qibu Yuan naturally forms three terraces, upon which the ancient Qibu Temple is situated. With a history of over 800 years, the temple has undergone several renovations since reopening in 1980 and now has taken initial shape, becoming an otherworldly sanctuary deep in the mountains.

　　Dayugou’s Qibulinka lies at the heart of the integrated scenery of Qibu Temple, Qibu Yuan, Qibu Gorge, and Qibu Lin, presenting a natural-cultural landscape that blends Tibetan heritage with aristocratic garden aesthetics.

　　The Qibulinka Resort is located on Qibu Yuan, featuring uniquely styled tile-roofed houses, quaint wooden cabins, and tents rich in ethnic characteristics, providing elegant accommodation and recreational facilities for visitors. With the development of tourism, the resort sees a continuous stream of visitors.

　　Based on its mountainous terrain and hydrological systems, the entire Dayugou region is divided into five major sections, from west to east: the Qibu Valley, Bashi Li Valley, Nigani Ma Valley, Ajiao Small Valley, and Sangbu Valley, encompassing over 200 major attractions.

　　The beauty of Dayugou lies in its majestic mountains, peculiar rocks, beautiful waters, and lush forests.

　　Majestic Mountains & Peculiar Rocks: The most imposing and magnificent three-dimensional landscape in Dayugou is the range of towering peaks led by the Die Mountains—an exquisite combination of peaks from around the world, a convergence of natural charm, and a gathering of unique shapes. Overlooking these layered mountains, their bodies tilt from east to west and rise progressively from north to south, forming a staircase-like pattern. Following the stream upstream, the gentlest fifth terrace consists of rounded, low hills cradling broad alluvial meadows, arranged along both sides of the main valley. The fourth terrace sees gradually rising mountains, with peaks standing opposite each other, sometimes closing in, sometimes parting. Nestled at the foot of the Die Mountain range, these intricately arranged layers of verdant ridges create undulating green waves. The Danxia landform along the canyon edges, with its red cliffs, gray limestone, and bare rocky outcrops, comes alive under sunlight and rosy clouds. The exposed white rocks of the Die Mountain range, sheer cliffs thousands of feet high, perennial glaciers, and swirling mists stretch for hundreds of miles, creating an overwhelmingly majestic sight.

　　Majestic Mountains & Peculiar Rocks

　　Dayugou is dotted with towering peaks and rugged rocks. Hundreds of exposed stone peaks stand atop the layered mountains. From a bird’s-eye view along the Die Mountain range, these peculiar formations resemble fishing boats sailing the seas, with countless vessels racing across the waves. Their strange shapes also resemble frozen frames from a wildlife documentary. As you step into Dayugou, the sight of these peaks greets you. Suddenly, a stone screen blocks your path; after squeezing through a narrow gap between peaks, the landscape shifts dramatically. Looking up, hanging rocks and sheer cliffs loom like towers, pillars, swords, and halberds, piercing the sky. Natural rock sculptures of the Buddha, beauties, generals, poets, farmers, shepherds, and various animals are strikingly lifelike. Even more fascinating is how these masterpieces change perspective with the viewer’s angle, creating an illusion of floating in a misty realm. The Triangle Stone and Sister Peaks are not only iconic formations in the valley but also serve as Dayugou’s unique symbols. They appear as a massive rock, as if carved from stone, with sharp-edged triangular peaks standing proudly. Standing beneath the Triangle Stone, surrounded by lush pines and babbling springs, one dares to look up at the rock formation, which seems to soar or take flight—resembling a rooster crowing at dawn, hence also called “Rooster Announcing Dawn.” When you walk around the rock and look back, it transforms into a pair of “Sister Peaks,” nestled among green mountains and clear waters, their peaks adorned with pines and vibrant stone colors, evoking awe at nature’s mysteries. Heading upstream against the water from “Triangle Stone,” you’ll encounter massive rocks blocking the path, like a grand monument standing between heaven and earth—hence named “Monument.” This area also features a “One Man Can Hold the Pass” narrow gorge and a three-tiered waterfall, where waters crash down, splashing like flying flowers and jade, thundering with a soul-stirring roar. They act as guideposts, hinting that most of the valley’s peculiar peaks share such magical transformations.

　　At the confluence of the middle Bashi Li Valley and Ajiao Large Valley, two giant ape-shaped cliffs face each other, their mouths nearly touching—called “Kissing Stone Apes.”

　　In the middle Bashi Canyon, a thousand-foot-tall Giant Buddha gazes down from the cliffside, with eighteen arhats standing solemnly in attendance, their carvings strikingly lifelike and majestic. The Five-Finger Peak in Anzi Canyon seems to pierce the sky, while Lotus Peak blooms fiercely. Countless uniquely shaped stone peaks, cliffs, stone forests, and stone stalagmites stand in dense succession, exuding boundless charm. There’s the “Flying Rock” with a precariously hanging stone overhead; the “Cowherd and Weaver Girl Peaks,” gazing at each other across a distance with endless longing; the “Taibai Peak,” holding an exam scroll and looking down upon the world; and the “Three Buddha Peaks,” standing high above, immersed in Buddhist studies and saving all beings. The area also features legendary peaks such as the “Gesar Head,” “Gesar’s Horse Hoof,” and “Goddess Tara’s Milk Bucket.” Additionally, there are three sacred peaks worshipped by local ancestors, known as the “Gold,” “Silver,” and “White Conch (or White Spiral)” peaks. Countless other formations vividly resemble “Peacock Displaying Its Feathers,” “Three Bears Howling at the Sky,” “Dragons Peeking Out,” “Lion Descending the Mountain,” “Elephant Trunk Sucking Water,” “Turtle Climbing the Mountain,” “Parrot Playing with a Monkey,” and “Rooster Announcing Dawn.”

　　Apart from a few bonsai-like pines and cypresses clinging to cliff crevices, few plants survive on the peaks themselves. However, the surrounding mountain bases are lush and densely forested. After rain, when the clouds drift, the peaks seem to move amid the shifting mist, appearing and disappearing. The distribution and abundance of Dayugou’s peculiar peaks and rocks are rare in the world.

　　Beautiful Waters & Lush Forests: One of the “Eight Scenic Spots of Ancient Taozhou,” “Die Mountain’s Horizontal Snow,” not only forms a stunning highlight of Dayugou but also supplies it with abundant surface water resources. Countless fissure springs, geysers, intermittent springs, and hot springs abound at the foot of the Die Mountains, emerging from cliffs, canyons, and more, taking on various forms—some forming gentle streams, serene and elegant; others bursting through cliffs and canyons, rushing with splashing droplets. These converge into over a dozen small streams within the embrace of the Die Mountains, flowing through Anzi Valley, Polun Valley, Nima Valley, Niga Valley, Bashi Li Valley, Ajiao Valley, Qibu Valley, and Sangbu Valley, eventually joining at the entrance of Qibulinka to form the Dayu River. The total catchment area spans over 780 square kilometers, contributing an average annual runoff of 385 million cubic meters to the Dayu River. The Dayu River remains crystal-clear year-round, never becoming turbid.

　　The waters of Dayugou are clear. No matter how deep, one can see the bottom. Yet they teem with diverse and abundant fish species, including the nationally protected Chinese giant salamander, the precious Tao River stone flower fish, grass carp, as well as loach, dogfish, freshwater shrimp, and forest frogs, all thriving and multiplying. The clarity of Dayugou’s waters remains unaffected even during heavy rain—thanks to the layered filtration by primeval forests, moss, shrubs, and meadows, shielding them from mud and silt.

　　The waters of Dayugou are wondrous. Here, the higher the mountain, the longer the water flows. Countless waterfalls cascade down cliffs at around 4,000 meters, some forming eight or nine-tiered falls, others draping like bead curtains, some dripping through rocks to form peculiar echo caves and underground rivers, and others slicing through valleys like swords. Each of these countless water features is unique, shifting in charm with every step. In winter, the water rarely freezes, yet the river surface below Qibu Temple becomes ice-bound, with a 30-kilometer stretch of solid ice covering the river like a pristine white ribbon. Even more miraculous is the phenomenon locals call “Rhino Carrying Ice” around the lunar New Year: at midnight, the thick ice suddenly bursts with a deafening crack, sending massive ice chunks flying onto both banks—a force that leaves people in awe. Locals believe this is the work of a divine rhinoceros sent by the Tao River deity, who dives into the riverbed at the confluence of the Tao and Dayu Rivers, uses its sharp horn to break the ice, and carries the chunks away to clear the channel. This grand feat is accomplished in mere minutes, which is why villagers hold the “Rhino Carrying Ice” legend in devout reverence.

　　The beauty of Dayugou’s waters lies in their fantastical forms and endless charm. Traveling upstream along the Dayu River, the convergence of springs from countless valleys creates a surging, ceaseless flow. After branching, the waters grow shallower upstream, gradually transforming into over ten winding, rugged streams. These streams flow over layered rocks, across sandy beaches, and through meadows—deep areas reveal their green hues, while shallow ones showcase their clarity. The nine-tiered waterfall at Bagang, the Sky-Soaring Waterfall and Red Cliff Silver Pour of Ajiao Small Valley, the Eighteen River Crossings, the Long Gorge Waterfall of Middle Bashi Valley, the Echo Cave of Anzi Valley, the Danxia Splash Beads of Ajiao Grand Canyon, and the Shimen Waterfall are just a few of the countless magical sights, composing timeless masterpieces. Their captivating charm fully showcases the enchanting spirit of Dayugou’s waters.

　　Dayugou earned the title of “National Forest Park” due to its abundant forest resources. Located in the heart of the Tao River Forest Region, apart from bare rock above 3,600 meters, the layered mountains, rounded peaks, and even crevices in cliffs are covered by vast, dense woodlands. Aside from some selectively logged mid-aged and young forests in edge zones, the deeper areas remain untouched primeval forests, unvisited by humans for centuries.

　　The forests of Dayugou are so vast they blot out the sky. When spring breezes blow, they resemble surging green waves, rolling with the sound of rustling foliage; in summer, they shimmer with competing greens, surrounded by blooming mountain flowers and singing birds; after autumn rains, as mist fades, a newly woven brocade emerges—dark green pines, emerald cypresses, golden birches, orange poplars, and fiery oaks—painting the landscape in brilliant colors. In winter, the scene transforms again, with snow adorning the forests in sanctified beauty. Ice formations in the pure larch forests are crystal-clear; tall spruces, firs, and cypresses wear white capes over their green coats, resembling soldiers guarding the northern frontier against wind and snow. With societal development, Dayugou’s forests became valuable for production, attracting exploitation and once suffering severe deforestation. Fortunately, in recent years, national natural forest conservation efforts have preserved this area as a scientific research site, data repository, and scenic tourist destination.

　　Dayugou is like a learned scholar of five millennia, possessing a profound and boundless mind, with knowledge spanning countless disciplines. It holds rich material for research in geology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, politics, military science, economics, ethnicity, religion, music, dance, fine arts, sports, archaeology, and more. There are geological strata for mineral studies, outcrops of gold, silver, copper, iron, zinc, lead, coal, and cement deposits formed from various sedimentary, intrusive, and volcanic rocks; live fossil specimens of temperate, warm, and cold-zone trees and plants for botanical and zoological research; endangered rare birds and beasts; traces of the ancient Di-Qiang peoples; and cultural deposits such as the rise and fall of Tibetan Buddhism, ancient Di-Qiang myths, folk songs, and moving narrative poems. Dayugou stands out not only for its majestic mountains, peculiar rocks, beautiful waters, and lush forests, but also for its unique cultural landscapes that rival famous sites worldwide. In 2002, it was listed among the first batch of National AA-level tourist attractions; in 2003, it became a National Forest Park and one of Gannan Prefecture’s Top Ten Scenic Spots; in 2007, it applied for National AAAA-level status. “Jiuzhaigou in the South, Dayugou in the North” and “Colorful Gannan Shambhala, Multihued Zhuoni Dayugou” are its iconic brands.