Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon

　　   Located in Huguan County, Changzhi City, the park features Wuzhi Gorge, Longquan Gorge, Wangmang Gorge, and Zituan Mountain as its main attractions, connecting scenic spots such as Zhenze Palace, Zituan Cave, Jiulong Cave, Nüyao Cave, Yungai Temple, Chongyun Temple, Wanfo Temple, the perilous “Cat Path,” and the wonder of the “Sky Bridge.” It covers an area of 5,848 hectares.

　　   Wuzhi Peak is the entrance to Wuzhi Gorge. Its shape resembles five outstretched fingers, hence the name. Wuzhi Peak combines grandeur, wonder, danger, serenity, and beauty. An ancient description goes: “Five towering cliffs spread like five fingers, standing tall and untouched by dust; suddenly surging waves flood the clear spring water—could it be that clouds and rain are returning?”

　　   The mountain shapes in Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon are uniquely diverse. Two peculiarly shaped mountains are called Paper (or Finger) Mountains by locals. The one farther back looks like a thin sheet of paper, while the front one resembles a finger, hence both are dubbed Paper (or Finger) Mountains.

　　   The water in Heilong Pool in Wuzhi Gorge is crystal clear and flows year-round. Visitors can go boating or enjoy rafting. Beside the ancient plank roads carved into steep cliffs, there is a stone bridge called Immortal Bridge, which once played a significant role in facilitating economic and cultural exchanges between Shanxi and Henan. Built in the Ming Dynasty, the Immortal Bridge is fifty meters long and twenty-five meters high, with a sturdy and simple yet refined structure. Not far from the Immortal Bridge lies another solid bridge. Crossing this bridge and the connected cave leads into Longquan Gorge. Longquan Gorge has an ancient pass leading from Henan into Shanxi, known as Dahe Pass. Though damaged during the Cultural Revolution, the outlines of the characters “Dahe Pass” are still visible, along with traces of the ancient pass, bridge, and plank roads. Historical records suggest that Cao Cao chased his enemies through this pass into the Taihang Mountains and captured Huguan during the Three Kingdoms period.

　　   Yangchangban was also a perilous route historically connecting the Central Plains with Shangdang and Taihang. It earned its name from its narrow, winding paths resembling sheep intestines. At the mountaintop, Caogonglei is the remnant of the last fortress conquered by Cao Cao during his two campaigns into Shangdang.

　　   Exiting Longquan Gorge, the third canyon is Wangmang Gorge. Deep within Wangmang Gorge is a cave said to be where Liu Xiu hid while being pursued by Wang Mang. There are many legends about Wang Mang and Liu Xiu in Wangmang Gorge.

　　   Zituan Mountain not only produces high-quality Zituan ginseng, but its branches are also laden with various colorful fruits, adding new appeal to the tourism of Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon. The park also hosts over 300 rare plants, including woody flowers and medicinal herbs. Especially notable is the natural occurrence of the subtropical tree species, the Southern Yew, which adds to the mystique of the grand canyon.

　　   Changzhi City, Shanxi Province

　　   Reference ticket price: 30 RMB per person