Tianchi Forest Park

　　Tianchi Forest Park attracts visitors with its unique landscape and exotic culture of the Catholic church. On January 7, 2008, the State Forestry Administration approved the establishment of Tianchi Mountain National Forest Park. Covering an area of 808.9 hectares, the park comprises five scenic areas: “Tianchi Scenic Area, Immortal’s Cave Scenic Area, Old Land Scenic Area, Taojiagou Scenic Area, and Changshi Scenic Area.” These five areas contain a total of 49 attractions. The park stretches long from north to south but is narrow from east to west, with peaks of various sizes rising in picturesque disorder. There are towering cliffs, hundred-meter-high rock faces, leaning pines, bizarre rocks, and undulating mountains that stretch for miles. The continuous emerald peaks are splendid beyond words, the vast sea of forests cannot obscure the grandeur of the high mountains, and the lush grass does not hide the serene beauty of the crystal-clear waters. Mist swirls unpredictably among them, winds whisper gently, and each peak surpasses the other in beauty — the view is truly magnificent. Here, the terrain varies between gentle, steep, thrilling, and sprawling, presenting a myriad of scenes that spark boundless imagination.

　　The park boasts abundant forest landscape resources and diverse vegetation types, with well-arranged scenic zones that embody beauty, grandeur, serenity, and wonder. It is an ideal destination for summer retreats, sightseeing, adventure, nature exploration, leisure, recuperation, and scientific research. It is also a rare scenic area in the Three Gorges Reservoir region featuring canyon landscapes, primarily showcasing natural forest scenery.

　　The area is home to numerous rare flowers and ancient trees, with a rich diversity of flora and fauna. There are over 260 species of trees and shrubs across 71 families, as well as more than 70 animal species. It is one of the best-preserved primeval forests in eastern Sichuan. Towering green trees and ancient woods layer upon layer, blocking out the sun and creating an atmosphere of antiquity, primitiveness, and deep seclusion. Known as a “natural plant gene bank,” the park also hosts the Southern Yew Tree (a first-class nationally protected plant), a relic of the Quaternary glacial period and a globally rare and endangered species. Its distribution covers over 7,000 acres.

　　The caves in the park each have their own distinctive features, forming mysterious and fascinating karst landscapes. There is the captivating Xiaoyao Cave and the endlessly intriguing Shuanglong Cave (with the Water Dragon Cave on the left and the Dry Dragon Cave on the right). Inside the caves, stalactites, stalagmites, stone flowers, stone curtains, and stone pillars display unique shapes and breathtaking beauty. Feng Fuxuan, a late Qing Dynasty scholar, praised Tianchi Mountain in his poem “Night Revelry at Tianchi”: “Tianchi soars a hundred feet high, with clouds and mist lingering all day long. Plum blossoms greet spring early, tea flowers bloom deep in the misty clouds. Pavilions hang atop the treetops, windows frame thousands of bright peaks. Staying overnight in the southern village, I burn incense by an ancient jade zither.”

　　The park also contains a Catholic church built in 1886 (the 16th year of the Guangxu reign in the Qing Dynasty) by a French priest (now well preserved). It was once one of the largest Catholic seminaries in Sichuan, equipped with recreational facilities such as a racetrack, football field, and tennis court. It trained a large number of clergy who are now spread across countries like France, Singapore, and Malaysia. Surrounded by mountains and lush forests, the site offers stunning and enchanting scenery and was once a wildly popular tourist destination. Known as a natural oxygen bar, Tianchi Mountain allows visitors to escape the hustle and bustle of city life while enjoying the tranquil beauty of nature through adventure, leisure, and vacation experiences.