Qili Gorge Scenic Area

　　The Qili Gorge Scenic Area, situated within the territory of Gucheng Township and Mengzi Township in Wangcang County, lies on the southern slopes of the Micang Mountains at the northern foot of the mountain range that marks China’s north-south climate divide. It is located in the northern part of Wangcang County’s Gucheng Township, 64 kilometers from the county seat. To the east is the Guangwu Mountain Scenic Area in Nanjiang County, to the west it neighbors the Cangwang Gorge Geological and Ecological Scenic Area, and to the north it connects with the Liping National Forest Park in Shaanxi Province. The Qili Gorge Tourist Area consists of three major scenic zones: Gucheng Mountain, Qili Gorge, and Bailong Palace.

　　 The Gucheng Mountain Scenic Zone is primarily mountain-based, complemented by forest landscapes, wildlife, and underground attractions. The ever-changing clouds and mist create a breathtaking, colorful scene in all seasons. Formed by 250 million years of marine geological sedimentation, Gucheng Mountain is honored as the “World’s No. 1 Drum.” The mountain is shaped like a drum with cliffs towering 150–200 meters high on all sides. Its summit is broad and gently sloped, spanning about 20,000–30,000 square meters, with the two peaks — East and West Gucheng Mountain — being nearly a kilometer apart. Major attractions include “Sea of Clouds and Sky Drum,” the “Cliff Castle” of Dahongyan, the “Natural Aeolian Garden” on Zhongshan Bao, the “Flower Path to Seclusion” in Taba River, and the “Underground River Labyrinth” of Dahongyan. The Gucheng Mountain Scenic Zone not only boasts enchanting scenery and unique geology, but also has a rich cultural heritage. It is a sacred site for Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, dotted with historical sites and steeped in deep cultural history.

　　 The Qili Gorge Scenic Zone is located in the central part of the scenic area, covering an area of 29 square kilometers. It features a 3-kilometer-long canyon that is 12–15 meters wide. The scenery is dominated by water views, where the canyon, forests, and flowing waters blend seamlessly, creating a uniquely charming, elegant, serene, and mysterious ambiance. Key attractions include the Couple Trees (also known as “A Different World”), Duan Gong Pool Waterfall, Jade Maiden Spring, Ten Thousand Volume Book, Red Leaf Beach, Dreamy Curtain, Peach Blossom Shop, and Heroes’ Slope.

　　 The Bailong Palace Scenic Zone features emerald-green, crystal-clear river water and towering, sword-like or screen-like mountains. Attractions here include Bailong Palace, Heilong Pool, and the ruins of Iron Buddha Temple. The main cave of Bailong Palace has been explored to a length of 220 meters, with widths generally between 20–30 meters and heights of 10–20 meters, covering a total area of 8,300 square meters. It consists of six grand halls in the front area: “Grand Curtain White Folds,” “Ganoderma Cave Mansion,” “Jade Pillar Grand Hall,” “Flower Glass Pagoda Grove,” and “Mysterious Depths of the Dragon Palace.” The scale is magnificent and the sights are concentrated. The calcified landscapes are wildly diverse, a rarity among caves in northern Sichuan.

　　 The protected area primarily focuses on conserving the forest ecosystem at the intersection of subtropical and temperate zones. It is home to 2,597 species of vascular plants from 949 genera and 195 families, including four national first-class protected plants: Cathaya argyrophylla, Pseudotaxus chienii, Ginkgo biloba, and Kingdonia uniflora. There are also 468 species of vertebrates from 332 genera, 147 families, and 34 orders, five of which are national first-class protected animals: takin, forest musk deer, leopard, clouded leopard, and golden eagle. The reserve is not only the origin center of the Fagus genus but also its modern distribution center, preserving over 7,000 hectares of primeval Fagus forest. There are about 10 Fagus species worldwide, seven in Asia, five in China, and four found in the Micang Mountain Nature Reserve: Fagus engleriana, Fagus longipetiolata, Fagus lucida, and Fagus hayatae.

　　Tourist routes within the scenic area:

　　 Scenic Area Entrance – Xiaolong Pool – Duan Gong Pool Waterfall – Qili Gorge – West Gucheng Mountain – Primeval Forest – Waterfall Cave Wonder – Right Qili Gorge – Gucheng Town.

　　Source: Guangyuan News Network