Jiubayuan Gorge

　　Jiubayuan Gorge is located about 45 kilometers from Qingtian County and is a typical water-eroded canyon. It has a “V” shape, with the scenic area stretching 8 kilometers in length and covering a total area of approximately 5.3 square kilometers. The gorge is most famous for its rocks, caves, pools, waterfalls, and cliffs.

　　The scenic area contains over a hundred natural pools, among which there are three that are more than 4–5 meters deep and over 2,000 square meters in size, as well as countless others that are 1–3 meters deep and cover more than 30 square meters. These are known as “natural swimming pools” and “natural riverbeds.”

　　The surrounding areas of the pools feature oddly shaped rocks, such as Crocodile Rock, Stone Bench, and Stone House. Among the most unique sights are the “Wind-moving Rock,” Tianmen Gorge, and the natural riverbed.

　　The Wind-moving Rock is located at the highest point of the mountain. It is about 2 meters high, oval-shaped, and weighs around 5 tons. People can shake it with their hands, but it will never fall.

　　Tianmen Gorge is about 7 meters high and 50 centimeters wide. Visitors enter along a stone path, and after a turn where it narrows to about 30 centimeters, they reach a natural cave that can accommodate more than ten people. Above the cave, there is a formation of three rocks known as the “Three Pillars Standing.”

　　The natural riverbed is located at the very bottom of Jiubayuan Gorge, stretching approximately 10,000 meters in length with an average width of about 70 meters. The water flows from west to east. The riverbed consists of two natural rock walls that are smooth, slightly concave in the middle, with the upper and lower walls differing in height by about 1.5 meters.

　　The upper rock wall covers an area of about 1,000 square meters, is slightly concave in the middle, and holds some accumulated water, with the deepest part being about 0.5 meters—like a natural plate. Water flows down the rock wall, resembling a natural slide. The rock wall is about 1.5 meters high, 1 meter wide, and has a slope of about 45 degrees, and is very smooth. The lower rock wall covers an area of about 2,000 square meters, is also slightly concave in the middle, with the deepest part about 1 meter and some accumulated water in the center. The stream water in the gorge is crystal clear, meeting the national Class I drinking water standard.

　　The scenic area is surrounded by steep cliffs and boasts beautiful scenery. The forest coverage rate exceeds 95%, with vegetation mainly consisting of subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests, mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests, and bamboo groves. There are many wildflowers and grasses on the mountains, and the lower reaches of the river are scattered with colorful stones in red, yellow, blue, white, and other hues, appearing to float and shimmer with radiant colors. The scenery varies beautifully in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

　　

　　Address: Zhangcunyuan, Zhangbu Port, Zhixi Tributary, Qingtian County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province

　　Type: Gorge, Geological Landform, Mountain, Pond