Liuzhou Longtan Park

　　    Longtan Park is situated in the southern part of Liuzhou city proper, only three kilometers from the city center, and covers a planned area of about 544 hectares. It is a large scenic area that integrates karst natural landscapes, the ethnic culture of China’s southern minority groups, and subtropical karst plant research, science education, and botanical scenery.

　　    The park features lush forests and is surrounded by mountains that form a natural barrier. Twenty-four peaks, including Crouching Tiger Mountain, Beauty Peak, and Peacock Mountain, each with its own unique shape, stand between one lake (Mirror Lake), two ponds (Longtan and Leitan), and four valleys. Beneath the sheer cliffs of Leishan, a clear spring gushes out and converges with the water from Leitan and Longtan mountains to form “Longtan,” formerly known as “Leitang.” The nearby “Leitan” is connected to it via an underground river. The crystal-clear pond water flows over the “Eight Dragons Spouting Snow Dam” into Mirror Lake, then winds through the park like a swimming dragon before disappearing into a karst cave at the foot of Penghua Mountain outside the park.

　　    The water temperature of both Leitan and Longtan remains constant (18–22 degrees Celsius). In the depths of winter, steam rises and mist shrouds the area, hence the name “Twin Ponds in Misty Rain.” Leishan and Longtan mountains face each other across the water. Legend has it that the gods of thunder and dragon once presided over rain and thunder here, and thus the area is known as the “Dragon and Thunder Wonderland.” Additionally, the Ming Dynasty’s Vice Minister of War and one of the “Eight Sages of Liuzhou,” Zhang, inscribed a poem on the cliff: “Clear springs flow from the mountain base; a hundred blooms drift down from the woods. If the cold clouds invite rest, why seek Penglai?” The “Longtan Wonderland” seems like a paradise akin to Penglai.

　　    On the Lusheng Plaza, several lusheng poles stand tall, each uniquely carved — some with coiling dragons around the pole, others with hanging yokes or pheasants with raised feathers. Upon arriving here, one can almost hear the echoing sounds of lusheng music and see dancing figures come to life, making it a scenic highlight in its own right. The waters of Mirror Lake flow from the west, gathering into a pool, creating beautiful reflections of the mountains and lake, the silhouette of a beauty, peach blossoms and willows in green, undulating grassy slopes, and lush scenery all around. On the ethnic culture trail, the “Zhuang Village” is nestled here, with antiphonal singing pavilions and water-controlling pavilions facing each other across the water, and the banyan tree bridge adding dynamic charm.

　　    Within Longtan Park, there are also villages and wind-rain bridges of southern ethnic minorities. Visitors can take pony-drawn carts to tour the various ethnic villages, sample local snacks and ethnic cuisines, and participate in or watch activities such as the Zhuang people’s shuttlecock throwing, the Yao people’s crossbow shooting, the Miao people’s lusheng dances, the Dong people’s flower cannon grabbing, and the Buyi people’s drinking games — all great fun.