The Shilinxia Scenic Area |
Travel in Beijing | |||
The Shilinxia Scenic Area (shí lín xiá 石林峡)(the Gorge of Stone Forest), 20 kilometers northeast of Pinggu (píng gǔ 平谷) and with an area of 12 square kilometers, is the core attraction of Huangsongyu Geopark (huáng sōng yù dì zhì gōng yuán 黄松峪地质公园). It is characterized by five unique views, namely, rocks, gorges, water, mountain and forest. Both the grandeur typically found in the scenery of north China and the grace of the scenery in the south can find their best expressions here.
The Shilinxia Scenic Area covers an area of 12 square kilometers. It is named after straight and steep mountains that resemble a stone forest. What adds a romantic and mysterious atmosphere to Shilinxia is that the love story between Xiagu (xiá gū 霞姑) and Sanlang (sān láng 三郎), which is still very popular can be heard there today. Besides the stone forest, the most notable one is a mighty four-tier waterfall, Jiutian Flying Waterfall (jǐu tiān fēi pù 九天飞瀑), which cascades down more than 120 meters and whose rumblings can be heard even in the distance. The gorge is dotted with over a dozen pools, running all year long. Some of them are shallow and crystal clear, others are deep and quiet. As a whole, they look like a shining pearl necklace draped across this beautiful landscape, adding much grace to the scenic area. Rocks in Shilinxia are like books in a pile, with historical stories recorded on every page. Visitors love their rich implications. Since the primitive times, Chinese people have shown their affections for rocks. Gigantic rocks, some weighing over 1000 tons, are another attraction of the scenic area. They stand on tall cliffs and slopes or lie on the road in diversified shapes. Sitting on them, tourists can have a good rest and enjoy a beautiful sight. The fifth, but by no means the least, attraction are the hanging cypress trees. A great number of cypresses and other trees grow out of tall and steep cliffs, dotting the landscape. The tree trunk is on the wall of the precipice inclined and the root is grasped to attach in the wall of the precipice, which show remarkable resilience in spite of harsh environment. They may evoke images of classic Chinese paintings. Admission: 60 RMB
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