Travel in Henan Xinyang
| Xinyang |
| Travel in Henan | |||
|
Xinyang is located in the transitional area between subtropical and warm temperate zones. Weather there is humid and moderate. It has enough sunshine, abundant rainfall and four clear seasons. Xinyang's winter is long, but the chilly period is short. Usually, its annual average temperature is no less than 15℃ (59℉). Mt. Jigongshan (jī gōng shān 鸡公山) is part of the Dabie Mountain Range (dà bié shān mài 大别山脉), with an area of 287 square metres. The main peak Baoxiao Feng (bào xiǎo fēng 报晓峰), 744 meters high above sea level, stands in the shape of an up-roaring, day-break-heralding cock, which helps give its name. The exploration of Mt. Jigongshan has a history more than one hundred years. At the beginning of this century, two American missionaries Li Lisheng and Shi Daoge climbed the mountain twice, and then they published articles in English newspapers praising the mountain for its elegant scenery, comfortable weather and ideal summer holiday resort. Since the visit of the two missionaries, tides of western people in China come to visit this mountain. With the dozens of years of construction, Mt. Jigongshan is no longer an untouched wilderness, but has turned into a booming mountainous city. The rocks of Mt. Jigongshan are characterized by their exotic, pretty, delicate and unique features; the General Rock, the Valentine Rock and the Sword Rock all get their names by their incredibly lifelike shapes. The charming scenery and fresh air make the mountain an ideal place for summer holiday, tourism and therapy. Mt. Jigongshan is rich in cultural, historical elements. The landscape consists of Beishan, Donggou, Summer holiday Garden, Baoxiao Peak, Air-raid Shelter, and Dashen Gou six top scenic spots where it is granted with fresh air and quietness all the year around, with uproarious birds and flourishing plants in spring, cool and soft weather in summer, loquacious water and fallen leaves in autumn and deep layers of pure snow in winter. Some red tower erected along the mountain-path where one can take a rest with a cup of nice tea, completely indulged in the beautiful mountain shrouded in the mysterious mist, listening to the water by the riverside. The Buddha light, Cloud sea, Rime ice, Rain ice, Xia guang, Exotic plants, Windy site and Qingfengchuyu are the eight natural scenic spots of Mt. Jigongshan which is known as "clear hills with fresh water, bright water with lush forest, cool and comfortable weather, unique and exotic scene, fantastic scene of another world ". With its relatively low altitude and unique geographical location, Mt. Jigongshan is endowed with high-mountain-weather but exempt from high-mountain-reaction, which contribute to an ideal place for summer holiday and therapy. It is a natural scenic spot that is made up of by numerous factors, strikingly dangerous peaks and queer rocks, Nanhu Lake is an ideal site for diving, boating, swimming and fishing. One can appreciate the beautiful water and mountain, when he is visiting the site of box-raise-fish. In the upstream of the lake lies the five great mountains, the birthplace of Xinyang MaoJian; the opposite side of the lake is Cheyun Shan where it is a good place to have a full sight of Longpu waterfall, a visit of tea garden, and to enjoy a cup of Xinyang Maojian (máo jiān 毛尖). With its beautiful scenery, pleasing climate, Tangquan Pool (tāng quán chí 汤泉池) not only offers hot spring, but also many natural and cultural resorts. The famous of Lines Li Zhi of Ming Dynasty "wash the soul with thousands of winding rivers, wash the foot in the hot spring house", and another scholar of Qing Dynasty Wang Diao's words "it is a pleasure to swim with friends in the pool and thus one can walk home slowly with satisfaction". The island in the middle of the lake provides tourists with a site where they can listen to waves ripping the bank, or climb up the ShenShui Ge to enjoy the full picture of the whole site; On the XiangBishan (xiàng bí shān 象鼻山; Elephant Trunk Mountain) stands the memorial Li Zhi Booth where tourists can take rest; and a boat trip is available for tourist to experience the fantastic scenery of "the reflection of dozens of mountains on the surface of water makes a heaven". Xinyang is the south gate of Henan Province. Beijing-Guangzhou Railway runs across from north to south. No.107 and 312 national highways intersects through the city and allows visitors to reach Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Hefei, Nanyang and several other cities. Zhengzhou, the capital city of Henan is only three hours' drive away while Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province, is about four hours away. Xinyang Bus Station is situated on Renmin Lu, adjacent to the railway station. It is the main bus station provides local buses and bus lines to other towns and cities. Though Xinyang has no civilian airport, both the Wuhan Tianhe Airport in the south and Anhui Fuyang Airport in the east are accessible within 150 km. With three railway lines, Jingguang line, Jiangjiu line and Ningxi line crossing the city, the railway service is accessible. The Information Office of Xinyang Railway Station: 0376-6224114 Though Xinyang does not have many choices of public bus lines, the whole downtown city area is easily reachable with its sixteen bus service lines, ranging from Line No.1 to Line No.16. The beginning price for taxi service is four yuan, a relatively low price. But the administration of taxi service is still poor, without uniform cars and rate of fee. (There are some differences now in reality.) Xinyang Shi Tongda Taxi Service Co. Ltd. Tel: 0376-6608199
|
Endowed with various beautiful mountains and rivers, as well as its well-preserved eco-system, Xinyang is rich in tourist resources. Here exists countless well-known tourist resorts that combine natural scenery with human culture: Mt. Jigongshan Senic Spot is ranked with Beidaihe, Lu Shan, Moganshan as the four top summer holiday resorts of China; the water coverage of Nanwan Lake is seventy times larger than that of Xihu Lake; Lingshan Temple is the only one that houses both monks and nuns in China; Tangquan Pool is well known for its hot-water-therapy; the legendary General Xu Shiyou is known to every household. Xinyang MaoJian Tea has a good reputation, wins various gold awards both at home and abroad, and is regarded as one of the top ten teas in China.
The terrain of Xinyang declines from its south to the north. Its west and south regions are mountainous formed by Tongbai Mountain and Dabie Mountains. Hills predominate the centre of the city, while the northern region of the city is consists of plains and depressions.
Mt. Jigongshan is a natural part of wildlife. It is covered with lush vegetation in different varieties, totaling about one thousand and seven hundred diversified plants with coniferous trees, broadleaf trees, wild flowers and unknown weeds interspersed with each other, completing a beautiful landscape; it contains more than six hundred medical plants, including such precious plants as Reishi, Jiusi Huaiyang Cao, Madeng Cao, Polygonum multiflorum Thunb and One Flower with seven leaves. Various most rare animals also find their home here, with more than seventeen species, one hundred and nine varieties; wild animals include leopard, deer, wild goat, red fox, leopard cat, masked civet etc.
countless rivers and water falls, unknown flowers and plants, rural scenery of mountain villages as well as exquisite pavilions, stations, towers etc. Thus earns its name of "China's ideal summer holiday resort" and "Garden in the air of South Henan province". Among its Green Mountain and clear rivers, interspersed and accentuated by thousands of villas in foreign style. Established in accordance with mountain range, with various patterns and styles, as well as "beautiful environment, elegant pattern, exotic style and high-class taste", these buildings earn the title of "the World Architecture Exhibition". Owing to its splendid scenery and unique geographical location, Mt. Jigongshan has always been attracting celebrities in history. The story of the first Emperor of 
Nanwan Lake (nán wān hú 南湾湖) is 20 miles from the east to the west in width, 50 miles from the south to the north in length, totaling an area of 400 square kilometres. Surrounded by lines of mountains, stretches of forest, many small islands could be seen embedded in the water like precious green stones. Viewing from faraway, the water seems to be mixed up with the sky. In the east of Nanhu Lake exists Yingxian Temple, Wugong Ling in the west, Longtan waterfall in the south, a ferry in the north. Countless small islands in different shapes intersperse among the green water, just as "drops of big and small rain falls off onto the plate". With ten thousand different birds staying at the islands to rear their offspring, birds could be seen and heard every where. The Monkey Island houses dozens of wild monkeys that are smart and cute, winning many tourist favors. The performance of ethnic songs and dances in the Leisure Summer Island is deeply dotted with the local geographical features, and the snake-playing performance well satisfies tourist lure of wonder. A great many birds, lions, monkeys, wild pigs and camels further strengthen the charm of Nanhu Lake.
Though Lingshan (líng shān 灵山) is beautiful, its temple the Lingshan Temple is more well-known around the country. Located at the foot of the mountain, it was founded under the command of a princess of Tang dynasty, Tangminghuang's daughter. All together, there are seven temples and three convents, which include Lingshan Temple, Jinding Temple, Zhongfo Temple, Baifo Temple, Baiyun Temple, Longya Temple, Xianshi Temple, Yuantong Convent, Fuquan Convent and Yanshou Convent. Linshan Temple was afterwards nominated as the national temple by the first emperor of Ming dynasty Zhu Yuanzhang who was once sheltered here by the monks. So after taking the throne, Zhu Yuanzhang went back to the temple, nominated the leader of the monks at Jinbi feng as the presider, and inscribed the plaque writing "Shengshou ChuanSi", which demonstrates its long history of Buddhist culture. The temple is divided into three sections, with a well named "Shengjing" in the middle court whose water is cool and sweet. It is said that the spring comes from the back of Buddha, crosses the Middle palace into court, listed as the best scenic spot of Lingshan Temple, being named as "ShengSiShengJing". The west court inside the temple there erects an "Upside Down Pine" which features in big trunk in the upper part and small trunk in the lower part. It was said this pine tree was erected by the presider Haoying in 
The hot spring here was formed about 100 million years. It has three spring mouths, delivering about 650 tons of bright and clean water that is about 56 to 58 Celsius degree every day. Owing to its effect in caring skin, stimulating appetite as well as hypnosis, the water also gets the name of "therapeutic spring". Ancient people used such hot spring to cure diseases, which could be proved by the Hot Spring College and JingFan Temple established by them here.
People in favor of green tea are doubtlessly familiar with the brand name "Xinyang MaoJian (máo jiān 毛尖)". With the prevalence of green food in the world, "Xinyang MaoJian" arrests intensive attention with its irresistible charm. As one of the top ten teas of China, "Xinyang MaoJian" holds high reputation for its long-lasting nice taste. At the World Exhibition hosted by Panama in the year 1915, "Xinyang MaoJian" defeated all kinds of drinks and won the Golden Price. "Xinyang MaoJian" has always been an important tribute to emperors in the past, while today it is still the first choice of drink among celebrities and scholars.
CiBa (cí bā 糍粑) is a traditional food of Xinyang, mainly popular with people in ShangCheng, XinXian, HuangChuan and Guangshan. CiBa could be cooked, or be roasted, be fried. During the period of 
China Travel Guide
China Yellow Pages
Copyright © 2007 - 2024 Foreigners in China | Travel in China | China Travel Guide